CREATING A DIGITAL DATA LAYER FOR GEOLOGIC MAPPING: USGS-DENVER PALEOZOIC PALEONTOLOGY COLLECTIONS FROM OKLAHOMA

A drawer-by-drawer inventory of sixty fossil cases was geo-referenced and all localities were electronically scanned. We then created an Excel™ database and shape files in ArcGIS for the locality data.

The paleontologic information that was compiled is historic in nature and represents studies by USGS paleontologists from the late 19th century through the mid 20th century. A wide variety of field and office data were also recorded. We utilized original map and field notebook resources within our USGS Library archives from the Field and Photography Records sections to determine geospatial locations. Period maps and gazetteers proved to be invaluable resources for locating place names no longer recorded in our Geographic Names Unit. The USGS Lexicon of Geologic Names was also utilized to provide historical background of recognized geologic rock units.

This inventory has recorded over 13,500 species assigned to the 1,250 fossil localities throughout Oklahoma. The Oklahoma shape files can be powerful biostratigraphic tools and will help both federal and state land managers to better understand their regional paleontological resources.