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Integrated Geologic Map Databases for the United States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina

Frequently anticipated questions:

• What does this data set describe?
  1. How should this data set be cited?
  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
  3. What does it look like?
  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?
  5. What is the general form of this data set?
  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?
• Who produced the data set?
  1. Who are the originators of the data set?
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
• Why was the data set created?
• How was the data set created?
  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?
• How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?
  1. How well have the observations been checked?
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the data, including topology?
• How can someone get a copy of the data set?
  1. Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?
  2. Who distributes the data?
  3. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?
  4. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
  5. How can I download or order the data?
• Who wrote the metadata?

What does this data set describe?

1. How should this data set be cited?

   Dicken, Connie L., Nicholson, Suzanne W., Horton, John D., Foose, Michael P., and Mueller, Julia A.L., 2005, Integrated Geologic Map Databases for the United States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1323, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1323>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -87.6349620516053

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -79.8367213636331

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 31.0006339380621

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 24.2764737404176

3. What does it look like?

4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

   Currentness_Reference: publication date

5. What is the general form of this data set?

   Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map

6. How does the data set represent geographic features?
   1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set.

   2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      The map projection used is Lambert Conformal Conic.

      Projection parameters:

      Standard_Parallel: 33

      Standard_Parallel: 45

      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -100.0

      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0

      False_Easting: 0.00000

      False_Northing: 0.00000

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.01
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 0.01
      Planar coordinates are specified in Meters

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 1927.
      The ellipsoid used is Clarke 1866.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378206.4.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/294.98.
      

7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

   fl_geol.pat

   Polygon attribute table for the florida geologic coverage. (Source: ESRI)

   orig_label

   unmodified map unit symbol from source cover.

   type: character width: 12 output width: 12 (Source: Doug Stoeser)

   Value	Definition
   Qa	Anastasia Formation
   Qal	Alluvium
   Qbd	Beach ridge and dune
   Qh	Holocene sediments
   Qk	Key Largo Limestone
   Qm	Miami Limestone
   Qtr	Trail Ridge sands
   Qu	Undifferentiated sediments
   Tab	Alum Bluff Group
   Tap	Avon Park Formation
   Tc	Cypresshead Formation
   Tch	Chattahoochee Formation
   Tci	Citronelle Formation
   Th	Hawthorn Group
   Tha	Hawthorn Group, Arcadia Formation
   That	Hawthorn Group, Arcadia Formation, Tampa Member
   Thc	Hawthorn Group, Coosawhatchie Formation
   Thcc	Hawthorn Group, Coosawhatchie Formation, Charlton Member
   Thp	Hawthorn Group, Peace River Formation
   Thpb	Hawthorn Group, Peace River Formation, Bone Valley Member
   Ths	Hawthorn Group, Statenville Formation
   Tht	Hawthorn Group, Torreya Formation
   Tic	Intracoastal Formation
   Tjb	Jackson Bluff Formation
   Tmc	Miccosukee Formation
   To	Ocala Limestone
   TQd	Dunes
   TQsu	Shelly sediments of Plio-Pleistocene age
   TQu	Undifferentiated sediments
   TQuc	Reworked Cypresshead sediments
   Tre	Residuum on Eocene sediments
   Trm	Residuum on Miocene sediments
   Tro	Residuum on Oligocene sediments
   Ts	Suwannee Limestone
   Tsm	Suwannee Limestone- Marianna Limestone undifferentiated
   Tsmk	St. Marks Formation
   Tt	Tamiami Formation
   water	water

   sgmc_label

   orig_label + ;n where n= province number (n=0 if no province number)

   type: character width: 16 output width: 16 (Source: Doug Stoeser)

