Newly Published 7.5 min Surface Geological Map products Available
By James E. Starnes, RPG, Jonathan Leard, GIT, Paul Parrish, RPG, and Andrew Newcomb, RPG
Geology is the basis for the environment and the state’s geologic mapping program is the core function of MDEQ’s Surface Geology Division. Understanding Mississippi’s geology is essential for proper stewardship, responsible conservation, and protection of our state’s valuable natural resources. Much of Mississippi’s geology has not been mapped in any great detail and many areas that have been previously mapped are in need of updating.
Three 7.5 minute geological quadrangles in Jefferson County were recently funded and published by the USGS’s cooperative StateMap grant program. The publication of the Fayette, Union Church, and Gin Branch maps are in addition to the three other maps published under the same program last year also in Jefferson County. Jefferson County has important surface water, groundwater, and aggregate resources along with important natural ecosystems. No previously published detailed geological maps existed for Jefferson County prior to this project. This continued work will ultimately lead to the first composite geological map of the county.
Geologic mapping is currently being done elsewhere in the Loess Bluff Region of western Mississippi. Projects this year, funded under the USGS StateMap grant, include mapping in Yazoo County. Unfunded projects also are ongoing throughout the state as our mappers are able to devote time to them, and new subsurface data becomes available through our Environmental Geology Division’s geophysical well logging program. One of these unfunded projects along the Loess Bluff’s in Tallahatchie County, the Geologic Map of the Charleston 7.5min quadrangle was just released for publication in October. This map characterizes important aggregate resources, demonstrates the hydrological relationship of surface water and groundwater for recharge for eastern portions of the Mississippi River Alluvial Aquifer, characterizes the important geomorphical relationships of the area, and provides background data for proper documentation of the area’s important geoarchaeological resources. These four new Office of Geology publications are available for free download.
