T156 Use of Geoscience Data Resources in Education and Research (Posters)

Monday, 26 September 2016
9:00 AM - 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall E/F

LINKING THE INDIANA GEOLOGIC NAMES INFORMATION SYSTEM TO COMPLEMENTARY GEOLOGICAL DATABASES

Paper number: T156-6
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

In 2009, the Indiana Geological Survey (IGS) launched a geologic names website incorporating information for the bedrock units within the state (https://igs.indiana.edu/IGNIS/). The website and supporting Indiana Geologic Names Information System (IGNIS) were initially developed by the IGS Geologic Names Committee with assistance from IGS information services and photography and imaging staff. The primary purpose of the website and IGNIS is to make current information about geologic names that are recognized by the IGS available to a broad spectrum of users from academia, industry, government, and the general public.

In addition to the descriptions and images of the bedrock units, a stratigraphic column interface was developed that allows IGNIS website users to explore and understand the stratigraphic and geographic relationships of Indiana rock unit names in ways that were not possible using paper documents. Users can scroll and view the formal names and relationships of stratigraphic units from the Precambrian to the Pennsylvanian, read and download abbreviated descriptions of stratigraphic units, link to more detailed descriptions of units, or view the geographic distribution of units. 

The IGNIS currently links to and draws information from the following internal sources: (1) the IGS Stratigraphic Names Database; (2) the IGNIS Reference Database of pertinent literature in which bedrock stratigraphic units have been described; (3) the IGS Image Database, which contains photographs and illustrations of Indiana type localities and reference sections, structure and isopach maps, and other figures showing key characteristics of units; and (4) the IGS Publications Database. Current major external sources of information include: (1) the American Association of Petroleum Geologists Correlation of Stratigraphic Units in North America (COSUNA) chart for the Midwestern basin and arches region; and (2) the online U.S. Geological Survey Geologic Names Lexicon ("Geolex"). 

In the near future, the IGNIS website will be linked to the Indiana University Paleontology Collection to access: (1) additional fossil images and descriptions; and (2) related information on their stratigraphic distribution.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 48, No. 7

doi: 10.1130/abs/2016AM-277940

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