New geologic mapping of the northwest half of the white pine 7.5 quadrangle and the northwest half of the crawford 7.5 quadrangle, drilling on the dancyville 7.5 quadrangle, digitizing regional…

This $271,774.67 Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (CFDA 15.810) supports the Tennessee Department of Environment & Conservation in producing new and updating existing geologic maps and datasets for the state.

Specifically, the award will fund: (1) detailed geologic mapping of the northwest half of the White Pine and Crawford 7.5 quadrangles, including cross-sections and stratigraphic descriptions; (2) a subsurface investigation of the Dancyville 7.5 quadrangle through 4 boreholes to collect core samples and integrate the results into a summary report; (3) conversion of previously published statewide structure contour and isopach maps of the Chattanooga Shale into a modern digital format; and (4) compilation of geologic mapping schema databases for the Bradford and Winfield 7.5 quadrangle maps.

The geologic data produced under this award will benefit the public, industry, and government agencies by informing land use planning, identifying potential geologic hazards, and supporting the USGS's national geologic mapping and critical minerals initiatives. The award period is from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.

Activities

(1) conduct detailed geologic mapping of the northwest-half of two 7.5 quadrangles in east and middle tennessee (2) complete a subsurface investigation to support future geologic mapping of the dancyville 7.5 quadrangle in west tennessee by collecting core from four 300-foot deep boreholes (3) convert to a modern digital format previously published statewide structure contour and isopach maps of the upper devonian lower mississippian chattanooga shale and (4) compile the previously born-digital geologic maps of the bradford and winfield 7.5 quadrangles into the U.S. Geological surveys geologic mapping schema format.deliverables and expected outcomes: by the end of the award period, the recipient expects to complete (1) the field mapping and to compile in geographic information system format geologic maps for the northwest half of the white pine and crawford 7.5 quadrangles, which will each include a cross section and stratigraphic descriptions (2) a subsurface investigation of the dancyville 7.5 quadrangle by selecting four sites to collect core from 300-foot deep boreholes and to incorporate the results into a summary report that contains a map of borehole locations, lithologic logs, and cross sections (3) the geologic map schema databases and compile digital versions of the regional structure contour and isopach maps of the chattanooga shale in tennessee and (4) the geologic mapping schema databases for the bradford and winfield 7.5 quadrangle geologic maps and to upload them to the national cooperative geologic mapping program portal.

Intended beneficiaries

This effort will benefit the public, industry, and agencies at all levels of government, because IT will provide new and previously published geologic data of significant value that has the potential to contribute to a wide range of current social and economic priorities. Land use planning will benefit from knowledge of potential geologic hazards, such as sinkholes in east tennessee and potential impact to important regional aquifers in west tennessee. The U.S. Geological surveys geoframework initiative to produce a seamless national geologic map will benefit from access to additional digital geologic map and subsurface data. Furthermore, easy access to subsurface databases and core samples will help the earth mapping resources initiative identify areas for active exploration to address future critical mineral resource needs.