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Geologic Map of Alaska: geologic units

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, 1997, Geologic Map of Alaska: geologic units: U.S. Geological Survey, Anchorage, AK.

   Online Links:

   • <http://agdc.usgs.gov/data/usgs/geology/>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: 167.0

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -130.0

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 72.0

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 51.0

3. What does it look like?

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

   Calendar_Date: 1997

   Currentness_Reference: Creation of the digital coverage

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):

      • Point (5069)
      • String (11131)
      • GT-polygon composed of chains (5070)

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

      The map projection used is Albers Conical Equal Area.

      Projection parameters:

      Standard_Parallel: 55.0

      Standard_Parallel: 65.0

      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -154.0

      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 50.0

      False_Easting: 0.0

      False_Northing: 0.0

      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 1.0
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 1.0
      Planar coordinates are specified in meters

      The horizontal datum used is North American Datum of 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?

   BEIKMAN.PAT

   Geologic units

   CODE

   Numerical code used to differentiate geologic units

   BEIKMAN.AAT

   Attribute table of BEIKMAN

   BEIKMAN.LUT

   Explains coding used in BEIKMAN.PAT

   CODE

   Numerical code used to differentiate geologic units

   Value	Definition
   101	Qhvf
   102	Tvf
   103	TKvf
   104	uKvf
   105	Kvf
   106	vf
   201	Qhvi
   202	Qpvi
   203	Qvi
   204	QTvi
   205	Tmvi
   206	lTvi
   207	Tvi
   208	lKvi
   209	Kvi
   210	KJvi
   211	Jvi
   301	Qhvm
   302	Qpvm
   303	Qvm
   304	QTvm
   305	lTvm
   306	Tvm
   307	TKvm
   308	KJvm
   309	TRvm
   310	JPvm
   311	MzPzvm
   312	Pvm
   313	Dvm
   314	Cvm
   315	Pzvm
   401	Qhv
   402	Qpv
   403	Qv
   404	QTv
   405	Tpv
   406	Tmv
   407	uTv
   408	Txv
   409	lTv
   410	Tv
   411	TKv
   412	lKv
   413	Kv
   414	KJv
   415	Dv
   416	Ov
   417	Zv
   501	Tmif
   502	Toif
   503	Teif
   504	Txif
   505	Tif
   506	TKif
   507	TMzif
   508	uKif
   509	Kif
   510	Jif
   511	Mzif
   512	MzPzif
   513	IPif
   514	uPzif
   515	if
   601	mTii
   602	Tii
   603	TKii
   604	uKii
   605	Kii
   606	KJii
   607	Jii
   608	JTRii
   609	Mzii
   610	MzPzii
   611	Sii
   612	Pzii
   701	Tmim
   702	mTim
   703	Tim
   704	TKim
   705	TMzim
   706	Kim
   707	Jim
   708	Mzim
   709	Pim
   710	IPim
   711	uPzim
   712	lPzim
   713	Pzim
   714	Zim
   715	im
   801	Ti
   802	TKi
   803	uKi
   804	Ki
   805	Mzi
   806	MzPzi
   807	IPi
   808	Oi
   809	Pzi
   810	lPzpCi
   811	PzpCi
   812	i
   901	Tu
   902	TKu
   903	Ku
   904	Mzu
   905	JPu
   906	MzPzu
   907	IPu
   908	Ou
   909	lPzu
   910	Pzu
   911	u
   1001	Q
   1002	Qh
   1003	Qp
   1011	T
   1012	mT
   1013	uT
   1014	lT
   1015	Tp
   1016	Tm
   1017	To
   1018	Te
   1100	MzPz
   1111	K
   1112	uK
   1113	lK
   1121	KJ
   1122	KJ1
   1123	KJ2
   1124	KJ3
   1131	J
   1132	uJ
   1133	mJ
   1134	lJ
   1141	JP
   1142	JM
   1151	JTR
   1152	TR
   1153	uTR
   1154	TRP
   1155	TRD
   1161	P
   1162	PIP
   1163	IP
   1164	IPM
   1165	Pz
   1166	uPz
   1167	lPz
   1171	M
   1172	MD
   1173	D
   1174	uD
   1175	umD
   1176	DS
   1181	S
   1182	O
   1183	SO
   1184	C
   1185	OpC
   1191	lPzpC
   1192	Z
   1193	Z1
   1194	Z2
   1211	Tpc
   1212	uTc
   1221	Tmc
   1222	mTc
   1223	lTc
   1224	Txc
   1225	Tc
   1226	TKc
   1231	uKc
   1232	lKc
   1311	lJm
   1321	Mzm
   1322	JPm
   1331	Pzm
   1341	PzpCm

   MAP_UNIT_ABBREV

   Abbreviation for geologic map units (i.e. labels used on printed map). (Source: Beikman, H.M., 1980, Geologic Map of Alaska.)

