Quaternary Geology of the Washington-Jasper Area Map and Geologic Map Schema (GeMS) Level 3 database

Abstract

The Quaternary geologic map of the Washington-Jasper area, in southwestern Indiana, shows the distribution of glacial and postglacial deposits at the surface, mostly appearing in the western two-thirds of the area, along with basic bedrock geology. The geologic map differentiates surficial materials of Quaternary age based on their lithologic characteristics, stratigraphic relationships, and age. The major physiographic units in the area are the Crawford Upland, which hosts Carboniferous sandstone, shale and coal bedrock appearing toward the east and south, and the Wabash Lowlands, where glacial deposits of the Illinoian and Wisconsin Episodes covering roughly the last 160,000 years appear with thicknesses of up to 150 ft (50 m). Deposits from the Jessup Formation (Illinoian Episode) and Atherton Formation (Wisconsin Episode) form the glacial age deposits, with dunes extending over adjacent valleys. The alluvial deposits of the Martinsville Formation cover the rest of the area extending into smaller tributary valleys. Isolated terraces along the Patoka River display weathered sediments of the oldest Quaternary unit in the area, the alluvial Prospect Formation.  

The map sheet displays the distribution of units along with the location of boreholes and field stations used to prepare the map. An introduction of the geology of the area and the stratigraphic framework is presented accompanying the main map, with descriptions of depositional units, and a diagram with stratigraphic correlation of map units. In addition to the map document, a composite spatial data set that conforms to the standardized database schema known as GeMS (Geologic Map Schema) is also available for download from this site. Both ESRI-licensed geodatabase and open shapefile versions of the spatial data set are available for download. Metadata records associated with each element within the spatial data set contain detailed descriptions of their purpose, constituent entities, and attributes.  

This geologic map was funded in part through the STATEMAP program supported by the U.S. Geological Survey under Cooperative Agreement No. G21AC10646.