   Value	Definition
   PSa;0	Anastasia Formation
   PSHal;0	Alluvium
   PSHbd;0	Beach ridge and dune
   Hh;0	Holocene sediments
   PSk;0	Key Largo Limestone
   PSm;0	Miami Limestone
   PStr;0	Trail Ridge sands
   PSHu;0	Undifferentiated sediments
   MIab;0	Alum Bluff Group
   EOap;0	Avon Park Formation
   POc;0	Cypresshead Formation
   MIch;0	Chattahoochee Formation
   POci;0	Citronelle Formation
   MIh;0	Hawthorn Group
   OGMIha;0	Hawthorn Group, Arcadia Formation
   OGMIhat;0	Hawthorn Group, Arcadia Formation, Tampa Member
   MIhc;0	Hawthorn Group, Coosawhatchie Formation
   MIPOhcc;0	Hawthorn Group, Coosawhatchie Formation, Charlton Member
   MIPOhp;0	Hawthorn Group, Peace River Formation
   MIPOhpb;0	Hawthorn Group, Peace River Formation, Bone Valley Member
   MIhs;0	Hawthorn Group, Statenville Formation
   MIht;0	Hawthorn Group, Torreya Formation
   POic;0	Intracoastal Formation
   POjb;0	Jackson Bluff Formation
   POmc;0	Miccosukee Formation
   EOo;0	Ocala Limestone
   POPSd;0	Dunes
   POPSsu;0	Shelly sediments of Plio-Pleistocene age
   POPSu;0	Undifferentiated sediments
   POPSuc;0	Reworked Cypresshead sediments
   EOre;0	Residuum on Eocene sediments
   MIrm;0	Residuum on Miocene sediments
   OGro;0	Residuum on Oligocene sediments
   OGs;0	Suwannee Limestone
   OGsm;0	Suwannee Limestone- Marianna Limestone undifferentiated
   MIsmk;0	St. Marks Formation
   POt;0	Tamiami Formation
   water;0	water

   unit_link

   composite map label = ST + sgmc_label This creates a unique identifier for every unit in the CONUS (continental United States) covers.

   type: character width: 18 output width: 18 (Source: Doug Stoeser)

   Value	Definition
   FLPSa;0	Anastasia Formation
   FLPSHal;0	Alluvium
   FLPSHbd;0	Beach ridge and dune
   FLHh;0	Holocene sediments
   FLPSk;0	Key Largo Limestone
   FLPSm;0	Miami Limestone
   FLPStr;0	Trail Ridge sands
   FLPSHu;0	Undifferentiated sediments
   FLMIab;0	Alum Bluff Group
   FLEOap;0	Avon Park Formation
   FLPOc;0	Cypresshead Formation
   FLMIch;0	Chattahoochee Formation
   FLPOci;0	Citronelle Formation
   FLMIh;0	Hawthorn Group
   FLOGMIha;0	Hawthorn Group, Arcadia Formation
   FLOGMIhat;0	Hawthorn Group, Arcadia Formation, Tampa Member
   FLMIhc;0	Hawthorn Group, Coosawhatchie Formation
   FLMIPOhcc;0	Hawthorn Group, Coosawhatchie Formation, Charlton Member
   FLMIPOhp;0	Hawthorn Group, Peace River Formation
   FLMIPOhpb;0	Hawthorn Group, Peace River Formation, Bone Valley Member
   FLMIhs;0	Hawthorn Group, Statenville Formation
   FLMIht;0	Hawthorn Group, Torreya Formation
   FLPOic;0	Intracoastal Formation
   FLPOjb;0	Jackson Bluff Formation
   FLPOmc;0	Miccosukee Formation
   FLEOo;0	Ocala Limestone
   FLPOPSd;0	Dunes
   FLPOPSsu;0	Shelly sediments of Plio-Pleistocene age
   FLPOPSu;0	Undifferentiated sediments
   FLPOPSuc;0	Reworked Cypresshead sediments
   FLEOre;0	Residuum on Eocene sediments
   FLMIrm;0	Residuum on Miocene sediments
   FLOGro;0	Residuum on Oligocene sediments
   FLOGs;0	Suwannee Limestone
   FLOGsm;0	Suwannee Limestone- Marianna Limestone undifferentiated
   FLMIsmk;0	St. Marks Formation
   FLPOt;0	Tamiami Formation
   FLwater;0	water

   source

   An alphanumeric code (e.g. US001) that designates the source material used.

   type: character width: 6 output width: 8 (Source: Doug Stoeser)

   Value	Definition
   FL001	Scott, T. M., Campbell, K. M., Rupert, F. R., Arthur, J. D., Missimer, T. M., Lloyd, J. M., Yon, J. W., and Duncan, J. G., 2001, Geologic Map of the State of Florida, Florida Geological Survey & Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Map Series 146.
   FL201	C.L. Dicken polygon edits. Additionally, when using US001 state boundary file, water polygons have been generated.

