Portland
State University
Library
Map
Collection
Telephone: 503.725.4126 / 503.725.4128
Fax: 503.725.4524
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Home | Hours | About the Collection | Circulation Policy | Reference Assistance
_____________________________________________________________________________________
The Map Collection contains many types of geologic maps published by the
U.S. Geological Survey and related state agencies.
It also houses maps that do not originate from these series. These geologic
maps are arranged geographically in Map
Case 16, Drawers 8-20. Most of these maps are indexed in the library's
online catalog, Vikat.
Below, you will find descriptions of the
various U.S.G.S. series, their location
in the map room and a list of indexes.
Series Title
Coal Investigations (C)
Contain multicolor
and black-and-white geologic maps that show bedrock geology, stratigraphy,
and structural relations of selected coal resource areas of the Nation.
Maps also typically show cross sections, columnar sections, structure
contours, and measured sections of coal zones.
File Cabinet 6
Circum-Pacific Map (CP)
The series consists of base, geographic, geodynamic, plate-tectonic, geologic,
tectonic, mineral-resources, and energy-resources maps, as well as other
miscellaneous maps.
File Cabinet 5
Geologic Quadrangle Maps (GQ)
More than 1,700 multicolor maps showing the bedrock, surficial, or engineering geology of selected 7.5- or 15-minute quadrangles in the United States. The series, begun in 1949, is a continuation of the earlier Folios of the Geologic Atlas of the United States (1894 to 1945).
File Cabinets 1-2
Geophysical Investig. (GP)
Present the results of geophysical studies of areas that range in size from an entire country to small areas such as a single mining district. The data consist mainly of aeromagnetic and/or gravity contours plotted on planimetric or topographic base maps at appropriate scales. Interpretations of prominent or significant anomalies are described in the accompanying text. Also included in the GP Series are seismicity maps showing earthquake epicenter.
Hydrologic Investig. Atlases (HA)
Black-and-white and multicolor maps showing a wide range of water-resources information, such as depth to ground water, floods, irrigated acreage, producing aquifers, water availability, surface-water discharge, chemical or mineral content of water, surface impoundments, and water temperature.
File Cabinet 6
Land Use and Land Cover Maps (L)
Describe the vegetation, water, natural surface, and cultural features
on the land surface. The LULC mapping program is designed so that standard
topographic maps of a scale of 1:250,000 can be used for compilation and
organization of the land use and land cover data. In some cases, such
as Hawaii, 1:100,000 scale maps are also used.
Mineral Investig. Resources (MR)
Contain information on the location of mineral occurrences, mineral resources, mines and prospects, commodities (other than organic fuels) and their distribution, and target areas with resource potential.
File Cabinet 6
Miscellaneous Field Studies (MF)
Mostly black-and-white maps that cover nearly all aspects of USGS investigations
and research. The series, begun in 1950, had been known earlier as the
Mineral Investigations Field Studies Series. Pre-1971 maps show geology
in relation to specific mining or mineral-deposit studies; later maps
are on various subjects such as bedrock and surficial geology, offshore
geology, mineral resource assessments, geophysical and geochemical surveys,
and environmental studies.
File Cabinets 7-8
[Miscellaneous] Geologic Investig. (I)
Contain mostly multicolor maps covering diverse topical material such as bedrock and surficial geology, marine geology, mineral and energy resources, and geophysics and geochemistry. The series also includes maps of the Earth's Moon and other planetary bodies, hydrogeology, landforms, earthquake epicenters, map projections, and oblique-view maps.
File
Cabinets 3-5
Map Case 17, Drawer 3
Oil and Gas Investig. Charts & Maps (OC / OM)
Show the subsurface structure and stratigraphy and surface geology of
selected oil and gas fields and of other areas having hydrocarbon potential.
They may be black and white or multicolor. Most maps in this series were
published before 1965. Charts generally consist of well logs, correlation
diagrams, graphs, and tables. Some charts include seismic data or maps.
File Cabinet 6
**
NOTE: To preserve the collection, maps of Oregon,
Washington
and Idaho
in the above series are filed in a cabinet in the 4th floor workroom.
Request them at the reference desk or from the staff in Room 484.
A catalog of Survey publications since 1879. Includes publications created
with the assistance of the Survey. Published every year, lists books and
maps (excluding topos) produced that year. Organized by series but also
includes subject, geographic and author indexes. Online
version includes references to USGS reports and maps published from
1880 to date and references to non-USGS publications with USGS authors
published from 1983 to date.
Z6034 .U49 U53 Suppl. (REFERENCE, ONLINE 1995-PRESENT)
Searchable by theme (e.g. hazards, magnetics, mineral resources), geographic
area, title, author, format and other fields. Indexes all USGS maps as
well as some state and commercial resources.
The database includes about 225,000 records for books, journals, maps, microforms, videocassettes, CD-ROMs, and pamphlets that have been added to the U.S.G.S. library since 1975. All of the publications produced by the U.S.G.S. since 1879 are in the catalog.
Contains area, subject, coordinate and author indexes to USGS series listed
above as well as series not kept in the Map Collection, e.g. Professional
Papers and Bulletins.
Z6027 .U5 G8 (READY REFERENCE, MAP ROOM)
A Cartobibliography of Separately Published U. S. Geological Survey Special
Maps and River Surveys
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
USGS
Maps (I 19.14/2:M 32/11- READY REFERENCE, GOV. STACKS.,
ONLINE)
Provides descriptions and sample images of maps published by the USGS.
Return
to library home