Suggestions to Authors 

of the Reports of the 

U n i ted States 

Geological Survey 

Seventh Edition 

Wallace R. Hansen, Editor 

PUBLICATIONS OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY 

S CIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS are the chief products 

of the U.S. Geological Survey and the chief basis for 

the Survey's good reputation in the scientific community. When the Survey's organic act was signed into 

law in 1879 by President Rutherford B. Hayes, the 

new Survey was obliquely directed to publish the 

results of its investigations: "The publications of the 

Geological Survey shall consist of the annual report of 

operations, geological and economic maps illustrating 

the resources and classification of the lands, and reports upon general and economic geology and paleontology." From these simple guidelines the Survey's 

present broad base of operations has evolved. In its 

first years, the Survey released its results as inclusions in annual reports to the Secretary of the Interior. These results, then as now, are of two general 

categories: (1) topographic, geologic, geophysical, and 

hydrologic maps and atlases, and (2) varied series and 

formats of textual reports, including books. The first 

separately published books appeared in 1883: U.S. 

Geological Survey Bulletin 1 and the first "Mineral 

Resources of the United States" (for the calendar 

year 1882). Since then, thousands of books and 

maps have been published to record the results of 

investigations of the physical features and resources 

of the Nation, the Earth, the Moon, and the 

planets. 

Catalogs and supplementary lists of publications of 

the Geological Survey contain directions for ordering 

available items. Reports and maps currently published 

are listed in "New Publications of the Geological Survey" (free of charge) together with brief descriptions 

of their contents and prices. Out-of-print Survey 

publications may be found in Survey libraries and 

in public and institutional libraries throughout the 

country. 

Besides reports published under the imprint of the 

U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), the Survey 

releases much investigative information through other 

media. Thousands of Survey-generated reports have 

been published by cooperating Federal, State, and 

foreign governmental agencies and by scientific and 

technical societies. Survey authors should familiarize 

themselves with these in-house and outside media. 

Most publishing organizations have their own style 

manuals or technical standards for guidance of wouldbe contributors. "Suggestions to Authors" (STA) concerns mainly the preparation of the Survey's own 

book reports, atlases, and maps. Table 1 summarizes 

the Survey's currently (1988) active publication series. 

Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey 1 
Table 1. Current publications of the U.S. Geological Survey . . 

Publication Scope Format -- - - -. . - 

Books and ~am~hlets 

Professional Papers----------- Comprehensive reports of significant and lasting scientific interest. Include results of resource studies and of geologic, hydrologic, or topographic investigations. Also collections of related papers addressin a single topic. Bulletins---------------------------- Significant $ata and inte retations of lasting scientific interest but generf;f; narrower in scope than 

professional papers. ~esdts of resource studies, 

geologic or topographic studies, and collections of 

short papers on related topics. Water-Supply Papers -------- Reports on all aspects of hydrology, including quality, recoverability, and use of water resources; 

statistical reports on streamflow, floods, groundwater levels, and water quality; and collections of 

short papers on related to ics. 

Circulars .......................... Technical or nontechnical ir$ormation of popular interest including timely administrative or scientific 

information. Available to public free of charge. Techniques of Manuals that describe a roved rocedures for plan- Water-Resources ning and executing fit# and lagoratory studies, 

Investigations. including collecting, analyzing, and processing - - hydrologc data. - 

- 

National Water Comprehensive monthly statistical summary of 

Conditions. reservoir contents, streamflow, and ound-water 

conditions in United States and soutgrn Canada. 

Annual State Surface and ground-water data for each State, Water-Data Puerto Rico, and Trust Territories. 

Re rts. 

~artcuakes and Current general interest information on earthquake, Volcanoes. seismic, and volcanic activity. Also addresses landslides, subsidence, and related geologic hazards. Published bimonthlv. ~~-~-~ ------ 

Preliminary Basic data on earthq;ake e icenters derived from 

Determination Worldwide and National geismic Networks. Not an of Epicenters- author vublication outlet. 

month1 listing. 

New ~ubTications 

the Geological Surve 

Special kook 

Publications. 

General-Interest 

Publications. 

Monthly lists of all new products of the Geological Survey. Available to the ublic free of charge. Not an author ublication outfet. 

