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Overburden above the Ferris 25 coal zone

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?

   U.S. Geological Survey Central Energy Resources Team, 19990930, Overburden above the Ferris 25 coal zone: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1625-A, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO.

   Online Links:

   • <http://greenwood.cr.usgs.gov/energy/coal/PP1625A/pp1625A.html>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -106.8570

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -106.6166

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 42.0461

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 41.8166

3. What does it look like?

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

   Calendar_Date: 1998

   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. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • GT-polygon composed of chains (462)

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

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest .0001. Longitudes are given to the nearest .0001. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum 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?

   fer25ovb.dbf

   Shapefile Attribute Table (Source: None)

   Area

   Area of polygon (Source: Software computed)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	22.53721
   Maximum:	31796027.39746

   Perimeter

   Perimeter of polygon (Source: Software computed)

   Range of values
   Minimum:	23.95395
   Maximum:	83981.91185

   Overburden

   Overburden thickness in ft. (Source: User Defined)

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • U.S. Geological Survey Central Energy Resources Team

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   USGS Energy Resources Team
   c/o Margaret Ellis
   Geologist
   Box 25046
   MS 939
   Denver Federal Center
   Denver, CO 80225-0046
   USA
   

   303.236.7775 (voice)
   mellis@usgs.gov
   

   Hours_of_Service: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM- 3:00 PM

Why was the data set created?

The Nation's coal resources are being assessed by the USGS. This assessment identifies and characterizes the coal beds and coal zones that will provide the bulk of the Nation's coal-derived energy during the next few decades. This assessment is different from previous USGS assessments because digital files and databases are being collected and stored in standardized formats, and being analyzed using a Geographic Information System (GIS).

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   None (source 1 of 2)

   Resources, USGS Energy Team, Unpublished material, USGS National Coal Resource Data System.

   Other_Citation_Details:

   US Geological Survey MS 956 Reston, VA 20192 (attn. M.D. Carter)

   Type_of_Source_Media: online

   Source_Contribution:

   This source conributed stratigraphic and location data that was used to generate a grid that represented the elevation at the top of the uppermost coal in the ferris 25 coal zone.

   DEM (source 2 of 2)

   USGS EROS Data Center, Unpublished material, 30-minute digital elevation models.

   Other_Citation_Details: http//edcwww.cr.usgs.gov

   Type_of_Source_Media: online

   Source_Scale_Denominator: 250000

   Source_Contribution:

   This source contributed data that was used to generate a grid in ARC/INFO that represented the topographic elevation (surface elevation) in the area of the Ferris 25 study limit.

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

   Date: 1997 (process 1 of 1)

   Stratigraphic data were compiled in a relational database. These data were correlated and the coal and rock above, within, and below the Ferris 25 coal zone were labeled. Stratigraphic data for the coal and rock units within the Ferris 25 coal zone were downloaded from the database. These data were loaded into a EarthVision (EV) software program. The elevation at the top of the zone was then gridded in EV using the normal minimum tension grid option, four multiple data points (number of closest control points used for calculating a grid value), and a 500 x 500-meter grid spacing. The ARC/INFO DEM coverage (with 500 x 500-meter data spacing) was imported into EV, defined as a grid file, and clipped to the same lateral extent as the EV grid of the top of the coal zone. Using the EV formula processor, the top of the coal zone grid was subtracted from the surface elevation (DEM) grid to create a (minimum) overburden grid. An isopach map was then generated from this grid, with a constant contour interval of 100 ft, and saved to a file in ASCII format. The ASCII file was modified using a custom program called ismarc. The modified file was imported into ARC/INFO and generated as a polygon coverage using an Arc Macro Language (AML). The AML clipped the coverage to the study extent and assigned the overburden thickness polygons with values that are the average of the values of the bounding isopach lines (for example, a polygon defined by isopach lines of 100 and 200 ft was assigned an overburden thickness attribute of 150 ft). A new item was then added to the polygon attribute table and populated with text labels corresponding more closely to overburden categories that we were to use for coal resource tables and graphic display (0-100 ft, 100-200 ft, 200-300 ft, 300-400 ft, 400-500 ft, 500-1,000 ft, 1,000- 2,000 ft, 2,000-3,000 ft, 3,000-4,000 ft, and >4,000 ft). The polygon coverage was then dissolved based on the text labels. The final coverage was projected to geographic and made into a shapefile in ArcView.

   Person who carried out this activity:
   

   Margaret Ellis
   USGS Energy Resources Team
   Geologist
   Box 25046
   MS 939
   Denver Federal Center
   Denver, CO 80225-0046
   USA
   

   303.236.7775 (voice)
   mellis@usgs.gov
   

   Hours_of_Service: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM- 3:00 PM

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?

   Limited to software coordinates precession to geographic coordinates

3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

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

   Limited to Ferris 25 Coal Zone

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

   Polygon features present

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: None

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 2)
   USGS Information Services
   Box 25286 Denver Federal Center
   Denver, CO 80225-0046
   USA
   

   1-888-ASK-USGS (voice)
   1-303-202-4693 (FAX)
   

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

   USGS Professional Paper 1625-A

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   This Compact Disc-Read Only Memory(CD-ROM) publication was prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof.
   Although all data and software published on this CD-ROM have been used by the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and related materials and (or) the functioning of the software. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of this data, software, or related materials.

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

     Data format:	Geographic features and attributes in format Shapefile (version 1.0)
     Network links:	<http://energy.cr.usgs.gov/coal/nca/rockiesgis.htm>
     Media you can order:	CD-ROM (2 disc set) (format ISO 9660)

   • Cost to order the data: See <http://mapping.usgs.gov/esic/prices/index.html>

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1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 2 of 2)
   USGS Energy Resources Team
   Box 25046
   MS 939
   Denver Federal Center
   Denver, CO 80225-0046
   USA
   

   303.236.1647 (voice)
   

   Hours_of_Service: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM- 3:00 PM

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

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   The US Geological Survey provides these geographic data "as is." The USGS makes no guarantee or warranty concerning the accuracy of information contained in this geographic data. The USGS further makes no warranties, either expressed or implied as to any other matter whatsoever, including, without limitation, the condition of the product, or its fitness for any particular purpose. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user. Although these data have been processed successfully on USGS computers, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS regarding the use of these data on any other system, nor does the fact of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty. In no event shall the USGS have any liability whatsoever for payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, or tort damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, any loss of profits arising out of use of or reliance on the geographic data or arising out of the delivery, installation, operation, or support by the USGS.

4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 15-Dec-1998

Metadata author:

USGS Energy Resources Team
c/o Margaret Ellis
Geologist
Box 25046
MS 939
Denver Federal Center
Denver, CO 80225-0046
USA

303.236.7775 (voice)
mellis@usgs.gov

Hours_of_Service: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM- 3:00 PM

Metadata standard:

FGDC CSDGM (FGDC-STD-001-1998)