   Value	Definition
   Qhvf	Holocene felsic volcanic rocks
   Tvf	Tertiary felsic volcanic rocks
   TKvf	Tertiary and(or) Cretaceous felsic volcanic rocks
   uKvf	upper Cretaceous felsic volcanic rocks
   Kvf	Cretaceous felsic volcanic rocks
   vf	felsic volcanic rocks, age unknown
   Qhvi	Holocene intermediate volcanic rocks
   Qpvi	Pleistocene intermediate volcanic rocks
   Qvi	Quaternary intermediate volcanic rocks
   QTvi	Quaternary or Tertiary intermediate volcanic rocks
   Tmvi	Miocene intermediate volcanic rocks
   lTvi	lower Tertiary intermediate volcanic rocks
   Tvi	Tertiary intermediate volcanic rocks
   lKvi	lower Cretaceous intermediate volcanic rocks
   Kvi	Cretaceous intermediate volcanic rocks
   KJvi	Cretaceous and(or) Jurassic intermediate volcanic rocks
   Jvi	Jurassic intermediate volcanic rocks
   Qhvm	Holocene mafic volcanic rocks
   Qpvm	Pleistocene mafic volcanic rocks
   Qvm	Quaternary mafic volcanic rocks
   QTvm	Quaternary or Tertiary mafic volcanic rocks
   lTvm	lower Tertiary mafic volcanic rocks
   Tvm	Tertiary mafic volcanic rocks
   TKvm	Tertiary and(or) Cretaceous mafic volcanic rocks
   KJvm	Cretaceous and(or) Jurassic mafic volcanic rocks
   TRvm	Triassic mafic volcanic rocks
   JPvm	Jurassic, Triassic, and Permian mafic volcanic rocks
   MzPzvm	Paleozoic and Mesozoic mafic volcanic rocks
   Pvm	Permian mafic volcanic rocks
   Dvm	Devonian mafic volcanic rocks
   Cvm	Cambrian mafic volcanic rocks
   Pzvm	Paleozoic mafic volcanic rocks
   Qhv	Holocene mafic volcanic rocks
   Qpv	Pleistocene mafic volcanic rocks
   Qv	Quaternary mafic volcanic rocks
   QTv	Quaternary or Tertiary mafic volcanic rocks
   Tpv	Pliocene mafic volcanic rocks
   Tmv	Miocene mafic volcanic rocks
   uTv	upper Tertiary mafic volcanic rocks
   Txv	Paleocene mafic volcanic rocks
   lTv	lower Tertiary mafic rocks
   Tv	Tertiary mafic volcanic rocks
   TKv	Tertiary and(or) Cretaceous mafic volcanic rocks
   lKv	lower Cretaceous mafic volcanic rocks
   Kv	Cretaceous mafic volcanic rocks
   KJv	Cretaceous and(or) Jurassic mafic volcanic rocks
   Dv	Devonian mafic volcanic rocks
   Ov	Ordovician mafic volcanic rocks
   Zv	Precambrian Z mafic volcanic rocks
   Tmif	Miocene felsic intrusive rocks
   Toif	Oligocene felsic intrusive rocks
   Teif	Eocene felsic intrusive rocks
   Txif	Paleocene felsic intrusive rocks
   Tif	Tertiary felsic intrusive rocks
   TKif	Tertiary and(or) Cretaceous felsic intrusive rocks
   TMzif	Tertiary and(or) Mesozoic felsic intrusive rocks
   uKif	upper Cretaceous felsic intrusive rocks
   Kif	Cretaceous felsic intrusive rocks
   Jif	Jurassic felsic intrusive rocks
   Mzif	Mesozoic felsic intrusive rocks
   MzPzif	Mesozoic and Paleozoic felsic intrusive rocks
   IPif	Pennsylvanian felsic intrusive rocks
   uPzif	upper Paleozoic felsic intrusive rocks
   if	felsic intrusive rocks, age unknown
   mTii	middle Tertiary intermediate intrusive rocks
   Tii	Tertiary intermediate intrusive rocks
   TKii	Tertiary and(or) Cretaceous intermediate intrusive rocks
   uKii	upper Cretaceous intermediate intrusive rocks
   Kii	Cretaceous intermediate intrusive rocks
   KJii	Cretaceous and(or) Jurassic intermediate intrusive rocks
   Jii	Jurassic intermediate intrusive rocks
   JTRii	Jurassic and(or) Triassic intermediate intrusive rocks
   Mzii	Mesozoic intermediate intrusive rocks
   MzPzii	Mesozoic and Paleozoic intermediate intrusive rocks
   Sii	Silurian intermediate intrusive rocks
   Pzii	Paleozoic intermediate intrusive rocks
   Tmim	Miocene mafic intrusive rocks
   mTim	middle Tertiary intermediate intrusive rocks
   Tim	Tertiary mafic intrusive rocks
   TKim	Tertiary and(or) Cretaceous mafic intrusive rocks
