Identification_Information:
	Citation:
		Citation_Information:
			Originator: United States Geological Survey (USGS) Central Re
			Publication_Date: 19990930
			Title: Rscat.shp (Net Coal Thickness in the Colstrip Coalfield)
			Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
			Publication_Information:
				Publication_Place: Denver
				Publisher: USGS Central Region Energy Resources Team
	Description:
		Abstract:
			This ArcView shapefile contains a polygon representation
			of the total, net coal thickness map of
			the Rosebud-Robinson coal zone in the Colstrip Coalfield
			(Powder River Basin) Montana.  This theme was created
			specifically for the National Coal Resources Assessment in
			the Northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains Region.
		Purpose:
			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).
		Supplemental_Information:
			The total, net coal thickness map theme represents a
			digital polygon coverage of the total, net coal thickness
			(isopach) map for the Rosebud-Robinson coal zone.
			The original total, net coal isopach map for the
			Rosebud-Robinson coal zone was constructed by
			contouring a gridded data set of values derived from the
			summation of net coal thickness (excluding partings) for all
			coal beds within the coal zone at drill hole and outcrop
			locations.  This map, therefore, reflects the distribution of
			the cumulative (total) coal thickness for all coal beds within
			the zone rather than the thickness of any individual coal
			bed except in areas stratigraphically below the McKay coal
			bed, where thickness values reflect the thickness of the
			Robinson (or lower Robinson) coal bed alone.  Coal beds
			less than 2.5 feet thick were not included in the data used
			to construct the isopach map.  The map extent used for
			the total, net coal isopach map of the Rosebud-Robinson
			coal zone is constrained by the Crow and Northern
			Cheyenne Indian Reservation boundaries, the outcrop (or
			clinker contact) of the Robinson or lower Robinson coal
			bed, and the outcrop (or clinker contact) of the Rosebud
			coal bed.
			About 300 data points (drill hole and outcrop locations)
			were used in the calculation of the total, net coal
			isopach map of the Rosebud-Robinson coal zone.  This
			total includes published drill hole information, data from
			operators of the Rosebud coal mine and limited data from
			the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Indian Reservations.
			The drill hole and outcrop data were imported into a
			gridding and contouring software package (EarthVision;
			Dynamic Graphics, Inc.).  An isopach (equal thickness) grid
			was calculated and used to generate the total, net coal
			isopach map.  The grid spacing used in this calculation
			was 200 x 200 meters and the grid extent covers an area
			of approximately 219,000 acres (342 mi2).  Minor editing of
			the grid file was necessary to generate results more
			consistent with our interpretations of the coal geology in
			the study area.
			Upon completion of the edits, the isopach map was
			converted to a contour output file in EarthVision, and
			subsequently converted into a digital polygon coverage by
			using a combination of programs ('ISMARC' and
			'CONVERT-ISM.AML') furnished to the U.S. Geological
			Survey by the Illinois State Geological Survey.  This total,
			net coal isopach coverage was then generalized using a
			weed tolerance of 30 meters to reduce file size.  The
			generalized cover was then converted to a shapefile for
			incorporation as a theme in the ArcView project. The total,
			net coal thickness categories as shown in the theme (for
			example, 2.5 - 5.0 ft, 5.0 - 10 ft, etc.) are consistent with
			total coal thickness categories used in the tabulation of
			coal resources.
	Time_Period_of_Content:
		Time_Period_Information:
			Single_Date/Time:
				Calendar_Date: 19990000
		Currentness_Reference: Publication Date
	Status:
		Progress: Complete
		Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
	Spatial_Domain:
		Bounding_Coordinates:
			West_Bounding_Coordinate: -107.2459
			East_Bounding_Coordinate: -106.4404
			North_Bounding_Coordinate: 45.9821
			South_Bounding_Coordinate: 45.6728
	Keywords:
		Theme:
			Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
			Theme_Keyword: Total, net coal thickness
			Theme_Keyword: Rosebud-Robinson coal zone
			Theme_Keyword: Isopach map
		Place:
			Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: None
			Place_Keyword: Rosebud County
			Place_Keyword: Treasure County
			Place_Keyword: Big Horn County
			Place_Keyword: Montana
			Place_Keyword: Colstrip Coalfield
			Place_Keyword: Northern Rocky Mountains and Great Plains
	Access_Constraints: None
	Use_Constraints: None
	Point_of_Contact:
		Contact_Information:
			Contact_Organization_Primary:
				Contact_Organization: USGS Central Region Energy Resources Team
				Contact_Person: Steve Roberts
			Contact_Address:
				Address_Type: mailing address
				Address:
					Box 25046 MS 939
					Denver Federal Center
				City: Denver
				State_or_Province: CO
				Postal_Code: 80225-0046
				Country: USA
			Contact_Voice_Telephone: 303.236.7788
	Native_Data_Set_Environment:
		Sun0S, 5.51 sun4d Unix
		ArcView version 3.0
		ARC/INFO version 7.1.2
Data_Quality_Information:
	Attribute_Accuracy:
		Attribute_Accuracy_Report: No part of this data was field checked for accuracy.
	Logical_Consistency_Report: Polygon features present
	Completeness_Report:
		The total, net coal thickness is limited to the
		Rosebud-Robinson coal zone
	Positional_Accuracy:
		Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy:
			Horizontal_Positional_Accuracy_Report:
				Limited to software coordinate precision for geographic
				coordinates.
	Lineage:
		Source_Information:
			Source_Citation:
				Citation_Information:
					Originator: USGS Central Region Energy Resource (Tertiary Team).
					Publication_Date: Unknown
					Publication_Time: Unknown
					Title: Northern Rocky Mountain and Great Plains Fort Union Stratifact Database.
					Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
			Type_of_Source_Media: Digital
			Source_Time_Period_of_Content:
				Time_Period_Information:
					Single_Date/Time:
						Calendar_Date: Unknown
				Source_Currentness_Reference: Ground Condition
			Source_Citation_Abbreviation: None
			Source_Contribution:
				This source provided the point data needed to generate an
				EarthVision grid that represented the total, net coal
				thickness of the Rosebud-Robinson coal zone.
		Process_Step:
			Process_Description:
				The original total, net coal isopach map for the
				Rosebud-Robinson coal zone was constructed by
				contouring a gridded data set of values derived from the
				summation of net coal thickness (excluding partings) for all
				coal beds within the coal zone at drill hole and outcrop
				locations.  This map, therefore, reflects the distribution of
				the cumulative (total) coal thickness for all coal beds within
				the zone rather than the thickness of any individual coal
				bed except in areas stratigraphically below the McKay coal
				bed, where thickness values reflect the thickness of the
				Robinson (or lower Robinson) coal bed alone.  Coal beds
				less than 2.5 feet thick were not included in the data used
				to construct the isopach map.  The map extent used for
				the total, net coal isopach map of the Rosebud-Robinson
				coal zone is constrained by the Crow and Northern
				Cheyenne Indian Reservation boundaries, the outcrop (or
				clinker contact) of the Robinson or lower Robinson coal
				bed, and the outcrop (or clinker contact) of the Rosebud
				coal bed.
				About 300 data points (drill hole and outcrop
				locations) were used in the calculation of the total, net coal
				isopach map of the Rosebud-Robinson coal zone.  This
				total includes published drill hole information, data from
				operators of the Rosebud coal mine and limited data from
				the Northern Cheyenne and Crow Indian Reservations.
				The drill hole and outcrop data were imported into a
				gridding and contouring software package (EarthVision;
				Dynamic Graphics, Inc.).  An isopach (equal thickness) grid
				was calculated and used to generate the total, net coal
				isopach map.  The grid spacing used in this calculation
				was 200 x 200 meters and the grid extent covers an area
				of approximately 219,000 acres (342 mi2).  Minor editing of
				the grid file was necessary to generate results more
				consistent with our interpretations of the coal geology in
				the study area.  Upon completion of the edits, the isopach
				map was converted to a contour output file in EarthVision,
				and subsequently converted into a digital polygon
				coverage by using a combination of programs ('ISMARC'
				and 'CONVERT-ISM.AML') furnished to the U.S.
				Geological Survey by the Illinois State Geological Survey.
				This total, net coal isopach coverage was then generalized
				using a weed tolerance of 30 meters to reduce file size.
				The generalized cover was then converted to a shapefile
				for incorporation as a theme in the ARCVIEW project. The
				total, net coal thickness categories as shown in the theme
				(for example, 2.5 - 5.0 ft, 5.0 - 10 ft, etc.) are consistent
				with total coal thickness categories used in the tabulation
				of coal resources.
			Process_Date: 19990000
			Process_Contact:
				Contact_Information:
					Contact_Organization_Primary:
						Contact_Organization: USGS Central Region Energy Resources Team
						Contact_Person: Steve Roberts
					Contact_Address:
						Address_Type: mailing address
						Address:
							Box 25046 MS 939
							Denver Federal Center
						City: Denver
						State_or_Province: CO
						Postal_Code: 80225-0046
						Country: USA
					Contact_Voice_Telephone: 303.236.7788
Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
	Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: Vector
	Point_and_Vector_Object_Information:
		SDTS_Terms_Description:
			SDTS_Point_and_Vector_Object_Type: GT-polygon composed of chains
			Point_and_Vector_Object_Count: 7
Spatial_Reference_Information:
	Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
		Geographic:
			Latitude_Resolution: .0001
			Longitude_Resolution: .0001
			Geographic_Coordinate_Units: Decimal degrees
		Geodetic_Model:
			Horizontal_Datum_Name: North American Datum 1927
			Ellipsoid_Name: Clarke 1866
			Semi-major_Axis: 6378206.4
			Denominator_of_Flattening_Ratio: 294.98
Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
	Detailed_Description:
		Entity_Type:
			Entity_Type_Label: rscat.dbf
			Entity_Type_Definition: Shapefile Attribute Table
			Entity_Type_Definition_Source: None
		Attribute:
			Attribute_Label: Thickness
			Attribute_Definition: Coal Thickness in ft.
			Attribute_Definition_Source: User Defined
			Attribute_Domain_Values:
				Unrepresentable_Domain: Character field
Distribution_Information:
	Distributor:
		Contact_Information:
			Contact_Organization_Primary:
				Contact_Organization: USGS Central Region Energy Resources Team
			Contact_Address:
				Address_Type: mailing address
				Address:
					Box 25046 MS 939
					Denver Federal Center
				City: Denver
				State_or_Province: CO
				Postal_Code: 80225-0046
				Country: USA
			Contact_Voice_Telephone: 303.236.1647
	Distribution_Liability:
		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.
Metadata_Reference_Information:
	Metadata_Date: 19990000
	Metadata_Contact:
		Contact_Information:
			Contact_Organization_Primary:
				Contact_Organization: USGS Central Region Energy Resources Team
				Contact_Person: Steve Roberts
			Contact_Address:
				Address_Type: mailing address
				Address:
					Box 25046 MS 939
					Denver Federal Center
				City: Denver
				State_or_Province: CO
				Postal_Code: 80225-0046
				Country: USA
			Contact_Voice_Telephone: 303.236.7788
	Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC CSDGM
	Metadata_Standard_Version: 19940608