Locating Geological Maps

If You Have a Citation to a Specific Map If You Do Not Have a Citation to a Specific Map

Geologic maps published as separate sheet maps are available in the Map Collection. The Map Collection is on Floor 1 (basement) of the Main Library.

If You Have a Citation to a Specific Map:

1. Look in the library catalog — under author, title or series.
2. Series titles are not always clearly given in bibliographic citations. Sometimes the only indication that the map is a part of a series is an alphanumeric code in the citation. The letter is often an abbreviation for the series title. Some common series abbreviations and titles are:
   
   • (USGS)*:
     • GP - Geophysical Investigations, G3701s C9
     • GQ - Geologic Quadrangle Map, G3701s C5 19-- U5
     • HA - Hydrologic Investigations Atlas, G3701s C3
     • I - Miscellaneous Investigations, G3701s C5 19-- U52
     • MF - Miscellaneous Field Studies, G3701s H1
     • OF - Open-file Report
       (*Note: currently, new issues of these series are not being cataloged, however, they may be located by call number.)
   • (CALIF): MS - Map Sheet, G4361s C5 19-- C3
   • (GSA): MC - Map and Chart
   • (OREG.): GMS - Geological Map Series, G4291s C5 var O66

If You Do Not Have a Citation to a Specific Map:

1. Clearly identify the area you want covered. You may need the longitude and latitude boundaries, names of the quadrangles which cover it, and names of any physical features.
2. Look in SABIO. The subject headings are filed alphabetically.
   1. Use the Library of Congress Subject Headings to determine the appropriate subject heading to look under. The four-volume, red-bound set is kept by the SABIO terminals.
   2. Most geological maps will appear under the following headings:
      • "Earthquakes - [area] - maps"
      • "Geology - [area] - maps"
      • "Geology, stratigraphic"
      • "Geology, structural"
      • "Geomagnetism - [area] - maps"
      • "Gravity - [area] - maps"
      • "Gravity anomalies - [area] - maps"
      • "Groundwater - [area] - maps"
      • "Magnetic anomalies - [area] - maps"
      • "Magnetism, terrestrial - [area] - maps"
      • "Mines and mineral resources - [area] - maps"
      • "Seismology - [area] - maps
   3. If you know the quadrangle name, you may look in SABIO under that name.
   4. If a map is not listed under the smallest specific area you are interested in, look under the next larger area. For example, if there is nothing listed under "Geology - Arizona - Pima County - maps", look under "Geology -Arizona - maps", then "Geology - Southwest, New - maps", etc.
3. Use Earth Sciences Disc. One of the files on that CD-ROM is "GEOINDEX". GEOINDEX is a searchable list of the geologic maps covering areas in the United States. Access is by key words, placenames, or longitude/latitude coordinates. The disc is avaliable at the Science- Engineering Reference Desk.
4. Use index maps. Index maps show the areal coverage of the maps they index. They may be limited in the types of maps they index, their publication dates, or other criteria. Make sure you understand what the index is indexing.
   1. For most of the states the U.S.G.S. has prepared geologic map indexes. They are in loose-leaf, red binders [G3971 A2 SciRef].
   2. For seven western states, the library staff maintained (up to 1993) indexing for four U.S.G.S series: GP, GQ, I, MF. The indexes for the seven states are:
      • Arizona, G4331 A2 1975 C8
      • California, G4361 A2 1976 C8
      • Colorado, G4311s A2 1,000 C8
      • New Mexico, G4321 A2 1,000 C8
      • Nevada, G4352s A2 1,000 C8
      • Utah, G4341 A2 1977 C8
      • Wyoming, G4261 A2 1977 C8
   3. For Arizona you may also use Index of Published Geologic Maps of Arizona, 1903 to 1982 [G4331 A2 1982 S25 Map Colln]. It is in 6 sheets and includes indexing of maps in text series.
   4. For additional indexes look on SABIO under:
      • "Geology - [area] - Maps - Bibliography"
      • "Geology - [area] - Maps - Indexes"
      • "Geology - [area] - Index maps"
5. To identify maps published by the U.S.G.S you can use Publications of the U.S.G.S [QE1 U5 SciRef] or Guide to USGS Geologic and Hydrologic Maps [QE77 G8 1994 SciRef].
6. Geologic maps often accompany monographs or text series and to identify them you can use indexes to geological literature such as Georef on CD-ROM [available on the CD-ROM Lan near the Science-Engineering Reference Desk] or the Bibliography and Index of Geology [QE1 G21 SciRef]. Most of these monographs and series will be available in the Science-Engineering Library.
7. For additional aids to finding geoscience materials, consult the following SEL Guides: "U.S. Geological Survey Publications" (LB-685) and "Geosciences (UA Library subject guide)" (LB-745).
8. A computerized literature search may help your research. Ask a reference librarian for details.
9. If you need help, ask a reference librarian for assistance.