GUADALUPE PEAK 1:100,000 QUADRANGLE, THE FIRST COMPLETED PROTOTYPE OF THE NATIONAL PALEONTOLOGIC DATABASE

Paleodata, the National Paleontologic Database for the USGS, is an integral part of the National Geologic Map Database (http://ncgmp.usgs.gov/ngmdbproject) interweaving geologic context, map and stratigraphic information, with fossil inventory data. Geologic context information includes available geologic maps, columnar sections, important range charts, and stratigraphic citations for the fossil localities. Fossil information includes locality, faunal lists, author citations, and representative scans of the published fossil photographs, tied to fossil repository number and museum contact. The primary interrelated data sets are the Geologic Map Catalogue, the Geologic Names Lexicon (Geolex), and Paleodata.

The Guadalupe Peak 1:100K map represents the first completed prototype for Paleodata. It has multiple land uses and a long history of classic paleontologic and geologic studies from Girty to Cooper and Grant. It also clearly displays the problems in this endeavor. Most federal land managers do not want open and free information about fossils on their administered public lands. Most paleontologists are horrible at detailing correctly a locality. Most of the incredible work by P.B. King is unpublished. That is to say, most of the collections accurately placed on his maps have no accompanying faunal data. A productive search found a single set of index cards housed away in the Smithsonian that bears the penciled, hand-written identifications by Girty of most of the unpublished material of King. So, the most critical problem is that we are very close to losing much of the information of the past and this lends a sense of urgency in trying to establish the various map databases for the U.S. NOW.

The data model and examples of all the different data served by Paleodata are displayed ranging from fossils, the Guadalupian Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the internationally accepted Middle Permian, and evolutionary clines that are utilized in establishing refined biostratigraphy and boundary sections.