   unit_age

   The geologic age from the source map used.

   type: character width: 60 output width: 60 (Source: Doug Stoeser)

   Value	Definition
   Eocene
   Holocene
   Miocene
   Miocene/Pliocene
   Oligocene
   Oligocene/Miocene
   Pleistocene
   Pleistocene/Holocene
   Pliocene
   Pliocene/Pleistocene

   rocktype1

   The predominant lithology found in the formation.

   type: character width: 40 output width: 40 (Source: Johnson Lith Class 6.1a)

   Value	Definition
   alluvium
   beach sand
   calcarenite
   clay or mud
   claystone
   delta
   dolostone (dolomite)
   dune sand
   limestone
   mixed clastic/carbonate
   sand
   sandstone
   water

   rocktype2

   The second most predominant lithology in the formation.

   type: character width: 40 output width: 40 (Source: Johnson Lith Class 6.1)

   Value	Definition
   beach sand
   clay or mud
   claystone
   dolostone
   gravel
   limestone
   mudstone
   sand
   sandstone

   fl_geol.aat

   Arc attribute table for florida geologic coverage. (Source: ESRI)

   arc-code

   Unique identifier for the line feature

   type: integer width: 3 output width: 3 (Source: AAT data dictionary)

   Value	Definition
   1	contact, location certain
   7	shoreline or riverbank
   124	state boundary

   arc-para1

   Used for "decorated" lines where additional information is needed.

   type: integer width: 3 output width: 3 (Source: AAT data dictionary)

   Value	Definition
   0	no additional information

   arc-para2

   "Scratch" field used mostly in Alaska.

   type: integer width: 3 output width: 3 (Source: AAT data dictionary)

   Value	Definition
   0	no additional information

   source

   An alphanumeric code (e.g. US001) that designates the source material used.

   type: character width: 6 output width: 8 (Source: Doug Stoeser)

   Value	Definition
   FL001	Scott, T. M., Campbell, K. M., Rupert, F. R., Arthur, J. D., Missimer, T. M., Lloyd, J. M., Yon, J. W., and Duncan, J. G., 2001, Geologic Map of the State of Florida, Florida Geological Survey & Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Map Series 146.
   US001	Johnson, Bruce R. and Leveritch, Beth, 1998, 1:100,000 Scale State Boundaries of the Conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey, unpublished (see metadata file: st100kmeta.txt, Chapter A)

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   Coding for polygon attributes:

   NAME: FEATURE: orig_label unmodified map unit symbols from source cover sgmc_label orig_label modified for standard geologic age symbols and an integer code added for province unit_link sgmc_label and a state code identifier source reference to source of data unit_age geologic age rocktype1 predominant lithology rocktype2 second most predominant lithology

   Coding for arc attributes:

   NAME: FEATURE: arc-code unique integer identifier arc-para1 used where additional information is needed arc-para2 scratch field source reference to source of data

   Coding for point attributes:

   NAME: FEATURE: point_feature name of feature on map source reference to source of data

   Coding for dikes (special arcs) attributes:

   NAME: FEATURE: orig_label unmodified map unit symbols from source cover sgmc_label orig_label modified for standard geologic age symbols and an integer code added for province arc-code unique integer identifier dike_lith general lithology dike_age geologic age source reference to source of data

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: ESRI

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • Connie L. Dicken
   • Suzanne W. Nicholson
   • John D. Horton
   • Michael P. Foose
   • Julia A.L. Mueller

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   State Geologic Map Compilation (SGMC) activity of the National Surveys and Analysis projects of the US Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program.

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   Suzanne W. Nicholson
   U.S. Geological Survey
   12201 Sunrise Valley Dr. MS954
   Reston, VA 20192
   USA
   

   703-648-6344 (voice)
   swnich@usgs.gov
   

Why was the data set created?

