Operation Basement: Missouri Precambrian Sample Database

In 1968, the Missouri Geological Survey (MGS) established the Operation Basement program to address three objectives: a) to obtain drill hole and underground mining data relative to the structure and composition of the buried Precambrian basement; b) to expand mapping in the Precambrian outcrop area and conduct research related to Precambrian geology and mineral resources; and c) to publish the results of the first two objectives in the Contribution to Precambrian Geology series (Kisvarsanyi, 1976). The database presented here represents the first of those objectives. It was originally compiled in close cooperation with exploration and mining companies operating in Missouri, who provided drillhole data, core and rock samples to MGS. These data enabled geologists to study otherwise unexposed basement rocks from a large area of the state for the first time, allowing better classification and understanding of the Precambrian basement across the state. MGS is continuing data collection and database compilation today as information becomes available, furthering our knowledge of the Missouri Precambrian basement. This effort was supported through a cooperative agreement with the Mineral Resource Program of the U.S. Geological Survey.

As of September 13, 2017, the Microsoft Access database OperationBasement.accdb has information from 915 drill holes that penetrated the Precambrian basement tabulated by county. When available, core logs and petrographic descriptions are included. Location information provided is as specific as possible with a field denoting location impediments.

References:

Kisvarsanyi, Eva B., 1974, Operation Basement: buried Precambrian rocks of Missouri their petrography and structure: American association of Petroleum Geologists Bulletin, v. 58, p. 674-684

Kisvarsanyi, Eva B., 1975, Data on Precambrian in drillholes of Missouri including rock type and surface configuration (Contribution to Precambrian Geology No. 5): Mo. Dept. of Natural Resources, Geol. Survey, Rept. 56, 24 p.

Kisvarsanyi, Eva B., 1976, Missouri Precambrian Revisited: Progress in Studies of Precambrian Geology, 1961-1976: Mo. Dept. of Natural Resources, Geol. Survey, Rept. 61, p. 1-11