Books outsig the formal series, such as "Su ges tions to Authors," USGS Yearbook, and otfers: 

Brief nontechnical summaries of topics often asked 

about, such as earthquakes, energy resources, 

mineral resources, water resources, volcanoes, 

glaciers, and rivers. Leaflets free of charge. 

Maps and charts 

9gx 11% inches. Generally in two columns, rarely three. High-quality illustrations that ma require special techniques of preparation, incluJng plates and color photographs if appropriate. Set m type or camera ready. 

8lh x 11 inches. Generally in two columns. High- quality photographs and illustrations including color if appropriate. Set in t or m camera- ready type generated on worprocessors. 

8% x 11 inches. Similar to bulletins except for 

specialized content. Folded plates and color if 

appropriate. 

8lIzx 11 inches. Generally two columns. Editorial, 

tv, and rphics standards permit quick publiea tlon. No ates or color artwork. 

8% x 11 incxes. Oversize illustrations permitted, but no color. 

8lh x 11 inches. Type copy prepared in-house. Illustrations are page size or smaller. No color plates. 

8% x 11 inches. Camera-ready copy from word 

processors, computers, or typescript. Illustrations are page size or smaller. No plates or color. 

5Wx9g mches. Photo aphs and line copy at page size or less. ~ultico!%rs. 

8% x 11 inches. Pamphlet without illustrations. 

8% x 11 inches. Pamphlet includes newsworthy 

events. 

Not rescribed. Highl varied. Not a medium for 

pul?lishing results ofresearch. 

Booklets, brochures, leaflets, folders, and essay reprints in varied colors and formats. 

Geolo 'c Quadrangle 

(GQYMaps. 

Miscellaneous 

Investigations 

(I) Series. 

Mineral 

Investigations 

Resource (MR) 

Maps. 

Oil and Gas 

Oil and Gas 

Investi tions 

(OC) cLs. 

Detailed geologic maps depicting areas of s cial 

importance to the solution of geologic pro%;ems. May portray bedrock or surficial units! or both. 

May lnclude bnef texts, structure secbons, and 

columnar sections. 

High-quality maps and charts of varied subject 

matter such as bath et geology, hydrogeol- ogy, landforms, langse Tissificabon, ve etation, 

and others including maps of planets, thesoon, 

and other satellites. 

Information on mineral occurrences, mineral 

resources, mines and rospects, commodities, and 

target areas of possibE resources other than coal, 

petroleum, or natural gas. 

Apply articularly to areas of known or possible petropeum resources. Typically include cross sec- tions, columnar sections, structure contours, cor- relation diagrams, and information on wells drilled 

for oil and as. Information &out known or possible petroleum 

resources, resented as lo s, correlation diagrams, graphs, an$ tables, but or8inarily not as maps. 

7%- or 15-minute quadrangles printed in multicolor on topographic bases that meet National Map Accuracy standards. 

Various scales. Topographic or planimetric bases; 

regular or irregular areas; black and white or multicolor. Single or multiple sheets; maximum 

sheet size 44 x 58 inches (image 42 x 56 inches). 

May include a text printed as an accompanying pamphlet. 

Small scale (1:250,000 or smaller) on a sheet no larger than 44 x 58 inches (image 42 x 56 inches). 

Single or multiple sheets no larger than 44 x 58 

inches (image 42x 56 inches) in black and white or color. Text usually on map sheet but sometimes 

printed as an accompanying pamphlet. 

Single or multiple sheets no larger than 44 x 58 

inches Image 42 x 56 inches) in black and white or color. damera-ready text, ke boarded on word 

processor, printed on same sieet or in an accom- panying pamphlet. 

2 Publications of the U.S. Geological Survey 
Table 1. Current publications of the U.S. Geological Survey-Continued 

Publication Scope Format 

Maps and charts-Continued 

Coal Investigations 

(C) Maps. 

Geophysical 

;~py#aa~ons 

Land Use and Land 

Cover (L) Maps. 

H drologic 

%vesbgations 

Atlases (HA). 

Miscellaneous Field 

Studies (MF) Maps. 