A primary goal of this work is to develop geologic map datasets with standardized structure and attribution. The database design and standards are documented in Chapter A of this series. The intent is that contiguous databases can be merged seamlessly and without any additional effort. In addition to a common database structure, the conterminous U.S. state databases (the contiguous 48 states) have been fitted to a set of standard state boundaries so that, when states are merged, they match without slivers or overlap. No attempt has been made to reconcile differences in mapping across state boundaries.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   florida - digital (source 1 of 3)

   Survey, Florida Geological, 2001, Geologic Map of the State of Florida: Open file Report No. 80, Florida Geological Survey, Tallahassee, Florida.

   Online Links:

   • <http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/gisdatamaps/state_geo_map.htm>

   Type_of_Source_Media: vector

   Source_Scale_Denominator: 750,000

   Source_Contribution: provided linework and geology for state map

   state boundaries (source 2 of 3)

   Johnson, Bruce R., unpublished, 1:100,000 Scale State Boundaries of the Conterminous United States.

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Arc/INFO coverage developed by Bruce Johnson. Derived from USGS 100,000-scale DLG boundary layer quadrangles.

   Type_of_Source_Media: online

   Source_Scale_Denominator: 100,000

   Source_Contribution: provided linework of the conterminous state boundaries

   lithclass (source 3 of 3)

   Johnson, Bruce R., unpublished, Geologic Map Unit Classification, ver. 6.1.

   Other_Citation_Details:

   Document has been modified and is included in Appedices of the publication.

   Type_of_Source_Media: online; http:/geology.usgs.gov/dm

   Source_Scale_Denominator: none

   Source_Contribution:

   Source of lithologic codes and specific rock names found in ROCKTYPE1 and ROCKTYPE2.

2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

   Date: 2003 (process 1 of 10)

   The purpose of this standardization is to allow all SGMC covers to be seamlessly joined without any additional effort to form regional or national level digital maps. Note that for Alaska, the state is being compiled as blocks of 1:250k quadrangles that will ultimately be used to compile a new state map. Douglas Stoeser and Ric Wilson are co-coordinators for the overall SGMC effort, with Stoeser coordinating work on the mainland states and Wilson coordinating work for Alaska and Hawaii.

   Date: 02-Nov-2004 (process 2 of 10)

   C.L. Dicken obtained the digital geologic map of Florida from the following website: <http://www.dep.state.fl.us/geology/gisdatamaps/state_geo_map.htm>

   Dicken re-projected the coverage into the following:

   projection: Lambert Conformal Conic units: meters datum: NAD27 standard parallel 1: 33 0 0.000 standard parallel 2: 45 0 0.000 central meridian: -100 0 0.000 reference latitude: 0 0 0.000 false easting: 0.00000 false northing: 0.00000

   All attributes were deleted except FORMATION_.

   (Note: Attributes associated with the generation of the coverages were not deleted. PAT - shape, area, perimeter, coverage#, and coverage-id AAT - shape, fnode#, tnode#, lnode#, rnode#, length, coverage#, and coverage-id)

   The values from FORMATION_ where then calculated into a new field called orig_label.

   Date: 03-Nov-2004 (process 3 of 10)

   The relevant state outline (arcs) was removed from the coverage and replaced with the arcs from the 1:100,000 Scale State Boundaries of the Conterminous United States.

   This allows for a seamless fit of each state to a standard state boundary base.

   Date: 10-Nov-2004 (process 4 of 10)

   The following attributes were exported from Filemaker as a .dbf: orig_label, map_symbol2, unit_link, reference_id, unit_age, rocktype1, and rocktype2.

   orig_label reflects the original map symbol used on the source map

   map_symbol2 reflects map-symbol1 with the addition of a province number

   unit_link is an auto generated field based on map-symbol2 and the state abbreviation (e.g. IN001) that produces a unique identifier for each map unit

   reference_id was populated with an alphanumeric code (e.g. US001) that designates the source used for the linework and other references used to describe the age or lithologies of the unit.

   unit_age was populated with general age assignment

   rocktype1 records dominant lithology (must be >50% of unit), using standardized data dictionary

   rocktype2 records second most dominant lithology, using standardized data dictionary

   The attributes were then converted using the following structure:

   item name: orig_label width: 12 output: 12 type: c

   item name: sgmc_label width: 16 output: 16 type: c

   item name: unit_link width: 18 output: 18 type: c

   item name: source width: 6 output: 8 type: c

   item name: unit_age width: 60 output: 60 type: c

   item name: rocktype1 width: 40 output: 40 type: c

   item name: rocktype2 width: 40 output: 40 type: c

   Date: 10-Nov-2004 (process 5 of 10)

   Once the .dbf was in the correct format with standardized column widths and data structure, it was converted into a lookup table (.lut) in Arc/Info. Then a joinitem was performed to join the look-up table to the polygon attribute table. orig_label was used as the merge item.

