Statemap 2025PROJECT period: 9 5 2025 through 6 30 2026PURPOSE:the projects proposed by the mississippi geological survey include: project 1 aims to update the stratigraphic framework of the…

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) awarded the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality $404,267 under the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP), CFDA 15.810, State Component (STATEMAP) to produce detailed geologic maps and related databases for three projects across Mississippi counties. The award, effective September 5, 2025 through June 30, 2026, supports the Mississippi Geological Survey's mapping initiatives including: (1) updating the stratigraphic framework of post-Oligocene sections in Covington, Smith, and Simpson Counties; (2) characterizing Pliocene high terraces in Hinds and Rankin Counties; and (3) conducting new detailed mapping of surficial Eocene through Pleistocene deposits in Madison and Yazoo Counties.

Deliverables include surficial geological maps at 1:24,000 scale (7.5-minute quadrangles), accompanying cross-sections, stratigraphic logs digitized in ArcGIS, and Geologic Mapping Schema (GEMS) Level 3-compliant geodatabases. Work activities span from September 2025 through March 2026 fieldwork, with digital drafting and cartographic review completing by June 2026. The project encompasses base map construction, geophysical data analysis, selective drilling and logging where data gaps exist, field mapping, and conversion of all deliverables to required GEMS Level 3 format prior to project completion.

Intended beneficiaries

Commercial customers include environmental consultants, hydrogeologists, archaeologists, the agricultural industry, the oil and gas industry, and the sand and gravel industry. The included counties will benefit from these geologic maps because of their usefulness in planning development while protecting natural resources.