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National Surveys and Analysis - Alaska and Hawaii

Summary

This project is one of four regional National Surveys and Analysis projects that comprise an integrated effort to develop national digital datasets categorized in four major themes: geology, mineral occurrences, geochemistry, and geophysics. The projects also integrate, analyze, and interpret these data in support of a wide variety of research topics such as: the assessment of mineral resources; characterization of regional mineral districts; definition of metallogenic provinces; determination of regional background values for chemical elements with known environmental impact; and the study of the relationship between toxic commodities or mining practices and human health. These interpretive studies will involve contributions from a wide variety of disciplines and partners.

 

National Objectives

• Geology -
  • Compilation of digital versions of all state geologic maps, using a common data structure and a common data model that will make the maps useful for mineral resource and environmental assessment at scales of 1:500,000 and smaller.
  • For Alaska, where no suitable state map exists, compilation of a new state map from 1:250,000-scale data, released initially as a series of regional compilations.
  • Creation of national integrated geologic database.
  
  
• Mineral Occurrences -
  • Assurance that the Nation's significant mineral deposits have comprehensive records in the Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) for all metallic and selected industrial mineral occurrences.
  • For Alaska, records compiled in the Alaska Resource Data File (ARDF) are verified and re-integrated into MRDS.
  
  
• Geochemistry
  • Creation of national stream-sediment and soil geochemical databases that include information for a number of elements, including the important toxic elements: arsenic, selenium, and mercury.
  • Collection of new samples where necessary so that the average grid cell spacing is 17 km or closer.
  
  
• Geophysics
  • Creation of national geophysical databases in which gravity, aeromagnetic, and aeroradiometric data are availalable for presentation and calculation of derivative maps.
  • Collection of additional data where needed to achieve resolution of 1-2 km.

 

Relevance and Impact

The U.S. Geological Survey provides national leadership in maintaining earth-science data and serves as earth-science advisor to the Executive Branch of the U.S. government. Recurring requests for information for scoping studies and earth-science forecasting can only be met when nationwide datasets are easily available and of high quality. In addition, national- and regional-scale earth-science datasets are critical for a wide range of land-planning, resource, and environmental issues. The data are used in State and Federal government agencies and academia, as well as by members of the general public.

The successful completion of this project results in a standard set of integrated GIS databases and interpretive products that address various earth-science issues. Maps and analyses produced from the databases provide information that can be used for mineral-resource assessments; environmental studies; regional and national land-use studies; and earth-science research, such as the identification of metallogenic terranes, determination of regional geochemical backgrounds, and the study of the relationships between toxic elements and human health. All data is available to both USGS researchers and the public. As national scale datasets become available, products will be created that are suitable for release through the Spatial Information Delivery project, and, as appropriate, the National Atlas.