The basement-domain map is a compilation of basement domains in the conterminous United States and Alaska designed to be used at 1:5,000,000-scale, particularly as a base layer for national-scale mineral resource assessments. Seventy-seven basement domains are represented as eighty-three polygons on the map. The domains are based on interpretations of basement composition, origin, and architecture and developed from a variety of sources. Analysis of previously published basement, lithotectonic, and terrane maps as well as models of planetary development were used to formulate the concept of basement and the methodology of defining domains that spanned the ages of Archean to present but formed through different processes. The preliminary compilations for the study areas utilized these maps, national-scale gravity and aeromagnetic data, published and limited new age and isotopic data, limited new field investigations, and conventional geologic maps. Citation of the relevant source data for compilations and the source and types of original interpretation, as derived from different types of data, are provided in supporting descriptive text and tables.
The tectonic settings for crustal types represented in the basement domains are subdivided into constituent geologic environments and the types of primary metals endowments and deposits in them are documented. The compositions, architecture, and original metals endowments are potentially important to assessments of primary mineral deposits and to the residence and recycling of metals in the crust of the United States portion of the North American continent. The databases can be configured to demonstrate the construction of the United States through time, to identify specific types of crust, or to identify domains potentially containing metal endowments of specific genetic types or endowed with specific metals. The databases can also be configured to illustrate other purposes chosen by users.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2015 |
|---|---|
| Title | Basement domain map of the conterminous United States and Alaska |
| DOI | 10.3133/ds898 |
| Authors | Karen Lund, Stephen E. Box, Christopher S. Holm-Denoma, Carma A. San Juan, Richard J. Blakely, Richard W. Saltus, Eric D. Anderson, Ed DeWitt |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Series Title | Data Series |
| Series Number | 898 |
| Index ID | ds898 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Central Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center |
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Madison, WI, Office
1 Gifford Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53726
United States
Karen Lund
Research Geologist
Stephen Box
Scientist Emeritus
Christopher Holm-Denoma
Research Geologist
Carma A San Juan
Physical Scientist
Richard Blakely
Scientist Emeritus
Eric D. Anderson, Ph.D.
Supervisory Research Geophysicist
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Upper Midwest Water Science Center - Madison, WI, Office
1 Gifford Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53726
United StatesKaren Lund
Research GeologistEmailPhoneStephen Box
Scientist EmeritusEmailPhoneChristopher Holm-Denoma
Research GeologistEmailPhoneCarma A San Juan
Physical ScientistEmailPhoneRichard Blakely
Scientist EmeritusEmailPhoneEric D. Anderson, Ph.D.
Supervisory Research GeophysicistEmailPhone