Generalized Surficial Geologic Map of the Pueblo 1° x 2° Quadrangle, Colorado

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Frequently anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Generalized Surficial Geologic Map of the Pueblo 1° x 2° Quadrangle, Colorado
Abstract:
Fifty-three types of surficial geologic deposits and residual materials of Quaternary age are described in a pamphlet and located on a map of the greater Pueblo area, in part of the Front Range, in the Wet and Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and on the plains east of Colorado Springs and Pueblo. Deposits formed by landslides, wind, and glaciers, as well as colluvium, residuum, alluvium, and others are described in terms of predominant grain size, mineral or rock composition (e.g., gypsiferous, calcareous, granitic, andesitic), thickness, and other physical characteristics. Origins and ages of the deposits and geologic hazards related to them are noted. Many lines drawn between units on our map were placed by generalizing contacts on published maps. However, in 1997-1999 we mapped new boundaries as well. The map was projected to the UTM projection. This large map area extends from near Salida (on the west edge), eastward about 107 mi (172 km), and from Antero Reservoir and Woodland Park on the north edge to near Colorado City at the south edge (68 mi; 109 km).
Supplemental_Information:
Compilation scale: 1:250,000. Map is available in digital and print-on-demand paper formats. Deposits are described in terms of predominant grain size, mineralogic and lithologic composition, general thickness, and geologic hazards, if any, and relevant geologic historical information and paleosoil information, if any. Fifty-three map units of deposits include alluvium, colluvium, residuum, eolian deposits, periglacial/disintegrated deposits, tills, landslide units, glaciofluvial units, and a diamicton. A bedrock map unit depicts large areas of mostly bare bedrock.
The physical properties of materials were compiled from published soil and geologic maps and reports, our field observations, and from earth science journal articles. Selected deposits in the field were checked for conformity to descriptions of map units by the Quaternary geologist who compiled the surficial geologic map units.
FILES INCLUDED IN THIS DATA SET: 
puebpoly: polygon coverage containing geologic unit contacts and labels.
puebline: arc coverage containing faults.
puebpnt:  point coverage containing point locations of decorative
          bar-and-ball symbols for faults.
geol_sfo.lin:  This lineset file defines geologic line types in the
               geologically themed coverages.
geoscamp2.mrk:  This markerset file defines the geologic markers in the
                geologically themed coverages.
color524.shd:  This shadeset file defines the cmyk values of colors
               assigned to polygons in the geologically themed coverages.
  1. How might this data set be cited?
    Moore, David W., Straub, Arthur W., Berry, Margaret E., Baker, Michael L., and Brandt, Theodore R., 2002, Generalized Surficial Geologic Map of the Pueblo 1° x 2° Quadrangle, Colorado: U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2388, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?
    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -106.0
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -104.0
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 39.0
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 38.0
  3. What does it look like?
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/2002/mf-2388/mf-2388.gif (GIF)
    Reduced-size image of the entire map sheet, 400x172 pixels, 33k bytes.
    http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/2002/mf-2388/mf-2388_print.pdf (PDF)
    The browse graphic file depicts a layout, featuring geologic map and supporting information. The geologic map image is colored, labeled polygons of surficial geologic units and is shown with a scanned image of roads, rivers, political boundaries, place names, and other base map features, all registered to the geologic map. These features are the standard USGS 1:250,000 base map data, including longitude and latitude, numbered UTM (meters), and the Colorado State Coordinate System (feet) grid ticks (21 internal grid tics at 15-minute intervals of longitude and latitude are visible). Supporting information includes a correlation chart of geologic map units, a list of map unit symbols and names, and a small location map that shows the quadrangle location relative to rivers, state boundaries, and locations of 26 published USGS geologic maps (1:250,000 scale) in the Colorado Plateau and western Great Plains.
    An accompanying pamphlet includes a complete description of map units, selected references, and a description of terminology used.
  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?
  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?
      Grid_Coordinate_System_Name: Universal Transverse Mercator
      Universal_Transverse_Mercator:
      UTM_Zone_Number: 13
      Transverse_Mercator:
      Scale_Factor_at_Central_Meridian: .9996
      Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -105.0
      Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 0.0
      False_Easting: 500000.0
      False_Northing: 0.0
      Planar coordinates are encoded using coordinate pair
      Abscissae (x-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 200
      Ordinates (y-coordinates) are specified to the nearest 200
      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?
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:

