GEOLOGY AND FLUVIOKARST FEATURES OF THE COOKEVILLE EAST, TN QUADRANGLE: AN EDMAP CONTRIBUTION TO THE NATIONAL GEOLOGIC MAP DATABASE

     Geologic mapping of the Cookeville East, TN quadrangle is under way to better understand the influence of surficial deposits, bedrock, regional dip, and local geologic structures on the surface and groundwater flow in and around the city of Cookeville—a city of 30,000 people located in a fluviokarst region of middle Tennessee. This EDMAP-sponsored project complements the mission of the Tennessee Division of Geology to promote wise land management and environmental-hazard mitigation and remediation through the production of geologic maps. In addition, the map will supplement the National Geologic Map Database—an archive containing high-quality digital maps available to the public.

     Preliminary mapping of the Cookeville East quadrangle has characterized surficial units, bedrock units, and fluviokarst (e.g., cave entrances, sinks, springs, swallets). These features, along with GPS map stations and structural data, have been geo-referenced onto a DRG topographic base map and compiled into a GIS. Digitized USDA soil maps and reconnaissance bedrock maps have been incorporated as well. The completed map will provide the rapidly expanding city of Cookeville with a valuable resource, especially for issues pertaining to storm-water runoff, groundwater contamination, and solution collapse in the carbonate units. Moreover, the EDMAP experience has been a tremendous educational opportunity for the participating undergraduate geoscience students at Tennessee Tech.