Sunset view across Little Molas Lake, an alpine glacial lake on the west side of the Animas River Valley (San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA).
Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West
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By Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
October 4, 2019
The Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West (IMW) Project conducts 1:24,000- to 1:100,000-scale geologic mapping to support framework geologic investigations. The IMW project is prioritizing development of a seamless, integrated geologic map database in targeted areas of the Intermountain West region of the United States that host substantial mineral, energy, water, and industrial material resources critical for economic development, energy independence, and national security. The database synthesizes new and existing geologic map data into a spatially consistent geologic framework, serving the compiled geologic map data at scales ranging from 1:100,000 to 1:50,000. This innovative geologic map database improves queryability of map unit information that benefits private, indigenous, and public lands stakeholders by supporting informed decisions addressing resource assessments, exploration and extraction, and is foundational data to geoscience research. The database utilizes modern data delivery through web-hosted feature service layers that support advanced GIS data users. Geologic map data is more accessible to the public using the Intermountain West Geologic Map Explorer.
The stratigraphic framework that underpins the geologic map database is constructed dynamically using a process-based, time-dependent, hierarchical classification of geologic map units. Development of this framework requires thorough understanding of the complicated geologic history of the Intermountain West region, much of which remains inconsistently mapped, and accordingly, poorly understood. To fill critical knowledge gaps, topically focused research groups within the IMW Project investigate the various tectonic, magmatic, stratigraphic, and geomorphic processes that have shaped the Intermountain West region and created resources critical to the nation’s security and economic future. This stratigraphic framework and data structure is designed to simplify use of the map data in complex resource and hazard management applications.
The Intermountain West Seamless Geologic Map Explorer is now live!
The Intermountain West Seamless Geologic Map Explorer is now live!
The USGS Geochron Database Explorer is now live!
The USGS Geochron Database Explorer is now live!
Filter Total Items: 31
Sunset at Little Molas Lake, Colorado
Sunset view across Little Molas Lake, an alpine glacial lake on the west side of the Animas River Valley (San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA).
Moab fault near Arches National Park, Utah
Geologist Alexander Lusk investigates slickenlines on the Moab fault near Arches National Park (Utah, USA).
Geologist Alexander Lusk investigates slickenlines on the Moab fault near Arches National Park (Utah, USA).
Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation at Goosenecks State Park
Intermountain West Project members Theresa Schwartz and Alexander Lusk investigate the Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation at Goosenecks State Park (Utah, USA).
Intermountain West Project members Theresa Schwartz and Alexander Lusk investigate the Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation at Goosenecks State Park (Utah, USA).
Oligocene-Miocene Troublesome outcrop
Intermountain West Project members discuss an outcrop of the Oligocene-Miocene Troublesome Formation (near Kremmling, Colorado, USA).
Intermountain West Project members discuss an outcrop of the Oligocene-Miocene Troublesome Formation (near Kremmling, Colorado, USA).
Avery Peak, Colorado
Red sedimentary rocks of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Maroon Formation exposed on Avery Peak dip southwestward away from gray igneous rocks of the Cenozoic White Rock pluton.
Red sedimentary rocks of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Maroon Formation exposed on Avery Peak dip southwestward away from gray igneous rocks of the Cenozoic White Rock pluton.
Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West project members
Intermountain West Project members pose at the summit of Crested Butte (Colorado, USA) prior to examining the Crested Butte laccolith (from left to right, Jeremy Workman, Allison Dombrowski, Ian Hillenbrand, Amy Gilmer, Kenzie Turner, and Ren Thompson).
Intermountain West Project members pose at the summit of Crested Butte (Colorado, USA) prior to examining the Crested Butte laccolith (from left to right, Jeremy Workman, Allison Dombrowski, Ian Hillenbrand, Amy Gilmer, Kenzie Turner, and Ren Thompson).
Cottonwood Pass, Colorado
A view westward from Cottonwood Pass (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA) into the Taylor Park basin. The peaks in the backgorund are composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks ranging in age from early Paleozoic to Eocene, uplifted along the Taylor Park fault.
A view westward from Cottonwood Pass (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA) into the Taylor Park basin. The peaks in the backgorund are composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks ranging in age from early Paleozoic to Eocene, uplifted along the Taylor Park fault.
