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**DIGITAL DATABASE DESCRIPTION FOR SURFICIAL GEOLOGIC MAP OF THE LOOP
AND DRUID ARCH QUADRANGLES, CANYONLANDS NATIONAL PARK, UTAH**

*Digital Preparation by* George H. Billingsley^1^, Debra L. Block^1^,
and Tracey J. Felger^2^

*Prepared in cooperation with the* National Park Service

Miscellaneous Field Studies Map MF-2411

2002

**U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR**

**U.S.GEOLOGICAL SURVEY**

^1^Western Earth Surface Processes Team, U.S. Geological Survey

^2^Grand Canyon Science Center, National Park Service

### INTRODUCTION

This publication includes, in addition to cartographic and text
products, geospatial (GIS) databases and other digital files. The
database files are particularly useful because they can be combined with
any type of other geospatial data for purposes of display and analysis.
The other files include digital files that support the databases, and
digital plot files that can be used to display and print the
cartographic and text products in this publication.

The digital map database, compiled from previously published and
unpublished data and new mapping by the author, represents the general
distribution of bedrock and surficial deposits in the map area and
provides current information on the geologic structure and stratigraphy
of the area. The database delineates map units that are identified by
age and lithology following the stratigraphic nomenclature of the U.S.
Geological Survey. The scale of the source maps limits the spatial
resolution (scale) of the database to 1:24,000 or smaller. The content
and character of the database, as well as two methods of obtaining the
database, are described below.

### FOR THOSE WHO DON'T USE DIGITAL GEOLOGIC MAP DATABASES

Two sets of plot files containing images of much of the information in
the database are available to those who do not use an ARC/INFO
compatible Geographic Information System. Each set contains an image of
the geologic map sheet and explanation, and the database description.
There is a set available in PostScript format, and another in Acrobat
PDF format (see sections below). Those who have computer capability can
access the plot file packages in either of the two ways described below
(see the section "Obtaining the Digital Data"); however, these packages
do require gzip or WinZip utilities to access the plot files.

Those without computer capability can obtain plots of the map files
through U.S. Geological Survey Information Services. Be sure to request
Map MF-2411.

U.S. Geological Survey Information Services

Box 25286

Denver, CO 80225

1-888-ASK-USGS

e-mail:ask@usgs.gov

### DATABASE CONTENTS

This report consists of three digital packages. The first is the
PostScript Plotfile Package, which consists of PostScript plot files of
the geologic map and map explanation. The second is the PDF Plotfile
Package, which contains the same plot files as the first package as well
as the database description, but in Portable Document Format (PDF). The
third is the Digital Database Package, which contains the geologic map
database itself and the supporting data.

#### PostScript Plotfile Package

This package contains the PostScript image described below:

  ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
  mf2411.eps    A PostScript plotfile containing the complete map
                composition with geology, base map, correlation chart,
                and geologic description at a scale of 1:24,000

  mf2411.ai     An Adobe Illustrator plotfile containing the complete map
                composition with geology, base map, correlation chart,
                and geologic description at a scale of 1:24,000
  ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------

The PostScript image of the geologic map and map explanation is 52
inches high by 33 inches wide, so it requires a large plotter to produce
paper copies at the intended scale. The PostScript plotfile of the
geologic map was initially produced by the 'postscript' command with
compression set to zero in ARC/INFO version 8.0. The geologic
description and correlation chart were created in Adobe Illustrator 9.0.

#### PDF Plotfile Package

This package contains the PDF images described below:

  ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------
  mf2411.pdf    A PDF file containing the complete map composition with
                geology, base map, correlation chart, and geologic
                description at a scale of 1:24,000

  readme.pdf    This document
  ------------- ---------------------------------------------------------

The PDF image of the geologic map and map explanation was created from a
PostScript file using Adobe Acrobat Distiller. The PDF image of the
pamphlet was produced in Microsoft Word 2000 using the 'Convert to Adobe
PDF' option from the Acrobat pulldown In test plots we have found that
paper maps created from PDF files contain almost all the detail of maps
created with PostScript plot files. We would, however, recommend that
those users with the capability to print the large PostScript plot files
use them in preference to the PDF files.

To use PDF files, the user must get and install a copy of Adobe Acrobat
Reader. This software is available **free** from the Adobe website
(<http://www.adobe.com/>). Please follow the instructions given at the
website to download and install this software. Once installed, the
Acrobat Reader software contains an on-line manual and tutorial.

#### Digital Database Package

The database package includes geologic map database files for the map
area. The digital maps, or coverages, and their associated INFO
directories have been converted into ARC/INFO export files. These export
files are uncompressed and are easily handled and compatible with some
Geographic Information Systems other than ARC/INFO. Please refer to your
GIS documentation.

