31 Best Student Geologic Map Competition (Posters)

Students will present their research through geologic mapping projects (with a significant field mapping component) that address scientific or societal issues. The top three student-authored geologic maps will receive awards following this session.

Sunday, 19 October 2025
8:00 AM - 5:30 PM
HBGCC, Hall 1

Developing a new series of 1:24,000-scale geologic maps of Cretaceous and Paleogene strata along a rapidly developing highway corridor in northern Mississippi, USA

Paper number: 31-14
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 8:00 AM – 8:00 AM

Authors

Abstract

Recent state investment in economic development along the north-south State Highway 15 corridor in northern Mississippi (MS), south of the border with Tennessee, has funded a large highway expansion project; this has created a time sensitive opportunity to expand and update the resolution of publicly available geologic data in the area. 

Currently, the only available geologic map for the region is the 1:500,000 scale state geological map published by Bicker and the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Office of Geology in 1969.  A series of 7.5′ geologic maps published more recently by the MDEQ has its easternmost border at 86°7′30″ longitude.  The highway 15 corridor consists of the group of quadrangles immediately to the east, through Union and Tippah counties, MS.  Accordingly, the purpose of this ongoing mapping project is to produce a series of 7.5′ surficial geology maps along the corridor.  Note that the humid subtropical climate of northern Mississippi and highly erosive sedimentary strata result in highly dissected and thickly vegetated ground, making mapping challenging.  This is why large construction projects are often a boon for geological work.  Initial fieldwork has focused on temporary exposures created by construction along the highway, which allows for mapping of the Cretaceous Ripley Formation, Cretaceous Owl Creek Formation, Paleocene Clayton Formation, and Paleocene Porters Creek Formation.  During this work, the K-Pg boundary is receiving special attention for its scientific value and the data that can be collected to assist with documentation and interpretation of the associated mass extinction event.  Strata represent sedimentary fill of the Mississippi Embayment (MSE) and, following the regional trend, they strike approximately north-south and dip shallowly westward toward the axis of the MSE.  

Outside of the construction zone, aerial imagery will be used to identify potential exposures, which will be checked through fieldwork.  Planned methods include traditional field mapping on foot and ground truthing of units predicted to underlie covered areas through subsurface sampling with hand augers or a truck-mounted drill rig.  Each geologic map will be constructed with the corresponding US Geological Survey 7.5′ topographic map as its base.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 57, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-414797

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