Ignoring geology, however, can be expensive. In Kansas, economic losses sustained from geologically related factors cost businesses and individuals millions of dollars each year. Understanding the near-surface geology and incorporating geologic evaluations into the planning process can prevent some of these problems. Geologic maps are the principal source of information about the near-surface geology and are essential for guiding public policy, evaluating earth resources, and making economic decisions. This circular explains what geologic maps are, how they are made, what they are used for, and why they are valuable.
Geologic maps are an important source of natural-resource information.
Technically, these maps should be called bedrock geologic maps. Examples of bedrock that occur in Kansas are limestone, sandstone, and shale. This material, termed alluvium , is younger in terms of geologic time than the underlying bedrock. Windblown silt deposits are called loess . Glacial drift is material transported by glaciers and deposited directly on the land.