U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Database for USGS Map I-1970 -- Map Showing the Thickness and Character of Quaternary Sediments in the Glaciated United States East of the Rocky Mountains [NOTE: This database supersedes USGS Digital Data Series 38.] By D.R. Soller, P.H. Packard, and C.P. Garrity Scale 1:1,000,000 U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 656 Online linkage: http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/656/ INTRODUCTION U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1970 is a 1:1,000,000-scale map of Quaternary deposits (including both glacial and glacially related sediments, and any overlying Holocene sediments) compiled for the glaciated area of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains (that is, the area covered by the Laurentide ice sheets). Parts of southern Ontario, areas beneath the Great Lakes, and parts of the submerged eastern seaboard also are included on the map. The map has four principal geologic components that together provide the first regional three-dimensional view of these deposits. These components are: (1) the surface distribution of Quaternary sediments; (2) the total thickness of Quaternary sediments; (3) significant thin, surficial Quaternary units ("veneers" of sediment overlying the unit generally mapped for a given area); and (4) significant buried Quaternary sediments. The map is a regional synthesis and interpretation of available geologic data derived from about 850 sources of information. It was published in four sheets, as Map I-1970-A--D (Soller, 1993a, 1994, 1997, and 1998). It also was simplified and printed at the reduced scale of 1:3,500,000 (Soller, 1993b, 2001). Text and references to support the map are provided by Soller (1992). The Geographic Information System (GIS) data from which the map was printed were released on CDROM (Soller and Packard, 1998). To allow this large map to be printed, new digital methods were developed (Soller and others, 1990). The GIS and digital printing technology of the early 1990s required that the map be divided into manageable pieces. Therefore, the mosaic of 23 4-degree by 6-degree International Map of the World Series quadrangles, upon which the map was compiled, was taken apart, and each quadrangle was processed separately. Because the file size was quite large for a database of the entire map area, GIS files in the first version of this database (Soller and Packard, 1998) were provided by quadrangle rather than for the entire area. For each of these quadrangles, the geologic information was supported by a rudimentary vector base map adapted from existing paper and digital bases. With gradual advances in GIS technology, and owing to continued user requests for the map database, it became incumbent on us to reprocess the database in order to ensure its usefulness in a modern GIS. Data Series 656 contains the updated database, organized in ten feature classes in an ESRI Geodatabase. Reprocessing a published database for these and other reasons will, in time, become necessary for other agency publications. The experience gained in updating this map for use in a modern GIS may inform agencies as they develop plans to prioritize older publications in need of updating and may help agencies in estimating the resources necessary to address this important responsibility. Regarding the use of this product, as noted in the descriptive text for Map I-1970: "This map is a regional overview and is intended to supplement the more detailed work on which it is based. Particularly in populated areas, detailed mapping is vital to site-specific planning. In contrast, regional maps such as this serve to place local, detailed mapping in context, to permit the extrapolation of data into unmapped areas, and to depict large-scale regional geologic features and patterns that are beyond the scope of local, detailed mapping. This map is also intended as a regional planning document that can assist in setting priorities for areas in need of more detailed mapping and assessment. It can be used to support regional decision-making on societal issues such as susceptibility of ground water in aquifers to contamination from surface-applied chemicals (see Soller and Berg, 1992). The map has been used as a regional framework in numerous scientific studies, and to support research and discussion on numerous societal issues. For example, it was used to help locate earthquake liquefaction features, by providing the regional framework needed to prioritize areas for search." SUGGESTED CITATION: Soller, D.R., Packard, P.H., and Garrity, C.P., 2012, Database for USGS Map I-1970 -- Map showing the thickness and character of Quaternary sediments in the glaciated United States east of the Rocky Mountains: U.S. Geological Survey Data Series 656, available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/656/. GETTING STARTED The geodatabase and associated files are bundled in a single downloadable zip file called USGS_DS_656.zip. To install: Download USGS_DS_656.zip (~75 MB space required) to local hard drive. Open