IAMG 2001--Cancún Technical Program--Session I

Home Page Technical Program Session I Intro Session I Papers

The USGS Paleontological Database, Geologic Map Database, and Geologic Names Lexicon: The Integration of a Powerful Internet Reference Set by Bruce R. Wardlaw*, US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA, Nancy R. Stamm, US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA, David R. Soller, US Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia, USA The Geologic Map Database Project within the USGS has several map and support map internet databases in various stages of development (http://ncgmp.usgs.gov/ngmdbproject/). The Paleontological database (Paleodata) is still a sparsely populated prototype that is currently out for public review. The Map Catalog is 60 percent complete and the Geological Names Lexicon (Geolex) is 80 percent complete. The prototype online Map Database is under development. This paper addresses the Paleodata prototype and its links to other project databases. The Paleodata prototype contains data from authoritative published references, the Paleontology and Stratigraphy informal reports, a 100+ year legacy of all fossils examined and reported on by USGS paleontologists, and the conodont database, an electronic file of all conodont sample collections held by the USGS. The prototype was developed for pilot 1:100,000 scale quadrangle maps located across the US. These quadrangles display the active interplay of stratigraphic information, fossil information, and geologic map information, all tied to a digital topographic map. Problems in delivering the fossil data include the concerns of several land management agencies about open access to accurate locality information. All paleontological information available from each 1:100,000 scale quadrangle map is listed and accredited researchers may attain access to sensitive information from local land managers. Fortunately, because there has been little concern about conodont localities, that information makes up much of the prototype. Information provided includes columnar section, stratigraphic distribution of samples, fossils identified for each sample, and photographs of selected fossils when available, commonly tied to their museum repository numbers. Because the data is so variable, from hand written script of G. H. Girty from 1891, to modern conodont distributions and photo-identifications, the quality and detail necessarily varies, but all information that is held is delivered so that the user may discriminate what is needed. The paleontologic data complements the geologic map information available and the stratigraphic names reference source available from Geolex. Geolex provides reference summaries to all the geologic units names and uses and is directly accessible from the map or stratigraphic section.