Geologic Map of the Wilderness and Handy Quadrangles, Oregon, Carter, and Ripley Counties, Missouri

Abstract

The bedrock exposed in the Wilderness and Handy quadrangles, Missouri, comprises Early Ordovician aged dolomite, sandstone, and chert. The sedimentary rocks are nearly flat-lying except where they are adjacent to faults. The carbonate rocks are karstified and the area contains numerous sinkholes, springs, caves, and losing-streams.

This map is one of several being produced under the U.S. Geological Survey National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program to provide geologic data applicable to land-use problems in the Ozarks of south-central Missouri.  Ongoing and potential industrial and agricultural development in the Ozarks region has presented issues of ground-water quality in karst areas.  These quadrangles contain significant areas of the Mark Twain National Forest, including part of the Eleven Point National Scenic Riverway and the Irish Wilderness Roadless Area. A National Park in this region (Ozark National Scenic Riverways, Missouri ) is concerned about the effects of activities in areas outside of their stewardship on the water resources that define the heart of this Park. This task applies geologic mapping and karst investigations to address issues surrounding competing land use in south-central Missouri. For more information see:
http://geology.er.usgs.gov/eespteam/Karst/

Data Available in this Report

• Geology of the Wilderness and Handy quadrangles map -- Complete Geologic Investigations Series I-2801 map plate (Harrison and McDowell, 2003) (zipped PDF format - 11.6 MB)
• Readme file with file structure of data and other miscellaneous information (.txt format)
• GIS Data:

• Compressed GIS vector data: (shapefiles.zip - 960 KB)
• ArcMap 9.2 file for displaying GIS data layers (requires ArcMap 9.2 or above) (WH_Arc9_2.zip - 529 KB)
• Metadata available in compressed .html files: (metadata.zip - 68 KB)
• Basemaps as compressed georegistered raster files:  (basemaps.zip 6.8 MB)