    DATABASE STRUCTURE -- ArcInfo and ArcView ==========
    There are three coverages (root name = pueb) and three additional info files.
    This GIS database includes related look-up tables, which store detailed attribute information. Arc/Info relates for each coverage are saved in a file named covername.rel. Use the RELATE command with the restore argument at the arc prompt to make the relates active. Alternatively, in Arctools, use the Relate environment: open dialog in the Manage - Relates flyout menu under the Arctools menu to make the relates active.
    puebpoly coverage: contains all contact lines and labelpoints for each geologic polygon. In the puebpoly.pat INFO file the LABEL item indicates the rock unit label (abbreviation) used to label the unit on the map. The DESC item contains the formal or informal unit name. The SOURCE item contains the numeric code used to identify the data source for the rock unit. The SYMBOL item contains the shadeset symbol number used by ArcInfo to plot a filled/shaded polygon. The symbol numbers in this coverage refer to the color524.shd shadeset.
    In the coverage's puebpoly.aat INFO file the NAME item contains the name given to the line feature. The SOURCE item contains the numeric code used to identify the data source for the line feature. The SYMBOL item contains the lineset symbol number used by ArcInfo to plot a line. The symbol numbers in this coverage refer to the geol_sfo.lin lineset.
    In the coverage's puebpoly.ref INFO file the SOURCE item lists the numeric code used to identify the data source. The scale item lists the scale of the source map. (This value is the denominator of the proportional fraction that identifies the scale of the map that was digitized or scanned to produce the digital map.) The AUTHORS item lists the author(s) or compiler(s) of source map entered as last name, first name or initial, and middle initial. The YEAR item lists the source (map) publication date. The REFERENCE item lists the remainder of the reference in USGS reference format.
    The INFO structure of these files is listed below: 
    PUEBPOLY.PAT:

COLUMN   ITEM NAME        WIDTH OUTPUT  TYPE N.DEC  ALTERNATE NAME
    1  AREA                   8    18     F      5
    9  PERIMETER              8    18     F      5
   17  PUEBPOLY#              4     5     B      -
   21  PUEBPOLY-ID            4     5     B      -
   25  SOURCE                 4     4     I      -
   29  LABEL                 10    10     C      -
   39  DESC                 123   123     C      -
  162  SYMBOL                 3     3     I      -
PUEBPOLY.AAT:

COLUMN   ITEM NAME        WIDTH OUTPUT  TYPE  N.DEC  ALTERNATE NAME
    1  FNODE#                 4     5     B      -
    5  TNODE#                 4     5     B      -
    9  LPOLY#                 4     5     B      -
   13  RPOLY#                 4     5     B      -
   17  LENGTH                 8    18     F      5
   25  PUEBPOLY#              4     5     B      -
   29  PUEBPOLY-ID            4     5     B      -
   33  NAME                  30    30     C      -
   63  SOURCE                 4     4     I      -
   67  SYMBOL                 3     3     I      -
  Unique values of NAME in PUEBPOLY.AAT: Fault, Quaternary age,
  Contact, Map boundary, Shoreline
PUEBPOLY.REF:

COLUMN   ITEM NAME        WIDTH OUTPUT  TYPE N.DEC  ALTERNATE NAME
    1  SOURCE                 4     4     I      -
    5  SCALE                  8     8     I      -
   13  AUTHORS              200   200     C      -
  213  YEAR                   4     4     I      -
  217  REFERENCE            250   250     C      -
    puebline coverage: contains faults. In the puebline.aat INFO file the NAME item indicates the name given to the structural feature.
    In the coverage's puebline.ref INFO file the SOURCE item lists the numeric code used to identify the data source. The scale item lists the scale of the source map. (This value is the denominator of the proportional fraction that identifies the scale of the map that was digitized or scanned to produce the digital map.) The AUTHORS item lists the author(s) or compiler(s) of source map entered as last name, first name or initial, and middle initial. The YEAR item lists the source (map) publication date. The REFERENCE item lists the remainder of the reference in USGS reference format.
    The INFO structure of these files is listed below: 
    PUEBLINE.AAT:

COLUMN   ITEM NAME        WIDTH OUTPUT  TYPE N.DEC  ALTERNATE NAME
    1  FNODE#                 4     5     B      -
    5  TNODE#                 4     5     B      -
    9  LPOLY#                 4     5     B      -
   13  RPOLY#                 4     5     B      -
   17  LENGTH                 8    18     F      5
   25  PUEBLINE#              4     5     B      -
   29  PUEBLINE-ID            4     5     B      -
   33  NAME                  80    80     C      -
  113  SOURCE                 4     4     I      -
  117  SYMBOL                 3     3     I      -
  Unique values of NAME in PUEBLINE.AAT: Fault, Quaternary age ,
  High-angle reverse fault - Inferred
PUEBLINE.REF:

