New geologic mapping and gems compilation work in support of the usgi in the mountains, piedmont, and coastal plain in north carolinaproject period: 09 05 2025 through 09 04 2026AWARD purpose this…

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality received a $697,379 Cooperative Agreement from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (CFDA 15.810) on September 5, 2025, for a one-year project period concluding September 4, 2026. This award provides matching funds to support the North Carolina Geological Survey's new and compilation geologic mapping activities aligned with the USGS Geoframework Initiative (USGI) goals and state geologic mapping priorities.

The award funds four primary subprojects: (1) a one-year collaboration with USGS Federal Mapping (FEDMAP) mappers to produce a Geologic Mapping Schema (GEMS) Level 3 geodatabase of the Hickory 100K quadrangle, including compilation of sixteen 7.5-minute quadrangles and new fracture data collection across seven counties; (2) year two of a two-year project to compile bedrock geology and fracture data for portions of the Southern Pines and Laurinburg 100K quadrangles; (3) year four of a four-year project to map surficial geology of the Coastal Plain Rocky Mount 100K area; and (4) interstate collaborations with Virginia and South Carolina to define and correlate Pliocene and Quaternary stratigraphy and support USGI deliverables in the Inner Piedmont region. Primary deliverables include GEMS-compliant geodatabases and bedrock geologic maps at 1:100,000-scale.

New geologic mapping and gems compilation work in support of the usgi in the mountains, piedmont, and coastal plain in north carolinaproject period: 09 05 2025 through 09 04 2026AWARD purpose this award provides matching funds for new and compilation geologic mapping in north carolina by the north carolina geological survey. Subprojects were chosen to align with the U.S. Geological surveys geoframework initiative (usgi) goals and state of north carolina geologic mapping goals. Activities to be performed four subprojects with unique map and or digital deliverables will be performed and include the following: 1) a one-year collaboration with USGS fedmap mappers to produce a gems level 3 geodatabase of the hickory 100K quadrangle. Ncgs work will include compilation of the southern sixteen 7.5-minute quadrangles of the 100K sheet and collection of new fracture data in all quadrangles. This work adjoins SM FY24 geologic mapping and will provide needed geologic information for portions of seven counties. 2) year two of a two-year project to produce a gems level 3 geodatabase of the bedrock portion of the southern pines and laurinburg 100K quadrangles. Work will include compilation of an area approximately equivalent to seven 7.5-minute quadrangles in the 100K sheets where bedrock is not covered by coastal plain sediments and collection of new fracture data in those areas. 3) year four of a four-year project to produce a gems level 3 geodatabase of the surficial geology of the coastal plain, rocky mount 100K (four 24K quadrangles) 4) interstate collaboration NC VA (virginia) to define and correlate pliocene and quaternary stratigraphy phase 3 of multi-year project. 5) interstate collaboration NC SC (south carolina in the inner piedmont along the north carolina-south carolina border in support of usgi deliverables and expected outcomes deliverables are organized based on subproject numbers: 1) PDF bedrock geologic map at 1:100K-scale of the southern half of the hickory 100K quadrangle and a digital geodatabase of the map. 2) PDF bedrock geologic map at 1:100K-scale of the southern pines and NC portion of the laurinburg 100K quadrangles and a digital geodatabases of the maps. 3) PDF of surficial geologic units for four quadrangles in the rocky mount 100K, coastal plain portion and digital database of the map area. 4) report of activities and proposed interstate and or intrastate stratigraphic changes. 5) report on results of workshop between NC and SC with recommendations and solutions to mapping questions and cooperative mapping strategy. Intended beneficiaries the main beneficiary will be the geologic community of north carolina. This new work will provided technical geologic data to a variety of stakeholders in the state. Additional beneficiary will be the US geological survey (USGS) and the geoframework initiative. This award will directly assist the usgss 2030 vision of creating an integrated, three-dimensional (3D), digital geologic map of the U.S. Subrecipient activities small portions of the award will go toward rock age date analysis at the university of arizona. These activities will be invoiced to the ncgs.