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Geologic map of the Saint Joseph area, Missouri and Kansas

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?

   Langer, William H. , Smith, David, Brady, Lawrence L. , Melick, Roger A. , and Daniel H. Knepper, Jr., 2002, Geologic map of the Saint Joseph area, Missouri and Kansas: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2374, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado.

   Online Links:

   • <http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/2002/mf-2374/>

2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

   West_Bounding_Coordinate: -95.00

   East_Bounding_Coordinate: -94.625

   North_Bounding_Coordinate: 40.00

   South_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.5

3. What does it look like?

   <http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/2002/mf-2374/MF-2374.gif> (GIF)

   Reduced-size image of the entire map sheet, 288x263 pixels, 46k bytes.

   <http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/2002/mf-2374/mf-2374.pdf> (PDF)

   Printable representation of the map layout, 5.3 megabytes.

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

   Calendar_Date: 2002

   Currentness_Reference: publication date

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.

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

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.0005. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.0005. Latitude and longitude values are specified in decimal degrees.

      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?

   surficial.dbf

   Surficial geologic units

   UNITCODE

   Symbol that could be used for labeling the geologic unit (string of width 6)

   Value	Definition
   co	Colluvium
   Qal	Alluvium
   Qat	Terrace alluvium
   Ql	Loess
   Ql/t	Areas of loess where till is at depths of about 4 m or less below the land surface.
   Qlr	Bedrock outcrops and near surface bedrock covered with thin loess.
   Qpg	Fluvial gravel
   Qps	Eolian silt
   Qt	Till
   Qt2	Mustard Till, described under "Weathered Till" in the map legend
   Qtr	Bedrock outcrops and near surface bedrock covered with thin till.
   Quarry	Excavated area of a quarry

Who produced the data set?

1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
   • William H. Langer
   • David Smith
   • Lawrence L. Brady
   • Roger A. Melick
   • Daniel H. Knepper, Jr.

2. Who also contributed to the data set?

   This map was prepared as a collaborative effort with the Missouri Division of Geology and Land Survey, the Kansas Geological Survey, and the Nebraska Conservation and Survey Division.
   William H. Langer and David Smith mapped the geology in 1993 and 1994. The authors' team digitized the map and prepared the ARC/INFO database. Database structure checked by Nancy Shock, and she prepared the files for importing into Adobe Illustrator. Norma J. Maes prepared the Adobe Illustrator map layout, which was used for the on-demand paper map and gif and pdf plot and browse graphic files. F.C. Brunstein edited the publication and prepared some of the files for the Illustrator layout, and prepared the metadata file, which was checked by Nancy Shock.

3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
   William H Langer
   U.S. Geological Survey Central Region Minerals Team
   Research Geologist
   Mail Stop 973
   P.O. Box 25046
   Denver, CO 80225
   USA
   

   303-236-1249 (voice)
   303-236-3200 (FAX)
   blanger@usgs.gov
   

Why was the data set created?

To describe the surficial geology in the area around St. Joseph, Missouri.

How was the data set created?

1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

   Langer and Smith map (source 1 of 1)

   Langer, William H. , and Smith, David, (unpublished), unpublished map of Saint Joseph area.

   Type_of_Source_Media: hand drawn inked greenline mylar

   Source_Scale_Denominator: 50000

   Source_Contribution: New and compiled geologic mapping

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

   Date: 1993 (process 1 of 2)

   Map units and preliminary contacts between units were identified using stereoscopic pairs of high altitude, false-color infrared, aerial photographs. Contacts were drawn on twelve USGS 7½ minute topographic maps, and were checked in the field. U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Survey maps at a scale of 1:62,500 for Buchanan County (Tillman and Deardorff, 1915), Andrew County (Sweet and Jordan, 1925), Platte County (Sweet and others, 1911), and Doniphan County (Knobel and others, 1927) were used to provide a general overview of the soils of the area. A U.S. Geological Survey map at a scale of 1:24,000 showing the geohydrology of Doniphan County, Kansas (Bayne, 1973); soil surveys at a scale of 1:24,000 for Buchanan County (Lockridge, 1989), Andrew County (Davis, 1990), and Platte County (Preston, 1985); and a soil survey at a scale of 1:20,000 for Doniphan County (Sallee, 1980) were used to corroborate map contacts and field observations.
   Field-checked contacts were transferred from the twelve 7½ minute topographic maps to scale-stable 1:24,000-scale base maps that subsequently were digitized. The twelve digital files were merged into one single map coverage.

   Date: 2000 (process 2 of 2)

   The original inked geology was digitized in ARC/INFO. The lines and polygon attributes were checked against the original geology and corrected as neccessary. Shadeset and lineset attributes were added in ARC. The digital database was quality checked against original materials, and the database structure was checked. The ARC/INFO files were imported into Illustrator 8.0, and the map layout was completed in Illustrator. The Illustrator layout was used to produce the GIF and PDF browse graphic files and the plot file, as well as the on-demand paper map. The illustrator layout was proofed before the GIF and PDF files were made and before the map was placed in the map-on- demand system.

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 observations, including topology?

   Visual proof of computer plot against orginal inked geology on greenline mylar.

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 database is not meant to be used or displayed at scales larger or smaller than the range encompassing 1:50,000 to 1:63,360.

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 2)
   U.S. Geological Survey, Central Publications Group
   Database Administrator
   MS 902, USGS, Denver Federal Center
   Denver, CO 80225
   USA
   

   (303) 236-7684 (voice)
   nshock@usgs.gov
   

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

   USGS Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2374

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   Although these data have been used by the USGS and have been successfully imported into data base programs, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to how successfully or accurately the data can be imported into any specific application software running on any specific hardware platform. The fact of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in connection therewith.

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

     Data format:	Surficial geologic units and base map features in format ESRI shapefiles (version 1.0) Size: 4 megabytes
     Network links:	<http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/2002/mf-2374/mf-2374.tar.gz> <http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/2002/mf-2374/mf-2374.zip>

   • Cost to order the data: none

---

1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 2 of 2)
   U.S. Geological Survey Information Services
   Box 25286 Denver Federal Center
   Denver, CO 80225
   USA
   

   1 (888) ASK-USGS (voice)
   

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

   USGS Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2374

3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

   none

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

     Available as a paper map product consisting of one map sheet that is printed on-demand on a high-resolution computer-driven plotter.

   • Cost to order the data:

     For current prices of USGS information products, please see <http://mapping.usgs.gov/esic/prices/>

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:

Last modified: 05-Oct-2001

Metadata author:

William H Langer
U.S. Geological Survey Central Region Minerals Team
Research Geologist
Mail Stop 973
P.O. Box 25046
Denver, CO 80225
USA

303-236-1249 (voice)
303-236-3200 (FAX)
blanger@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:

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