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Project Details

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Project Information Sheet

Mapping bedrock geology, Wabash area

Funding Source:	U.S. Geological Survey (National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program) and Indiana Geological Survey
Period of Contract:	1 May 2003 to 30 Apr 2004
Status:	completed — Definition of status type
Project Director:	Walter Hasenmueller

Issue

Natural resource needs and population-related impacts require geologic maps and map products in urban areas and along transportation corridors. Specific issues in Indiana that the bedrock geologic mapping addresses are: 1) Distribution and availability of carbonate bedrock for construction aggregate and dimension limestone; 2) Geologic hazards and resource availability related to new highway construction. Because the rural fringes of urban centers in northeastern Indiana contain resources needed for future development, exploration beyond immediate growth centers and along major transportation corridors, such as I-69 and US 24, is essential. The Wabash valley corridor includes the Hoosier Heartland Highway, one of 29 federally recognized high-priority corridors in the National Highway System Designation Act of 1995.

Objective

Continue computer-aided geologic mapping from central Indiana into the Wabash Valley. Trace bedrock mapping units northward into classic exposures of Silurian facies. Create a database of geologic information as a basis for geologic mapping and as a resource for future exploration and exploitation of construction aggregate.

Approach

Geologic data from diverse sources are integrated into a relational database for the project area along with geologic interpretations of those data. Previously tested computer-mapping techniques are used to construct digital interpretations of the bedrock surface and surfaces bounding mappable geologic units in the project area. The final bedrock geologic map is constructed by computing and plotting appropriate intersections between the computer-modeled geologic boundary surfaces.

Products

A database containing the compilation of existing geologic data and new data from water-well logging and field work used to develop interpretations of bedrock geology will be made available to the public, a 1:100,000-scale computer-generated geologic map, and bedrock topography map.

Benefits

Geologic mapping provides the best possible background for understanding site-specific and regional problems, for planning exploration and regulatory strategies.

Locations Affected:

Blackford Grant

Howard Huntington

Miami Wabash

Wells

Indiana House Districts Affected:

21

31

32

50

82

Indiana Senate Districts Affected:

17

18

19

20

21

Indiana Congressional Districts Affected:

Information Updated January 31, 2007

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