2023 2024 quaternary 3D geologic mapping of minnesotaproject period: 8 21 2023 through 8 20 2024AWARD purpose: the great lakes geologic mapping coalition supports mapping to characterize the…

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), through the U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection program (CFDA 15.808), awarded a $170,864 Cooperative Agreement to the Regents of the University of Minnesota to conduct 3D geologic mapping of Quaternary sediments in southwestern Minnesota. Under this 1-year award, the university will monitor and collect approximately 12 high-quality rotary sonic cores to characterize the sequence of glacial sediments in the region. Laboratory analysis will provide detailed graphic logs, textural and lithologic data, and other analyses such as pollen, radiocarbon, and geochemistry. This information will help develop groundwater models and support research, education, and infrastructure planning in Minnesota. The award builds on the state's County Geologic Atlas program, which provides critical data for managing groundwater resources, assessing aggregate supplies, and planning projects like fiber optic cable installation.

Activities

Part of the county atlas mapping program includes drilling high-quality rotary sonic cores to sample the sequence of glacial sediments. This funding will support staff time to monitor and collect cores in the field, describe and sample cores in the lab, and process these samples for texture and lithologic composition. Drilling will take place in three counties in southwestern minnesota where mapping is already underway. In addition, the one deep drill hole will provide information that is missing from the bottom of theglacial sediment sequence. This will allow geologists to characterize the entire sediment package. This information, described previously as undifferentiated glacial sediment, is vital to groundwater models.deliverables and expected outcomes: detailed graphic logs, including down-hole geophysics, and textural and lithologic analyses, for approximately 12 cores will be delivered. These cores provide benchmarks to guide subsurface mapping in counties based on 1-KM sections. Additional data such as pollen, radiocarbon, paleomagnetics, magnetic susceptibility, and geochemistry may be forthcoming as part of the respective county geologic atlases.

Intended beneficiaries

In minnesota, the main mapping program, the county geologic atlases, informs management of groundwater, while concurrently supporting research, education, mineral resource, and civil engineering applications. MGS quaternary geologic mapping is used by groundwater professionals throughout the state for applications such as supporting assessment of aggregate resources, for engineering and infrastructure design such as planning of fiber optic cable installation, and also to directly support research on glacial geology and quaternary history.subrecipients: n a