ARC export files are converted to ARC/INFO format using the ARC command
'import'. To ease conversion and preserve naming convention, an AML is
enclosed that will convert all the export files in the database to
coverages and will also create an associated INFO directory. From the
ARC command line type *&r import.aml*. The export files included are

  ------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------------------------
  [ARC/INFO export    [Resultant              [Description]{.underline}
  file]{.underline}   Coverage]{.underline}   

  mf2411_poly.e00     mf2411_poly             Polygon and line coverage showing
                                              faults, depositional contacts, and rock
                                              units

  mf2411_point.e00    mf2411_point            Point coverage containing sinkholes

  mf2411_anno.e00     mf2411_anno             Annotation coverage containing unit
                                              labels, fault names, and fault
                                              separation values
  ------------------- ----------------------- ----------------------------------------

The database package also contains the following files:

  ---------------- ------------------------------------------------------
  import.aml       ASCII text file in ARC Macro Language to convert ARC
                   export files to ARC coverages in ARC/INFO

  readme.txt       A text-only file containing an unformatted version of
                   readme.pdf

  mf2411.met       A parseable text-only file of publication level FGDC
                   metadata for this report

  mf2411.rev       A text-only file describing revisions, if any, to this
                   publication

  mf2411.tif       Composite hypsography image

  mf2411.tfw       World file accompanying mf2411.tif
  ---------------- ------------------------------------------------------

### The following supporting directory is not included in the database package, but is produced in the process of reconverting the export files into ARC coverages.

  ---------------- ------------------------------------------------------
  info/            INFO directory containing files supporting the
                   database

  ---------------- ------------------------------------------------------

#### Revisions and version numbers

From time to time, new information and mapping, or other improvements,
will be integrated into this publication. Rather than releasing an
entirely new publication, the USGS has adopted a policy of using version
numbers similar to that used in the computer industry. The original
version of all publications will be labeled Version 1.0. Subsequent
small revisions will be denoted by the increase of the numeral after the
decimal, while large changes will be denoted by increasing the numeral
before the decimal. Pamphlets and map products will be clearly marked
with the appropriate version number. Information about the changes, if
any, that have been made since the release of Version 1.0 will be listed
in the publication revision file. This file will be availabe at the
publication web site (see below), and will also be included in the
digital database package.

### OBTAINING THE DIGITAL DATA

The digital data may be obtained via the web from the Western Region
Geologic Information Server. Go to the web page at
<http://geopubs/wr.usgs.gov/map-mf/mf-2411> and follow the directions to
download the files.

DATABASE SPECIFICS

#### Digital compilation

A tic file was created in latitude/longitude coordinates and projected
into the base map projection (UTM). The geology was digitized on screen
over DOQs in ArcView 3.2. The shapefile was converted to a coverage and
final editing and attributing was done in ARC/INFO 8.1 using custom
pull-down and form menus.

#### Map Projection

[Parameter]{.underline} [Description]{.underline}

Projection UTM

Units Meters on the ground

Zone 12

Datum NAD27

#### Database Fields

The content of the geologic database can be described in terms of the
lines, points, and areas that compose the map. Each line, point, or area
in a map layer or map database (coverage) is associated with a database
entry stored in a feature attribute table. Each database entry contains
both a number of items generated by ARC/INFO to describe the geometry of
the feature and one or more items defined by the authors to describe the
geologic information associated with that entry. Each item is defined as
to the amount and type of information that can be recorded. Descriptions
of the database items use the terms explained below.

  ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------
  [Parameter]{.underline}   [Description]{.underline}

  Item Name                 Name of database field

  Width                     Maximum number of characters or digits stored

  Output                    Output width

  Type                      B - binary integer; F- binary floating point number,
                            I - ASCII integer, C - ASCII character string

  N.Dec                     Number of decimal places maintained for floating
                            point numbers
  ------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------

#### LINES

The arcs are recorded as strings of vectors and described in the arc
attribute table (AAT). They define the boundaries of the map units,
faults, and map boundaries in **mf2411_poly**. These distinctions and
the geologic identities of the boundaries are stored in the LTYPE field
according to their line type.

#### Arc Attribute Table Definition

  ------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ---------------------------
  [Item               [Width]{.underline}   [Output]{.underline}   [Type]{.underline}   [N.Dec]{.underline}   [Description]{.underline}
  Name]{.underline}                                                                                           

  FNODE#              4                     5                      B                    \-                    Starting node of the arc

  TNODE#              4                     5                      B                    \-                    Ending node of the arc

  LPOLY#              4                     5                      B                    \-                    Polygon to the left of the
                                                                                                              arc

  RPOLY#              4                     5                      B                    \-                    Polygon to the right of the
                                                                                                              arc

  LENGTH              8                     18                     F                    5                     Length of the arc in meters

  \<COVERAGE\>#       4                     5                      B                    \-                    Unique internal number

  \<COVERAGE\>-ID     4                     5                      B                    \-                    Unique identification
                                                                                                              number

  LTYPE               35                    35                     C                    \-                    Line type

  PTTYPE              35                    35                     C                    \-                    Point type for arcmarkers
  ------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ---------------------------

**Line Types recorded in the LTYPE field**

mf2411_poly

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

contact_certain

facies_change

fault_certain

fault_concealed

map_boundary

**Arcmarkers recorded in the PTTYPE field**

mf2411_poly

\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--

fault_ball_fill

xx

Arcs with PTTYPE value 'xx' indicate that there is no symbol attached to
the arc.

