Detailed geologic mapping has not been completed for the entire United States, but maps are available for most locations.
- Geologic maps at many scales and from many sources are listed in the National Geologic Map Database.
- Some geologic maps can be purchased in hard copy through the USGS Store.
- Download digital geologic maps for entire states from the USGS Mineral Resources Online Geospatial Data (MRDATA) website. Scroll down to the "Geologic Data" section.
- Contact your state geological survey. Many state geological surveys have detailed maps that can be downloaded or purchased.
- The USGS Publications Warehouse lists all published USGS geologic maps (which are also on the National Geologic Map Database). Geologic maps and publications are often referenced to county names and/or topographic quadrangle names, so try searching on those keywords along with other locality keywords.
- Your public library might also have good resources.
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- FAQ
How are U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps named?
A USGS topographic map is usually named for the most prominent feature within the bounds of the map, which is frequently a community. Most topographic maps are named for the most centrally located, well-known, and/or largest community identified on the map. If the community for which the map should be named falls on two or more maps, a directional term might be used such as East and West. An...
What is the National Geologic Map Database?
The National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB) is an archive of geoscience maps (including geology maps), reports, and stratigraphic information for the United States. The NGMDB contains information on more than 90,000 maps and related geoscience reports published from the early 1800s to the present day, by more than 630 agencies, universities, associations, and private companies. Much of the content...
Can the USGS do a survey or study of my private property?
No. The USGS Organic Act (43 U.S. Code § 31) prohibits the USGS from making surveys or examinations for private parties or corporations. On rare occasion, however, the USGS might request access to private property as part of a larger study.If you need to engage a professional land surveyor, hydrologist, geologist, or geotechnical engineer, the following organizations should be able to identify...
How do I find, download, or order topographic maps?
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has been the primary civilian mapping agency of the United States since 1879. USGS topographic maps have been published at many scales, but 1:24,000 (also referred to as a 7.5-minute quadrangle) has been the standard topographic map scale since 1947. For Alaska the standard scale is 1:25,000. All dates and all scales of our topographic maps can be freely...
What are the earthquake hazards/risks where I live?
Determining your risk with regard to earthquakes, or more precisely shaking from earthquakes, isn't as simple as finding the nearest fault. The chances of experiencing shaking from an earthquake and/or having property damage is dependent on many different factors. The National Hazard Maps use all available data to estimate the chances of shaking (of different strengths and frequencies) across the...
Will I be able to see my house in an aerial photograph? Will enlarging the image let me see more detail?
The ability to see specific items in an aerial image is mostly a function of scale and resolution. The following aerial photography products all have a resolution of 1 meter or better, so you should be able to see an object the size of a house: High Resolution Orthoimagery (HRO) National Agriculture Imagery Program (NAIP) imagery Digital Orthophoto Quadrangle (DOQ) Use EarthExplorer to search for...
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