with zip utility and click the "Extract" button. (Highlighting of the individual files is not necessary.) Extract contents to a destination on the local hard drive. A folder will be created called USGS_DS_656. Inside the folder, click USGS_DS_656.mxd to launch the map document. FOLDER CONTENTS When USGS_DS_656.zip is extracted, a folder by the same name is created. The contents of the folder are: USGS_DS_656.mxd -- ArcGIS map document that launches ArcMap. USGS_DS_656.gdb -- ArcGIS file geodatabase containing comprehensive spatial data. USGS_DS_656.pmf -- ArcReader portable map file that launches ArcReader. "Layer_files" -- Folder containing ArcGIS symbology files for feature classes in the file geodatabase. METADATA The geodatabase has associated FGDC metadata viewable and exportable through ArcCatalog. To view the metadata file, simply click on the feature class in ArcCatalog and then click the Metadata tab > FGDC Metadata. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS ArcGIS Desktop 9.2 or higher Windows Vista /Windows XP /Windows 2000 CPU Speed: 1.0 GHz or higher recommended Processor: Intel Pentium or Intel Xeon Processors Memory/RAM: 512 MB minimum, 1 GB or greater recommended Display Color: Greater than 256 color depth Data Disk Space Requirements: ~75 MB File Geodatabase and associated files (unzipped) Inquiries about this publication should be addressed to: David R. Soller U.S. Geological Survey 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive MS 926-A National Center Reston, VA 20192 Telephone: (703) 648-6907 Email: drsoller@usgs.gov REFERENCES CITED Soller, D.R., 1992, Text and references to accompany "Map showing the thickness and character of Quaternary sediments in the glaciated United States east of the Rocky Mountains": U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin 1921, 54 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/dds/dds38/b1921.html. Soller, D.R., 1993a, Map showing the thickness and character of Quaternary sediments in the glaciated United States east of the Rocky Mountains--Northeastern States, the Great Lakes, and parts of southern Ontario and the Atlantic offshore area (east of 80 degrees 31 minutes west longitude): U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1970-A, scale 1:1,000,000, http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_10047.htm. Soller, D.R., 1993b, Preliminary map showing the thickness and character of Quaternary sediments in the United States east of the Rocky Mountains: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 93-543, scale 1:3,500,000, http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_12765.htm. Soller, D.R., 1994, Map showing the thickness and character of Quaternary sediments in the glaciated United States east of the Rocky Mountains--Northern Plains States (west of 102 degrees west longitude): U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1970-D, scale 1:1,000,000, http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_10048.htm. Soller, D.R., 1997, Map showing the thickness and character of Quaternary sediments in the glaciated United States east of the Rocky Mountains--Northern and Central Plains States (90 degrees to 102 degrees west longitude): U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1970-C, scale 1:1,000,000, http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_13020.htm. Soller, D.R., 1998, Map showing the thickness and character of Quaternary sediments in the glaciated United States east of the Rocky Mountains--Northern Great Lakes States and central Mississippi Valley States, the Great Lakes, and southern Ontario (80 degrees 31 minutes to 93 degrees west longitude): U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1970-B, scale 1:1,000,000, http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_13019.htm. Soller, D.R., 2001, Map showing the thickness and character of Quaternary sediments in the glaciated United States east of the Rocky Mountains: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1970-E, scale 1:3,500,000, http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_52177.htm. Soller, D.R., and Berg, R.C., 1992, Using regional geologic information to assess relative aquifer contamination potential--an example from the central United States: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 92-694, scale 1:1,000,000, http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_18358.htm. Soller, D.R., and Packard, P.H., 1998, Digital representation of a map showing the thickness and character of Quaternary sediments in the glaciated United States east of the Rocky Mountains: U.S. Geological Survey Digital Data Series DDS-38, 1 CD-ROM, http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/Prodesc/proddesc_18910.htm. Soller, D.R., Stettner, W.R., Lanfear, K.J., and Aitken, D.S., 1990, A user's manual for a method of map scanning and digital editing for thematic map production and data-base construction: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1054, 38 p., http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/1990/1054/report.pdf.