   Date: 10-Nov-2004 (process 6 of 10)

   Next, in preparing the uniform .aat file, the following items were added to the table:

   item name: arc-code width: 3 output: 3 type: i

   item name: arc-para1 width: 3 output: 3 type: i

   item name: arc-para2 width: 3 output: 3 type: i

   item name: source width: 6 output: 8 type: c

   Date: 10-Nov-2004 (process 7 of 10)

   Arc-code was populated using the paper map source to tag the lines using the AAT line type data dictionary (see Chapter A in this series).

   Arc-para1 was populated when additional information was available such as identifying the upthrown side of a fault or direction of thrusting on a fault. (see Chapter A)

   Arc-para2 is a scratch field that is used mostly in Alaska.

   Source was populated with an alphanumeric code (e.g. US001) that designates the source used for the linework.

   Date: 18-Jan-2005 (process 8 of 10)

   Once the .aat and the .pat were populated with the correct attributes, the coverage was exported as an .e00 file (flgeol_lcc.e00).

   Then it was unprojected into geographic coordinates and exported again (flgeol_dd.e00).

   Date: 18-Jan-2005 (process 9 of 10)

   Florida does not have any faults in their coverage so no fault extraction was performed.

   Date: 18-Jan-2005 (process 10 of 10)

   Finally, the geology lines and geology polygons were converted into shapefiles; in both geographic coordinates and in Lambert Conformal Conic projection.

3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

1. How well have the observations been checked?

   The values of the attributes ROCKTYPE1 and ROCKTYPE2 were assigned based on the information in the legends of the source maps (most of which are paper). The definitions of these values are described in the draft document Geologic Map Classification version 6.1 (Johnson and others); available at the following website: <http://geology.usgs.gov/dm>

2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

   Accuracy of Florida state boundary and those arcs intersecting it: The accuracy of the state boundary arcs is based on the 1:100,000 scale original data used to produce this boundary. (Johnson, Bruce R. and Leveritch, Beth, 1998, 1:100,000 Scale State Boundaries of the Conterminous United States: U.S. Geological Survey, unpublished (see metadata file: st100kmeta.txt, Chapter A))

   Those internal arcs intersecting the state boundary were extended or shortened as needed to complete polygons, possibly creating a small amount of error.

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

   Bodies of water are classified as water, and the geologic units underlying them are not included in this coverage.

5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

   All internal polygons were checked for closure with vendor software and on hard copy plots. Overshoots and undershoots have been deleted or corrected as appropriate.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: none

Use_Constraints:

This database is not meant to be used or displayed at any scale other than 1:500,000.

Any hardcopies utilizing these data sets shall clearly indicate their source. If the licensee has modified the data in any way they are obligated to describe the types of modifications they have performed on the hardcopy map. Licensee specifically agrees not to misrepresent these data sets, nor to imply that changes they made were approved by the U.S. Geological Survey.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   U.S. Geological Survey Information Services Reston-ESIC
   U.S. Geological Survey
   507 National Center
   Reston, Virginia 20192
   USA
   

   1-888-ASK-USGS or 1-703-648-5953 (voice)
   <http://www.usgs.gov/contact/>
   

2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the USGS. Although these data have been used by the USGS and have been successfully imported into data base programs, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to how successfully or accurately the data can be imported into any specific application software running on any specific hardware platform. The fact of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in connection therewith. This data base GIS is not meant to be used or displayed at any scale other than 1:500,000.

4. How can I download or order the data?
   • Availability in digital form:

     Data format:	Geologic units and structural features in format ARC/INFO export (version 8.3)
     Network links:	<http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2005/1323>

   • Cost to order the data: none

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 19-Jan-2005

Metadata author:

U.S. Geological Survey
Attn: Connie L. Dicken
12201 Sunrise Valley Dr. MS954
Reston, VA 20192
USA

703-648-6482 (voice)
cdicken@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)