COLUMN   ITEM NAME        WIDTH OUTPUT  TYPE N.DEC  ALTERNATE NAME
    1  SOURCE                 4     4     I      -
    5  SCALE                  8     8     I      -
   13  AUTHORS              200   200     C      -
  213  YEAR                   4     4     I      -
  217  REFERENCE            250   250     C      -
    puebpnt coverage: Contains points recording locations of bar-and-ball symbols. In the puebpnt.pat INFO file the PTTYPE item lists the type of point symbol, e.g., bar-and-ball. The SYMBOL item lists the marker symbol used by ArcInfo to identify the type of structural map symbol. Symbol numbers refer to symbols in the geoscamp2.mrk markerset. ). The STRIKE item contains the azimuthal value of any point symbol as well as strike of bedding, and trend of fold axis, where applicable. Strike is an azimuthal angle. Measured in degrees from 0 to 360 in a clockwise direction from North, the STRIKE value also specifies the dip direction, where the dip direction is 90 degrees clockwise relative to the STRIKE. The DIP item contains the dip of bedding as well as plunge angles, where applicable. This value is an angle measured (in degrees 0 to 90) down from the horizontal; thus a horizontal dip is 0 degrees and a vertical dip is 90 degrees. The SOURCE item lists the numeric code used to identify the data source.
    In the coverage's puebpnt.ref INFO file the SOURCE item lists the numeric code used to identify the data source. The scale item lists the scale of the source map. (This value is the denominator of the proportional fraction that identifies the scale of the map that was digitized or scanned to produce the digital map.) The AUTHORS item lists the author(s) or compiler(s) of source map entered as last name, first name or initial, and middle initial. The YEAR item lists the source (map) publication date. The REFERENCE item lists the remainder of the reference in USGS reference format.
    The INFO structure of these files is listed below: 
    COLUMN   ITEM NAME        WIDTH OUTPUT  TYPE N.DEC  ALTERNATE NAME
    1  AREA                   8    18     F      5
    9  PERIMETER              8    18     F      5
   17  PUEBPNT#               4     5     B                             -
   21  PUEBPNT-ID             4     5     B      -
   25  PTTYPE                32    32     C      -
   57  SYMBOL                 3     3     I      -
   60  STRIKE                 3     3     I      -
   63  DIP                    3     3     I      -
   66  SOURCE                 4     4     I      -
  Unique values of PTTYPE in PUEBPNT.PAT: Ball-and-bar
PUEBPNT.REF:

