GEOLOGIC AND TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS OF THE KABUL NORTH 30’ X 60’ QUADRANGLE,
AFGHANISTAN

By Robert G. Bohannon

2010

U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Map 3120

U.S. Geological Survey Afghanistan Project Product no. 188

ABSTRACT

This report consists of two map sheets, this pamphlet, and a collection of database files. Sheet 1 is the
geologic map with two highly speculative cross sections, and sheet 2 is a topographic map that
comprises all the support data for the geologic map. Both maps (sheets 1 and 2) are produced at
1:100,000-scale and are provided in GeoPDF format that preserves the georegistration and original
layering. The database files include images of the topographic hillshade (shaded relief) and
color-topography files used to create the topographic maps, a copy of the Landsat image, and a
gray-scale basemap. Vector data from each of the layers that comprise both maps are provided in
the form of Arc/INFO shapefiles.

Most of the geologic interpretations and all of the topographic data were derived exclusively from
images. A variety of image types were used, and each image type corresponds to a unique view of
the geology. The geologic interpretations presented here are the result of comparing and contrasting
between the various images and making the best uses of the strengths of each image type. A limited
amount of fieldwork, in the spring of 2004 and the fall of 2006, was carried out within the quadrangle,
but all the war-related dangers present in Afghanistan restricted its scope, duration, and utility. The
maps that are included in this report represent works-in-progress in that they are simply intended to
be the best possible product for the time available and conditions that exist during the early phases
of reconstruction in Afghanistan. 

This report has been funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)
as a part of several broader programs that USAID designed to stimulate growth in the energy and
mineral sectors of the Afghan economy. The main objective is to provide maps that will be used by
scientists of the Afghan Ministry of Mines, the Afghanistan Geological Survey, and the Afghan
Geodesy and Cartography Head Office in their efforts to rebuild the energy and mineral sectors
of their economy. 

PURPOSE:
The main objective is to provide maps that will be used by scientists of the Afghan Ministry of Mines,
the Afghanistan Geological Survey, and the Afghan Geodesy and Cartography Head Office in their
efforts to re-build the energy and mineral sectors of their economy. At the same time, the maps provide
a jump-start for the fledgling internal mapping programs of those agencies.  It is hoped that this set
of maps will emerge eventually in new and improved versions as Afghan earth scientists modify them
in response to knowledge gained from more detailed field-oriented studies. 

DISCLAIMERS  

This database, identified as SIM3120, has been approved for release and publication by the Director
of the USGS.  Although this database has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially
complete, the USGS reserves the right to revise the data pursuant to further analysis and review.
Furthermore, it is released on condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government
may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use.

Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological
Survey, no warranty, expressed or implies is made regarding the display or utility of the data on
any other system, or for general or scientific purposes, nor shall the act of distribution constitute
such warranty.  The U.S. Geological Survey shall not be held liable for improper or incorrect use of the 
data described and/or contained herein.

Any use of trade, product or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply
endorsement by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Although this information product, for the most part, is in the public domain, it also contains
copyrighted material as noted in the text.  Permission to reproduce copyrighted items for other
than personal use must be secured from the  copyright owner.

NOTE:  There may be some discrepancies between the geoPDF/PDF's and the geodatabase (gdb).
The gdb has been through the the complete digital review process, and takes precedence over the
geoPDF or PDF's, which should be used as a edited graphic presentation only.  

CONTENTS

00README.txt
SIM3120_pamphlet.pdf
SIM3120_sheet1_GeoPDF.pdf -- A georeferenced PDF file
SIM3120_sheet2_GeoPDF.pdf -- A georeferenced PDF file
SIM3120.met

The following files are included for ease of printing only, and do not contain any fonts:
SIM3120_sheet1_print.pdf
SIM3120_sheet2_print.pdf


DATA FILES:

Kabul_north.gdb
	Basemap
		citybounds
		contours90mDEM
		elevations
		kabul_north_xsections
		lakes
		rivers
		roads
		settlements
	Geology
		kabul_north_dikes
		kabul_north_folds
		kabul_north_geo
		kabul_north_geo_labels
		kabul_north_lines
		kabul_north_paleoshores
		kabul_north_pnts		

shapefiles
	basemap
		citybounds.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		contours90mDEM.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		elevations.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		kabul_north_xsections.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		lakes.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		rivers.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		roads.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		settlements.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
	Geology
		kabul_north_dikes.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		kabul_north_folds.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		kabul_north_geo.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		kabul_north_geo_labels.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		kabul_north_lines.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		kabul_north_paleoshores.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)
		kabul_north_pnts.shp (dbf./prj./sbn./sbx./shp.xml./shx.)

Kabul_north_hillshade
Kabul_north_landsat_731.tif/tfw
SIM3120_base.tif/tfw
		

INSTRUCTIONS AND DOCUMENTATION FOR U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY SIM 3120
To access the data:

The database can be downloaded via the Web from http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3120/.
The main products are two georeferenced Portable Document Format (.pdf) maps,and a pamphlet in
Portable Document Format (.pdf).The pamphlet requires Adobe Acrobat for viewing. Acrobat
software runs on a variety of systems, and is available for download free of charge from Adobe at:
http://www.adobe.com. 

The two map sheets are in a georeferenced Portable Document Format (PDF)
(SIM3120_sheet1_GeoPDF.pdf, and SIM3120_sheet2_GeoPDF.pdf).  In Acrobat 9,  in the free reader, or using
Adobe Acrobat Pro a set of analysis tools can be found to review the georeferenced .pdf's.
Under the tools menu (tools => Analysis => Object Data Tool). The tools can be used
to read your location and access object-oriented attributing. It will only read the top layer.
To read other layers, turn off the layers that are not to be read.

The TerraGo Technologies free GeoPDF toolbar can also be used, which can be
downloaded at http://www.terragotech.com/products/terrago-toolbar/. 
The geoPDF files can be downloaded, from which paper copies may be printed.  To print files that do not
contain any fonts, use the SIM3120_sheet1_print.pdf or the SIM3120_sheet2_print.pdf files.