The founding mandate of the United States Geological Survey (1879) included geological mapping, specifically of public lands. In 1882, the mandate was expanded to include all of the United States.
The first folio of the Geologic Atlas of the United States, which covered the Livingston, Montana, Quadrangle, was published in 1894. The Geologic Atlas of the United States could be considered the first map series published by the Geological Survey. The last volume published appeared in 1945. The Geologic Folios have been scanned and are available online in a number of places including University of Alabama and Texas A&M University Library. They can also be searched for in the National Geologic Map Database.
To replace the atlas, the Geological Survey began to publish the Geological Quadrangle (GQ) map series in 1949. A number of other map series were added later to the Survey’s list.
Many US Geological Survey geologic maps can be viewed online and downloaded. US Geological Survey maps in the UIUC Library have been cataloged in two different ways. Many maps can be found as part of the map series; the map number will be needed to identify if a copy is in the collection. Some of the maps have been cataloged separately and can be searched by their unique titles. Unfortunately, there is no way to know in advance how any specific title has been treated.
Use the National Geologic Map Database and the USGS Publications Warehouse to discover title and map number information that will be helpful when searching the Library’s catalog.
Antarctic Geologic Maps (A) — generally medium- and small-scale coverage of Antarctica, 1970s-1980s
Coal Investigations (C) — mostly 1950- (some as early as 1935) bedrock geology, stratigraphy, and structural relations of selected coal resource areas; typically include cross sections, columnar sections, structure contours and measured sections of coal zones. Accompanied by explanatory text
Circum-Pacific Map Series (CP) — small-scale maps of the Pacific and surrounding land masses showing geology, tectonics, mineral resources, energy resources, and natural hazards
Geophysical Investigations (GP) — most maps focus on gravity, magnetic fields, and other geophysical topics
Geological Quadrangle Maps (GQ) — 1949- bedrock, surficial, or enginnering geology for 7.5 (1:24,000)- or 15 (1:62,500)-minute quadrangles; maps accompanied by explanatory text and may include cross sections, columnar sections, or contour cross sections
Hydrologic Unit Maps — state maps showing drainage areas
Hydrological Investigations Atlases (HA) — water-resources information such as depth to groundwater, floods, irrigated areas, aquifers, surface-water discharge, water mineral content, water temperature
Miscellaneous Investigations (I) — diverse topics including bedrock and surficial geology, marine geology, mineral and energy resources, geophysics and geochemistry; includes some maps of the Moon and other extraterrestrial locations. Most accompanied by explanatory text
Land Use/Land Cover (L) — show land use/cover on 1:100,000- on 1:250,000-scale base maps
Miscellaneous Field Studies Maps (MF) — 1950- previously Mineral Investigations Field Studies. Topics cover breadth of Geological Survey research; primarily black-and-white. Many preliminary in nature; intended for rapid publication and prepared by the author. Most accompanied by explanatory text
Mineral Investigations Resource Maps (MR)
Oil and Gas Investigations Charts (OC) — subsurface structure and stratigraphy and surface geology of selected oil and gas fields and areas of potential hydrocarbon production; titles consist of well logs, correlation diagrams, graphs and tables.
Oil and Gas Investigations Maps (OM) — subsurface structure and stratigraphy and surface geology of selected oil and gas fields and areas of potential hydrocarbon production; titles are maps on topographic or planimetric base maps and typically include cross sections, columnar sections, correlation diagrams and well logs. Most published before 1965