COLUMN   ITEM NAME        WIDTH OUTPUT  TYPE N.DEC  ALTERNATE NAME
    1  SOURCE                 4     4     I      -
    5  SCALE                  8     8     I      -
   13  AUTHORS              200   200     C      -
  213  YEAR                   4     4     I      -
  217  REFERENCE            250   250     C      -
Database root name: pueb
LABEL AND DESCRIPTION FOR GEOLOGIC UNITS MAPPED
LABEL                   DESC
R        Bedrock
afa      Alluvial-fan deposit
afb      Alluvial-fan gravelly loam
afk      Alluvial-fan gravelly loam
agm      Alluvial gravel and sand (Verdos and Rocky Flats Alluviums, undivided; early middle Pleistocene and early Pleistocene)
ags      Alluvial sand, silt, clay, and gravel (Louviers and Slocum Alluviums, undivided; late middle Pleistocene)
asa      Alluvial sand, silt, clay, and gravel (post-Piney Creek alluvium, Piney Creek Alluvium, and pre-Piney Creek alluvium of Hunt, 1954, and Scott, 1960; Broadway Alluvium
cac      Arkosic loamy colluvium and sheetwash alluvium
cbh      Blocky sedimentary-rock colluvium
cbm      Carbonate-clast loamy colluvium
cbs      Rhyolite- and andesite-clast colluvium
cbu      Mixed-lithology blocky colluvium
cbv      Metamorphic  and metavolcanic blocky colluvium
cbw      Blocky basalt and andesite-clast colluvium
cby      Blocky feldspathic-sandstone colluvium
ccd      Calcareous clayey colluvium
cck      Tuff-clast loam and clay loam colluvium
ccm      Andesitic clayey colluvium
cgc      Gneiss- and granite-clast gravelly colluvium
cgg      Sandstone-clast sandy loam to clay loam colluvium
cgh      Arkosic-clast loamy colluvium
clo      Shale-, chalk-, and chalky limestone-clast loamy colluvium
clx      Clay loam colluvium
cra      Hogback and rangefront colluvium, alluvium, and rock outcrop complex
csk      Grus, crystalline-clast colluvium, alluvium, and rock outcrop
csm      Tuffaceous colluvium
dba      Crystalline-clast deposits, Disintegrated and periglacial deposits, bouldery till, and rock outcrop
dbc      Sedimentary-clast deposits, Disintegrated and periglacial deposits, bouldery till, and rock outcrop
dbd      Mixed-lithology-clast deposits, Disintegrated and periglacial deposits
ed       Stabilized dune sand
elb      Loess (Peoria Formation)
es       Eolian sand
esa      Eolian sheet sand and loess (Included in cover sand of Frye and Leonard, 1957, Black-water Draw Formation of Reeves, 1976, described by Holiday, 1989)
f        Artificial landfill
gge      Outwash sand and gravel (Outwash of pre-Bull Lake glaciations)
ggq      Outwash sand and gravel (Outwash of Bull Lake, Pinedale, and post-Pinedale ages)
jba      Bouldery volcanic-rock landslide deposit
jbc      Bouldery crystalline-rock landslide deposit
jbg      Granodiorite-block debris-avalanche deposit
jea      Slump-block landslide deposits, earthflow and mudflow deposits
oc       Playa clay
pga      Pediment gravel
s        Slag
tbg      Crystalline-clast bouldery till, Bouldery till (till of Pinedale and Bull Lake glaciations)
tbi      Sedimentary-clast bouldery till, Bouldery till (till of Pinedale and Bull Lake glaciations)
tbj      Mixed-lithology-clast bouldery till, Bouldery till (till of Pinedale and Bull Lake glaciations)
tbk      Bouldery till (till of pre-Bull Lake glaciations)
w        Open water
wla      Loamy or clayey sheetwash alluvium
xch      Clayey, calcareous disintegration residuum
xci      Sandy clay disintegration residuum
xlh      Limestone-chip silty loamy disintegration residuum
xlj      Silty loam disintegration residuum
xlu      Feldspathic loamy disintegration residuum
xsg      Feldspathic quartz-sand disintegration residuum
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: http://pubs.usgs.gov/mf/2002/mf-2388/mf-2388pamphlet.pdf

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)
    • David W. Moore
    • Arthur W. Straub
    • Margaret E. Berry
    • Michael L. Baker
    • Theodore R. Brandt
  2. Who also contributed to the data set?
    Many geologic contacts resulted from generalizing parts of the Geologic Map of the Pueblo 1x2-degree quadrangle, south-central Colorado (G. R. Scott, R.B. Taylor, R.C. Epis, and R.A. Wobus, 1978, USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I-1022). This linework was originally intended to be reduced as partial input for a more extensive 1:1,000,000-scale map. We digitized these lines initially, edited them to obtain more detail and accuracy, and added data from soil and geologic reports appropriate for a 1:250,000-scale published map.
  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?
    David W. Moore
    U.S. Geological Survey
    P.O. Box 25046, MS 913
    Denver, CO
    USA

    303-236-1271 (voice)
    dwmoore@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