### POLYGONS

Map units (polygons) are described in the polygon attribute table (PAT).
This identifies the map units recorded in the PTYPE, PTYPE2, PTYPE3, and
PTYPE4 fields by map label. There are multiple deposit labels for some
polygons to more fully describe the surficial geology. Surficial
geologic units may exist as thin (\< 2m) veneers over older units. In
areas where this relationship is common the unit designators are shown
on the map as being separated by a slash (/). The younger, or overlying,
unit is indicated first. Thus, Qed/Qes indicates an area where a veneer
of sand dune deposits overlies sand sheet deposits. Not all composite
units are shown on the map or in the database. For polygons where an
underlying unit either does not exist or is not recorded there is a
placeholder 'xx' in the database field.

**Definition of Polygon Attribute Table**

  ------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ---------------------------
  [Item               [Width]{.underline}   [Output]{.underline}   [Type]{.underline}   [N.Dec]{.underline}   [Description]{.underline}
  Name]{.underline}                                                                                           

  AREA                8                     18                     F                    5                     Area of polygon in square
                                                                                                              meters

  PERIMETER           8                     18                     F                    5                     Length of perimeter in
                                                                                                              meters

  \<COVERAGE\>#       4                     5                      B                    \-                    Unique internal number

  \<COVERAGE\>-ID     4                     5                      B                    \-                    Unique identification
                                                                                                              number

  PTYPE               5                     5                      C                    \-                    Unit label for surface
                                                                                                              exposure

  PTYPE2              5                     5                      C                    \-                    Unit label. Underlying
                                                                                                              unit, with thin veneer of
                                                                                                              PTYPE on top.

  PTYPE3              5                     5                      C                    \-                    Unit label. Underlying
                                                                                                              unit, with thin veneer of
                                                                                                              PTYPE and PTYPE2 on top.

  PTYPE4              12                    12                     C                    \-                    Unit label. Composite unit,
                                                                                                              indicated with slashes
                                                                                                              between deposits.
  ------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ---------------------------

**Unit labels recorded in the PTYPE field**

**mf2411_poly**

**\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--**

  ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
  PPe         PPh         Pc          Pcu         Po          Qae

  Qaf         Qal         Qed         Qes         Qf1         Qf2

  Qfp         Qp          Qr          Qrf         Qs          Qt1

  Qt2         Qt3         water                               
  ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------

Plain text is substituted for conventional geologic age symbols (PP for
Pennsylvanian) shown on map.

### POINTS

Points represent geographic features that have no area or length, or
features that are too small for their boundaries to be apparent for the
given input scale. A single x, y coordinate describes each point. A
point attribute table (PAT) is used to hold the attribute data about
points. ARC/INFO coverages cannot hold both point and polygon
information.

**Definition of Point Attribute Table**

  ------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ---------------------------
  [Item               [Width]{.underline}   [Output]{.underline}   [Type]{.underline}   [N.Dec]{.underline}   [Description]{.underline}
  Name]{.underline}                                                                                           

  AREA                8                     18                     F                    5                     Area (degenerative)

  PERIMETER           8                     18                     F                    5                     Perimeter (degenerative)

  \<COVERAGE\>#       4                     5                      B                    \-                    Unique internal number

  \<COVERAGE\>-ID     4                     5                      B                    \-                    Unique identification
                                                                                                              number

  PTTYPE              35                    35                     C                    \-                    Point type
  ------------------- --------------------- ---------------------- -------------------- --------------------- ---------------------------

**Point types recorded in the PTTYPE field**

**mf2411_point**

**\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--**

sinkhole

### ANNOTATION

The coverage **mf2411_anno** contains all annotation for the polygon
coverage. It is defined somewhat differently from the polygon and dip
coverages. The arc attribute table is of negligible importance. Arcs in
this coverage are merely leaders from a unit annotation to the related
polygon. The coverage contains annotation with unit labels and fault
separation. Annotation directly related to unit labeling is contained in
subclass "anno.unit" and annotation including fault separation values is
contained in subclass "anno.structure".

### BASE MAP PROCEDURE

The base map was prepared from two 1:24,000 DRGs that had been converted
to ARC/INFO grids. Any color fill on the grids was deleted, the collars
were stripped, and the images were mosiaced before reconverting to a
monochrome TIFF.

### SPATIAL RESOLUTION

Use of this digital geologic map database should not violate the spatial
resolution of the data. Although the digital form of the data removes
the constraint imposed by the scale of a paper map, the detail and
accuracy inherent in map scale are also present in the digital data.
Although this database was created and consistently edited at a scale of
1:4,000 over digital orthophotos it is presented at a scale of 1:24,000
over a topographic base of that scale. Plotting at scales larger than
1:24,000 will not yield greater real detail, but may reveal fine-scale
irregularities below the intended resolution.

.