Quaternary geologic deposits represent important reservoirs of hydrologic, aggregate, and other resources and preserve a record of landscape evolution and the distribution and frequency of geologic hazards. These deposits are cataloged in thousands of geologic maps produced over many decades, but many are inconsistent with their neighbors, decades out of date, only available as static representations, and limited by arbitrary boundaries. As a result, it is challenging to utilize geologic maps to assess regional- and national-scale problems in Quaternary geology and geomorphology, make assessments of resources, or systematically characterize natural hazards from earthquakes, landslides, flooding, and debris-flows.
The National Quaternary Geology task seeks to construct continuous Quaternary geologic map coverage to fulfill the mandate of the USGI and to transform the capacity for regional- and national-scale studies of Quaternary geology. By assembling and synthesizing new and existing geologic map compilations this task seeks to build map coverage at two broadly defined scales directly requested in congressional appropriations; ‘continental’ and ‘national’.
National Geologic Synthesis
National Bedrock Geology
National 3D Geology
3D Sedimentary Basins
- Overview
Quaternary geologic deposits represent important reservoirs of hydrologic, aggregate, and other resources and preserve a record of landscape evolution and the distribution and frequency of geologic hazards. These deposits are cataloged in thousands of geologic maps produced over many decades, but many are inconsistent with their neighbors, decades out of date, only available as static representations, and limited by arbitrary boundaries. As a result, it is challenging to utilize geologic maps to assess regional- and national-scale problems in Quaternary geology and geomorphology, make assessments of resources, or systematically characterize natural hazards from earthquakes, landslides, flooding, and debris-flows.
The National Quaternary Geology task seeks to construct continuous Quaternary geologic map coverage to fulfill the mandate of the USGI and to transform the capacity for regional- and national-scale studies of Quaternary geology. By assembling and synthesizing new and existing geologic map compilations this task seeks to build map coverage at two broadly defined scales directly requested in congressional appropriations; ‘continental’ and ‘national’.
- Science
National Geologic Synthesis
The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) Strategic Plan of 2020 calls for the creation of a “variable-scale, national, integrated 2D and 3D geologic-framework model that enables the seamless construction of geologic maps within user-defined regions of interest across the United States by the year 2030” (USGS Open-File Report 2021-1013*). Congress recently directed NCGMP to “bring...National Bedrock Geology
Accessible, up-to-date information about the Nation’s bedrock geology is necessary to support infrastructure development, natural resource management, mineral assessments, water quality, and earth science research. The National Bedrock Geology task will construct a continuous digital geologic map of pre-Quaternary rocks and deposits across the United States at National scale, to fulfill the USGI...National 3D Geology
Water, energy, mineral resource assessments, and hazard and land-use assessments are central to the USGS mission and increasingly rely on subsurface information and 3D geologic models. There are also many emerging societal issues in which 3D geology becomes increasingly relevant, including assessment of brackish groundwater resources, unconventional oil and gas plays, geothermal systems...3D Sedimentary Basins
Detailed analysis and modeling of 3D basin architecture is a critical tool in the assessment of water, energy, and mineral resources, as well as paleoclimate and paleotectonic reconstructions. Sedimentary basins are of particular interest because they are repositories of economically important byproducts of sedimentary processes and are commonly rich in subsurface data. Due to the importance of...