The report may be used for land-use planning (e.g., selecting land-fill sites, greenbelts, avoiding geologic hazards), for finding aggregate resources (crushed rock, sand, and gravel), and for study of geomorphology and Quaternary geology. The report identifies geologic hazards (e.g., landslides, swelling soils, heaving bedrock, and flooding) if they are known to be located in, or characteristic of, mapped units. Surficial deposits in the quadrangle are evidence of depositional events of the Quaternary Period (the most recent 1.8 million years). Some events such as floods are familiar to persons living in the area, while others preceded human occupation. The latter include glaciation, probable large earthquakes, protracted drought, and widespread deposition of sand and silt by wind. At least twice in the past 200,000 years (most recently from about 30,000 to 12,000 years ago) global cooling caused glaciers to form on Pikes Peak and in the high parts of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains. Some glaciers advanced down valleys, deeply eroded the bedrock, and deposited moraines (map units tbk, tbg, tbj, tbi) and deposited outwash (ggq, gge), in the Wet Mountain Valley. On the plains (east part of map area), eolian sand (es), stabilized dune sand (ed), and loess (elb) are present and in places contain buried paleosols, which indicate sand dune deposition alternating with periods of stabilized landscape during which soils developed.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?
  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?
    Date: 1999 (process 1 of 8)
    The Pueblo surficial geologic database was digitized from pen-and-ink compilations on scale-stable base material using the GSMCAD public domain program (USGS Open-File Report 96-007).
    Date: 1999 (process 2 of 8)
    The digitized linework was edited and revised several times for improved accuracy.
    Date: 1999 (process 3 of 8)
    The database was exported to ArcInfo using the GSMCAD export function to create ARC-generated ASCII files and the gsmarc.aml program in ARC to convert the ASCII files to ARC coverages and build polygons.
    Date: 2000 (process 4 of 8)
    Coverages were edited and revised in ArcInfo 8.0.2 to reflect editorial changes and to further attribute polygons with descriptions and all features with source information.
    Date: 2000 (process 5 of 8)
    External attribute lookup tables for labels and symbols were incorporated into the coverages using the joinitem command.
    Date: 2000 (process 6 of 8)
    Final revisions to the digital database were made and a map layout (browse graphic) prepared in Adobe Illustrator and saved in PDF format.
    Date: 2001 (process 7 of 8)
    The digital database was quality checked by the data manager, USGS Central Region Earth Surface Processes team.
    Date: 07-Nov-2001 (process 8 of 8)
    Creation of original metadata record Person who carried out this activity:
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Attn: David W. Moore, David Fullerton, or current Quaternary geologist
    U.S. Geological Survey
    Lakewood, CO

    (303) 236-1271; (303) 236-1232 (voice)
  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?
    We checked attributes for accuracy by preparing a check plot in which map element colors, patterns, and decorations are determined by the attribute values. The plot was then visually checked against the geologists' original compilations. Polygon closure, compilation, and attribution errors were corrected.
  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?
    Map lines that depict contacts between geologic units were placed by generalizing contacts obtained from published geologic maps, viewing orthophotoquads in USDA county published soil reports, and the authors' field observations. Lines were digitized by using a digitizer tablet having a resolution of 0.001 in. No elevation data exist in the database. No systematic analysis of accuracy was attempted. The best accuracy is that of map lines around boundaries of young channel alluvial deposits, unit asa. They are within 2 mm of their correct map location (within 500 m of actual ground limits) relative to map symbols that depict topography and streams. Perhaps half are within 1 mm of correct map location (250 m of actual ground location). Other map boundaries that represent colluvial, residual, and eolian deposits are less accurately placed because ground limits of these deposits are indefinite, i.e., they grade into one another. Thus, many boundaries on the map (vectorized polygons) are approximate. Another source of inaccuracy is that a material may contain inclusions of surficial materials other than the material depicted by any given map unit.
  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?
  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?
    Data are complete: no features that could be accurately represented at the compilation scale of 1:250,000 were eliminated. Map units have been generalized from larger or same-scale source maps. Unit properties are described in the accompanying pamphlet. The smallest area expressed in this data set is approximately 62,500 square meters (0.0625 sq. km. or, a square area 250 m on a side).
  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?
    Map elements were visually checked for overshoots, undershoots, duplicate features, polygon closures, and other errors. Automated (ArcInfo AML) routines were also used to check the databases for polygon label errors, line or point attribution errors, sliver polygons, dangling arcs, intersection errors, and projection information. The map was reviewed by two geologists, including another Quaternary specialist, for consistency with geologic principles and general conformity to USGS mapping standards.

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:
none. Acknowledgment of the U.S. Geological Survey would be appreciated in products derived from these data.
  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)
    U.S. Geological Survey
    USGS Information Services, Box 25286, Denver Federal Center
    Lakewood, CO

    1-888-ASK-USGS (voice)
  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set? USGS Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2388
  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?
    Any use of trade names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this digital spatial data has been subjected to rigorous review and is substantially complete, it is released on the condition that neither the USGS nor the United States Government may be held liable for any damages resulting from its authorized or unauthorized use.
  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-Jun-2016
Metadata author:
Peter N Schweitzer
USGS Midwest Area
Collection manager, USGS Geoscience Data Clearinghouse, http://geo-nsdi.er.usgs.gov/
Mail Stop 954
12201 Sunrise Valley Dr
Reston, VA
USA

703-648-6533 (voice)
703-648-6252 (FAX)
pschweitzer@usgs.gov
Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
This page is <https://geo-nsdi.er.usgs.gov/metadata/map-mf/2388/metadata.faq.html>
Generated by mp version 2.9.48 on Tue Jul 03 20:05:14 2018