East Red Mountain in the Grizzly Peak caldera, Colorado
Vivid red, orange, and yellow colors highlight hydrothermally altered rocks on East Red Mountain in the Grizzly Peak caldera (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA).
Vivid red, orange, and yellow colors highlight hydrothermally altered rocks on East Red Mountain in the Grizzly Peak caldera (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA).
Deformed rocks of a Proterozoic shear zone
Geologist Michael Frothingham observes strongly deformed rocks of a Proterozoic shear zone in the Medicine Bow Mountains (Wyoming, USA).
Geologist Michael Frothingham observes strongly deformed rocks of a Proterozoic shear zone in the Medicine Bow Mountains (Wyoming, USA).
USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Denver
Research Geologist Leah Morgan working in the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Denver
Research Geologist Leah Morgan working in the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Denver
Filter Total Items: 31
Sunset at Little Molas Lake, Colorado
Sunset view across Little Molas Lake, an alpine glacial lake on the west side of the Animas River Valley (San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA).
Sunset view across Little Molas Lake, an alpine glacial lake on the west side of the Animas River Valley (San Juan Mountains, Colorado, USA).
Moab fault near Arches National Park, Utah
Geologist Alexander Lusk investigates slickenlines on the Moab fault near Arches National Park (Utah, USA).
Geologist Alexander Lusk investigates slickenlines on the Moab fault near Arches National Park (Utah, USA).
Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation at Goosenecks State Park
Intermountain West Project members Theresa Schwartz and Alexander Lusk investigate the Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation at Goosenecks State Park (Utah, USA).
Intermountain West Project members Theresa Schwartz and Alexander Lusk investigate the Pennsylvanian Honaker Trail Formation at Goosenecks State Park (Utah, USA).
Oligocene-Miocene Troublesome outcrop
Intermountain West Project members discuss an outcrop of the Oligocene-Miocene Troublesome Formation (near Kremmling, Colorado, USA).
Intermountain West Project members discuss an outcrop of the Oligocene-Miocene Troublesome Formation (near Kremmling, Colorado, USA).
Avery Peak, Colorado
Red sedimentary rocks of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Maroon Formation exposed on Avery Peak dip southwestward away from gray igneous rocks of the Cenozoic White Rock pluton.
Red sedimentary rocks of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Maroon Formation exposed on Avery Peak dip southwestward away from gray igneous rocks of the Cenozoic White Rock pluton.
Geologic Framework of the Intermountain West project members
Intermountain West Project members pose at the summit of Crested Butte (Colorado, USA) prior to examining the Crested Butte laccolith (from left to right, Jeremy Workman, Allison Dombrowski, Ian Hillenbrand, Amy Gilmer, Kenzie Turner, and Ren Thompson).
Intermountain West Project members pose at the summit of Crested Butte (Colorado, USA) prior to examining the Crested Butte laccolith (from left to right, Jeremy Workman, Allison Dombrowski, Ian Hillenbrand, Amy Gilmer, Kenzie Turner, and Ren Thompson).
Cottonwood Pass, Colorado
A view westward from Cottonwood Pass (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA) into the Taylor Park basin. The peaks in the backgorund are composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks ranging in age from early Paleozoic to Eocene, uplifted along the Taylor Park fault.
A view westward from Cottonwood Pass (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA) into the Taylor Park basin. The peaks in the backgorund are composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks ranging in age from early Paleozoic to Eocene, uplifted along the Taylor Park fault.
East Red Mountain in the Grizzly Peak caldera, Colorado
Vivid red, orange, and yellow colors highlight hydrothermally altered rocks on East Red Mountain in the Grizzly Peak caldera (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA).
Vivid red, orange, and yellow colors highlight hydrothermally altered rocks on East Red Mountain in the Grizzly Peak caldera (Sawatch Range, Colorado, USA).
Deformed rocks of a Proterozoic shear zone
Geologist Michael Frothingham observes strongly deformed rocks of a Proterozoic shear zone in the Medicine Bow Mountains (Wyoming, USA).
Geologist Michael Frothingham observes strongly deformed rocks of a Proterozoic shear zone in the Medicine Bow Mountains (Wyoming, USA).
USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Denver
Research Geologist Leah Morgan working in the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Denver
Research Geologist Leah Morgan working in the USGS Argon Geochronology Laboratory in Denver