   TMzim	Tertiary and(or) Mesozoic mafic intrusive rocks
   Kim	Cretaceous mafic intrusive rocks
   Jim	Jurassic mafic intrusive rocks
   Mzim	Mesozoic mafic intrusive rocks
   Pim	Permian mafic intrusive rocks
   IPim	Pennsylvanian mafic intrusive rocks
   uPzim	upper Paleozoic mafic intrusive rocks
   lPzim	lower Paleozoic mafic intrusive rocks
   Pzim	Paleozoic mafic intrusive rocks
   Zim	Precambrian Z mafic intrusive rocks
   im	mafic intrusive rocks, age unknown
   Ti	Tertiary mafic intrusive rocks
   TKi	Tertiary and(or) Cretaceous mafic intrusive rocks
   uKi	upper Cretaceous mafic intrusive rocks
   Ki	Cretaceous mafic rocks
   Mzi	Mesozoic mafic intrusive rocks
   MzPzi	Mesozoic and Paleozoic mafic intrusive rocks
   IPi	Pennsylvanian mafic intrusive rocks
   Oi	Ordovician mafic intrusive rocks
   Pzi	Paleozoic mafic intrusive rocks
   lPzpCi	lower Paleozoic and(or) Precambrian mafic intrusive rocks
   PzpCi	Paleozoic and(or) Precambrian mafic intrusive rocks
   i	mafic intrusive rocks, age unknown
   Tu	Tertiary ultramafic rocks
   TKu	Tertiary and(or) Cretaceous ultramafic rocks
   Ku	Cretaceous ultramafic rocks
   Mzu	Mesozoic ultramafic rocks
   JPu	Jurassic, Triassic, and Permian ultramafic rocks
   MzPzu	Mesozoic and Paleozoic ultramafic rocks
   IPu	Pennsylvanian ultramafic rocks
   Ou	Ordovician ultramafic rocks
   lPzu	lower Paleozoic ultramafic rocks
   Pzu	Paleozoic ultramafic rocks
   u	ultramafic rocks, age unknown
   Q	Quaternary deposits
   Qh	Holocene deposits
   Qp	Pleistocene deposits
   T	Tertiary rocks
   mT	middle Tertiary rocks
   uT	upper Tertiary rocks
   lT	lower Tertiary rocks
   Tp	Pliocene rocks
   Tm	Miocene rocks
   To	Oligocene rocks
   Te	Eocene rocks
   MzPz	Mesozoic and Paleozoic rocks
   K	Cretaceous rocks
   uK	upper Cretaceous rocks
   lK	lower Cretaceous rocks
   KJ	Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks
   KJ1	Cretaceous and upper Jurassic rocks
   KJ2	lower Cretaceous and upper Jurassic rocks
   KJ3	lower Cretaceous and upper Jurassic(?) rocks
   J	Jurassic rocks
   uJ	upper Jurassic rocks
   mJ	middle Jurassic rocks
   lJ	lower Jurassic rocks
   JP	Jurassic, Triassic, and Permian rocks
   JM	Jurassic to Mississippian rocks
   JTR	Jurassic and(or) Triassic rocks
   TR	Triassic rocks
   uTR	upper Triassic rocks
   TRP	Triassic and Permian rocks
   TRD	Triassic to Devonian rocks
   P	Permian rocks
   PIP	Permian and Pennsylvanian rocks
   IP	Pennsylvanian rocks
   IPM	Pennsylvanian and Mississippian rocks
   Pz	Paleozoic rocks
   uPz	upper Paleozoic rocks
   lPz	lower Paleozoic rocks
   M	Mississippian rocks
   MD	MississippiaN and(or) Devonian rocks
   D	Devonian rocks
   uD	upper Devonian rocks
   umD	upper and(or) middle Devonian rocks
   DS	Devonian and Silurian rocks
   S	Silurian rocks
   O	Ordovician rocks
   SO	SiluriaN and Ordovician rocks
   C	Cambrian rocks
   OpC	Ordovician, Cambrian, and Precambrian rocks
   lPzpC	lower Paleozoic and(or) Precambrian rocks
   Z	Precambrian Z rocks
   Z1	younger Precambrian Z rocks
   Z2	older Precambrian Z rocks
   Tpc	Pliocene continental deposits
   uTc	upper Tertiary continental deposits
   Tmc	Miocene continental deposits
   mTc	middle Tertiary continental deposits
   lTc	lower Tertiary continental deposits
   Txc	Paleocene continental deposits
   Tc	Tertiary continental deposits
   TKc	Tertiary and Cretaceous continental deposits
   uKc	upper Cretaceous continental deposits
   lKc	lower Cretaceous continental deposits
   lJm	lower Jurassic metamorphic rocks
   Mzm	Mesozoic metamorphic rocks
   JPm	Jurassic, Triassic, and Permian metamorphic rocks
   Pzm	Paleozoic metamorphic rocks
   PzpCm	Paleozoic and(or) Precambrian metamorphic rocks

   Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

   Geologic unit descriptions from Beikman, H.M., 1980, Geologic map of Alaska: U.S. Geological Survey Special Map, scale 1:2,500,000, 2 sheets.

   Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: <http://agdc.usgs.gov/data/usgs/geology/Beikman_units.txt>

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

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   S. J. Moll, Scott Bie, Devon Peterson, D. C. Pray, F.H. Wilson, J. M. Schmidt, J. R. Riehle, T.P. Miller

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   U.S. Geological Survey Alaska Section, Mineral Resource Surveys Program, Geologic Division
   GIS Support Staff
   4200 University Dr.
   Anchorage, AK 99508-4667
   

   (907)-786-7495 (voice)
   

Why was the data set created?

This coverage is intended to provide digital features (polygons) representing generalized geologic units in Alaska for use in small-scale spatial anlysis (statewide) with other coverages such as vegetation types, soils, geochemical values etc.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   Beikman 1980 (source 1 of 1)

   U.S. Geological Survey, 1980, Geologic Map of Alaska: Special publication SG0002-1T and SG0002-2T, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washinton, D.C..

   Type_of_Source_Media: Paper Map

   Source_Scale_Denominator: 2500000

   Source_Contribution: Geologic units and attributes

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

   Date: 1997 (process 1 of 2)

   The linework was digitized from a paper copy of the 1980 map at the EROS Data Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and the resulting coverage (ARC/INFO version 5) transferred to the EROS Alaska Field Office. Although the latitude/ longitude grid shown on the published Beikman map was an Albers equal area projection, the geologic polygons were not in the same projection since they did not align with an Albers equal area coverage of the Alaskan coastline. A rubber-sheeting operation was performed on the geologic polygons using points along the coastline and major rivers to match an Albers equal area projection. In 1997, this coverage was imported into ARC/INFO version 7.0.4, and edited by the Alaska Section, Geologic Divsion, USGS. Map unit (polygon)locations and attributes were checked by three reviewers, by comparing a printed copy of the coverage to the original map. Metadata were collected using document.aml v. 7.1.1, distributed by ESRI, Inc.

   Date: 22-May-2006 (process 2 of 2)

   Peter Schweitzer cleaned up the metadata, clarifying descriptions and fixing problems introduced by DOCUMENT.aml

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?

   The quality of the geology in the digital coverage is that of the original 1980 map. No recent data have been added. The geographic accuracy of the original published map has been slightly degraded by the rubber-sheet operation.

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?

   The following map features are not included in the digital representation: faults; locations of volcanoes and vents; explanation; and description of map units.

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

   Polygon and chain-node topology 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:

This coverage should not be copied or distributed without its associated metadata file. Intended use is at small scales (e.g. statewide, 1:2,500,000 etc.) only; enlargements of this data to scales greater than that at which they were originally compiled can lead to misinterpretation of data. The U.S. Geological Survey should be acknowledged as the data source in products derived from these data. Use of these data is not restricted; however, organizations, agencies, units of government or other users are responsible for its appropriate application.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
   U.S. Geological Survey
   c/o webmaster - Alaska Geospatial Data Clearinghouse
   4230 University Drive
   Anchorage, AK 99508-4667
   

   Please use electronic mail. (voice)
   webmaster@www-eros-afo.wr.usgs.gov
   

   Contact_Instructions: Please use electronic mail.

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

   BEIKMAN

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   Although these data have been processed successfully on a computer system at the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior, no warranty expressed or implied is made by the Geological Survey regarding the utility of the data on any other system, nor shall the act of distribution constitute any such warranty. The U.S. Dept. of Interior, nor any of its agencies are liable for misuse of the data, nor for any damage, transmission of viruses or computer contamination caused through transmission of these data sets.

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

     Data format:	Geologic units and types in format ArcInfo export (version 7.1) Size: 6.4 megabytes
     Network links:	<http://agdcftp1.wr.usgs.gov/pub/usgs/geology/beikman.e00.gz>

     Data format:	Geologic units and attributes, unprojected (geographic) in format Shapefile (version 1.0) Size: 5.1 megabytes
     Network links:	<http://tin.er.usgs.gov/ak/geology/akgeology.zip>

   • Cost to order the data: none

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 20-Oct-1997
Last Reviewed: 22-May-2006

Metadata author:

U.S. Geological Survey
c/o David Pray
GIS Support Staff
4200 University Drive
Anchorage, AK 99508-4667

(907)-786-7495 (voice)

Metadata standard:

Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)