USGS releases most detailed national-scale geologic map to date

The Cooperative National Geologic Map was created using more than 100 preexisting geologic maps from various sources. It is the first nationwide geologic map to provide users with access to multiple layers of geologic data for a single location, enabling them to look at or beneath the surface to understand the ancient history of the nation recorded in rocks.

Geologic maps use colors to represent geologic map units, which range in composition from unconsolidated sand and gravel to very old bedrock. Each unit has unique characteristics such as age and composition. The new map offers a regional view of geology at and beneath the Earth’s surface.

“Geologic maps have many uses, such as helping experts look for energy, mineral, and water resources,” said Christopher Swezey, USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program coordinator. “They can also be used to assess earthquake risks and inform decisions about land use, infrastructure, and community planning, and real estate and insurance.”

According to USGS, the new web tool was designed to be as user-friendly as possible, making it accessible to both geologists and the public. Users can search for specific properties of geologic units or click on the map for additional geologic information and links to more detailed maps of local areas. The map is mobile-friendly and can be explored on smartphones, tablets, and larger devices.

“This map provides complete, analysis-ready geologic data for the nation, in a format that is easy to expand going forward,” said Joseph Colgan, USGS research geologist and leader of the team that created the map. “By providing this map online, we aim to enhance educational engagement and foster a greater public appreciation of geology.”

Primary users of the Cooperative National Geologic Map are expected to include federal agencies, private industries, and educational institutions. A recent cost–benefit study highlighted the usefulness of geologic maps, with findings that their value is up to 10 times greater than the cost of their production.

A key breakthrough in the project was the development of a faster, mostly automated solution that efficiently combined geologic maps from state geological surveys and the USGS. Using this new approach, the agency generated the Cooperative National Geologic Map and an interactive web interface in just three years of development, compared to the decades typically required to produce a map of this scale.

“Ongoing mapping efforts continually make discoveries, but past national maps took decades to create while our new method allows us to update our national map faster than ever possible before,” said Sam Johnstone, USGS research geologist and lead developer for the mapping project.

The project relied on long-standing collaboration with state geological surveys. Dave Soller, senior program scientist for the USGS National Geologic Map Database, said that these partnerships have been important in building stronger alliances and advancing more efficient methods for geologic mapping and data dissemination nationwide.

Currently, the Cooperative National Geologic Map covers the lower 48 States, but plans are underway to add content for Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories. Development of the website and integration of the new product into the national archive were led by the National Geologic Map Database.

To access the map, visit The Cooperative National Geologic Map website and explore the geological features of the nation.  Development of this Website and integration of this new product into the national archive was led by the National Geologic Map Database.  The geologic data layers, and links to the accompanying report and geospatial services, are found at the National Geologic Map Database landing page for this new publication.

Reet Kaur

I’m a science journalist and researcher at The Watchers, contributing to the Epicenter edition, where I cover peer-reviewed scientific research and emerging discoveries across Earth and space sciences. With a background in astronomy and a passion for environmental science, I’ve worked in shark and coral conservation in Fiji, conducting reef and shark-behavior research, contributing to mangrove restoration, and earning PADI Open Water and Coral Reef Certifications. I bring a blend of scientific rigor and storytelling to illuminate the discoveries shaping our planet and beyond.

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