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Finding Geologic Maps
Geologic maps are housed in the Lindgren Library.
To locate these maps, you might have to consult several reference sources. These include the Barton catalog, map indexes, the Guide to USGS Publications, and Georef (a bibliographic database specializing in geology and the earth sciences; MIT access only).
The Lindgren Library staff can provide additional assistance.
U.S. Geological Survey Maps
USGS maps are arranged by USGS series at Lindgren Library. They are filed in the USGS map cabinets in the Schwarz Map Room in numerical order within the particular series. To find the series and number of the map you need, consult the Guide to USGS Publications. Under the state name, maps are indexed by 7.5' quadrangle names. To determine the quadrangle name for your area of interest, consult the map indexes stored in the file cabinet in the Reference area.
Map Series
Canadian maps, maps issued by state geologic surveys, Geological Society of America (GSA) maps and American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) maps are located in labelled cabinets in the Schwarz Map Room (located within Lindgren Library). Indexes to some of these maps are listed in the Index Maps and Reference Aids section below.
Books and Atlases
Many geologic maps are included as plates in books. A subject search in the Barton catalog under "Geology--place name" will identify the books at Lindgren which cover your area of interest; choose the "Full display" option when viewing a record in Barton to find out whether maps are included in the book. Books which focus on a particular geographic area may be found in the stacks beginning at QE39.
For atlases, use a combined keyword search in Barton: sw=place name and w=atlas*.
Check the folio shelves at the back of the library for a geological atlas of your area.
Indexes to Maps and Reference Aids
Located in the file cabinet in the reference area are folders for each U.S. state which contain various state and USGS map indexes and bibliographies.
The following publications (shelved in the reference area) may be helpful in determining which maps cover your area of interest.
- Publications
of the U.S. Geological Survey - Z1223.G345
- Index
to Publications, Geological Survey of Canada - ZQE185.A4
- Bibliography
and Index of Geology - ZQE26.G345
- Guide
to USGS Geologic and Hydrologic Maps - ZG3700.G8 19xx (latest edition on reference)
- International
Maps and Atlases in Print - ZGC1019.I5
- Geologic
Reference Sources - ZQE26.2.W3
- An
Index of State Geological Survey Publications - ZQE80.C791 (issued in series)
- The
Map Catalog - ZGA105.3.M26 1986
- Publications
Catalogs for State Geological Surveys (kept in Princeton files in Reference section)
Finally, a search in the GeoRef database may help you find maps covering your area of interest.
Schwarz Memorial Map
Room Layout