Origin, character, and resource potential of coal 

deposits shown by geologic maps, structure con- tours, cross sections, columnar sections, and 

measured coal sections, where appro riate. 

Chiefly the results of aeromagnetic an! (or) gravity 

surveys shown by contours. Area depicted may 

range in sue from a few square miles to an entire 

country. 

Various categories of land use and cover, both artificial and natural, for use by geographers, land-use 

planners, and others. 

A wide range of hydrolo 'c and hydro eologic data 

of regional and nationsinkrest, su% as streamflow, ground water, water quality, and extent of 

flooding. 

Rapidly prepared, low-budget maps in a broad range of presentations in terms of portrayal, completeness, interpretations, draftsmanship, scale, and area coverage. 

Informal report series 

Sheets no lar er than 44 x 58 inches (image 42 x 56 

inches) in b%ck and white or color. Text on map sheet or in an accompanying pamphlet. 

One or more sheets no larger than 44 x 58 inches 

(image 42 x 56 inches), commonly printed in black 

and one other color with contours in red or green. Also multicolor. 

Planimetric maps at scales of 1:250,000 or 1:100,000 

on a single sheet no larger than 28 x 42 inches 

(image 26 x 40 inches), most1 in black and green, but occasionall multicoloredI 

Various scales. &ulticolor or black and white on 

topo aphic or planimetric bases. Single or multiple gets no lar er than 44 x 58 inches (image 42x56 inches). &xt on sheet or in an accompany- ing amphlet. Flenbye layout. One or more sheets on planimetric or topographic bases not larger than 44 x 58 inches 

(image size 42 x 56 inches); generally in black and 

white. Author responsible for preparin camera- ready ma s, cross sections, and other flustrations. 

Text sho18d be keyboarded on word processors. 

Open-File Reports 

(OF). 

Water-Resources 

Investigations 

Reports (WRIR). 

Reports of the Office 

of Water-Data 

Coordination. 

Index to Water Data. 

National Handbook 

of Recommended 

Methods for WaterData Acquisition. Federal Plan for 

Water-Data 

Acquisition. 

Administrative 

Reports. 

Unedited reliminary manuscripts, maps, and other 

materia?made available for public use but not con- sidered part of the formal literature. Wide range of subjed matter. - 

Hydrologic information, main1 of local interest, 

lntended for quick release. Jmk or map format. 

Products of interagency water-data coordination 

activities. 

Tabular information on water-data collection sites 

and hydrologic investi tions published every 2-4 

years. Data maintains m a central computer file. 

Various methods of water-data acquisition, updated periodically. 

Present and future plans of 30 Federal agencies; directed to water-data collectors and users and to 

administrative and legislative branches of the 

Federal Government. 

Pre wed to meet specific internal needs or needs of 

otier governmental having proprietary interests. Unpublishe and not to be quoted or cited except m followup administrative reports or unless released to the public by a cooperating wencv. 

Varied scales, areas covered, shapes, and methods of 

presentation. Black and white paper co ies and 

microfiche available for most reports. &me color. 

Computer pro ams and data on flo py disks. 

Ma sm normafiry44x 58 inches. ~ool! ages 8k x 11 inches. Map sheet no larger & 44 x 58 

inches (image 42 x 56 inches). Text, drafting, and layout by ori 'nating office. Color and oversize 

illustrahons !fap ropriate. Various types base2 on need. 

Com uter generated camera-ready copy on 8% x 11- 

inci paper, black and white; illustrated only with 

index maps. Standard covers. Twelve chapters, t 112 x 11-inch paper, without color anK$ftw illustrations. Special notebook covers. 

Camera-read copy generated on word rocessors on 8lIa x 11-incE paper, without color, wig standard 

covers. Page-size computer-generated graphs. 

No set standards; copy prepared to meet specific needs. 

National Topographic Maps 

Standard series maps: 

1:24,000-scale, 7%-minute 

1:62,500-scale, 15-minute 

1:100,000-scale 

1:250,000-scale 

1:1,000,000-scale International Map of the World 

Special maps: National Parks and Monuments 

Orthophotomaps 

Orthophotoquads 

County maps 

state maps National Atlas of the United States 

Ma~s ofthe United States 

Publications of the U.S. Ceological Survey 3