200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE NORTH CAROLINA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY: GEOLOGICAL MAPPING AND DATASETS OF WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA

The first recorded geologic map of western North Carolina was part of Denison Olmsted’s 1823 State map. Since that time, numerous geologists have contributed to the understanding of this beautiful and complex region. On the 200^th Anniversary of the North Carolina Geological Survey (NCGS) we present an overview of the status of western North Carolina (WNC) geological mapping and data collection and discuss the datasets and tools being developed to assist stakeholders. Ninety-two of the 228 quadrangles in WNC have been mapped at a detailed 1:24,000-scale. Fifty have been mapped at a moderate 1:100,000-scale, and 86 only have data density at the 1:250,000-scale.

Recent USGS-sponsored STATEMAP projects from 1998 to 2022 have produced a wealth of detailed geologic mapping and structural data that serve as the core for a bedrock geodatabase of the region. The database currently contains rock data, field notes, and over 91,000 structural measurements (foliation, fracture, fold axis, lineation) from 44 quadrangles. In addition, existing line, structure, and rock data from legacy NCGS mapping, theses, and dissertations are being digitized for internal use and possible incorporation into the geodatabase. The NCGS has also compiled a whole-rock geochemistry database with 682 analyses from rocks spanning WNC.

Mining is an important part of the region’s character, and NCGS contributions have played a key role in its development. Over 5,500 documents and reports have been georeferenced and appended to the continuously updated mine database from 4,829 localities in WNC. A geochronology database has been created to catalog new data from STATEMAP-funded projects and compile existing age dates from literature.

Current work developing a WNC structural, geochemical, and geochronological framework model is combined with online services (NCGS website, ArcGIS Online) to distribute these important georeferenced data. The key goal is to provide researchers, landowners, and private industry all available data to address societal issues and expand our understanding of North Carolina’s geology and mineral resources.