AGI

DATA

SHEETS

FOR GEOLOGY IN THE FIELO,

LABORATORY, ANO OFF ICE

Third Edition

Compled by
J.T. Dutro, Jr.
R.V. Detrch
R. M. Foose

AMERICAN
GEOLOGICAL
INSTITUTE

Copyright @ 1965, 1982, 1989 by the American Geologieal Institute

4220 King SI., Alexandria. VA 22302-1507

AII nghts reserved, No part 01 this publication may be reproduced, storad in a retrieval
syslem, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electron,e, meehanieal, photoco
pying, reeording or otherwise, wthout prior wrtten permssion 01 he publisher,

Llbrary 01 Congress Cataloging in Publlcation Data

Maln entry under title:
AGI data sheets: for geology in the feld, laboratory, and office, Compiled by J,T, Dulro.
Jr., RY. Dietrieh, R,M. Foose.
3rd ed, p. cm
Includas selselad, unehanged AGI data sheets from 1956-1964 se!' 1982 edi
tlon, as well as rey, and new sheets.
Bblography: p,
ISBN 0-922152.01-2
1, Geology-Handbooks, manuals, etc, 1. Dulro, J. Thomas, Jr" 1923-, 11.
Dietrieh, Richard Vineent, 1924-, 111. Foose, Richard Martn, 1915
IV American
Geologieal Institule,
QE52,A36 1989

550-dc20
89-32854

CIP

Design and produClon by Melody Oakes. Mark Sehmidl, Bambi Satzer, Julie De Alley,
and Martn Communealons, Ine,
Primed on Allantlc Ledger Graentone by United Book Press, Inc,
Frst Editon, 1965
Sacond Edition, 1982
Third Edition, 1989
Printed n the U.SA

The Data Sheet series of Ihe American Geological Inslilule was conceived by
Robert C. Slephenson, a former execulive director 01 AG!' In February of 1956,
the tirsl Data Sheet, "Geologic Map Symbols 1," was published in the "Geo
logical Newsletter" ot AG!'
In July ot 1957, Joseph L GiIIson, then presidenl ot AGI, appointed a Data
Sheet Commiltee wilh Richard M. Foose as chairman. The committee was
given the responsibility of developing a series of Data Sheets to be pub<ished
and dislributed by AG!' During Ihe period 1957-1964, Ihe Foose-chaired com
millee was responsible for the preparation and publication 01 47 sheels.
In 1978, in response 10 comments about lhe sheets as well as to continuing
demand for them, the AGI Publications Commillee recommended tha! a new
subcommittee be formed and charged with reviewing the exiSling sheets and
developing a new sel 01 Data Sheets. The lollowing suboommillee prepared
the second edilion: Richard V. Dietrich (chairman), Central Michigan UniverSity;
J. Thomas Dutro, Jr.. United Slates Geological Survey; and Richard M. Foose,
Amhersl College.
The second edifion consisting 01 61 AGI Data Sheets. included selecled
sheels unchanged lrom Ihe 1956-1964 sel, sheets Ihat combined andior updated
information given on sheels 0\ Ihe original set, and new sheets. The soticitation
and collection 01 materials included in the second edil ion were greatly aided by
Thomas F. Ralter, Jr. (former director 01 publications ot AGI) and his able assis
tant director, Nancy P. Dutro. The production 01 the second edition was under
Ihe direction ot Galen McKibben wtth the assislance 01 Carolyn V. Ormes.
This third edillon, likewise. conlains some sheets unchanged Irom the lirst
two versions, but many are updated and revised, and new sheets are added.
The sheets represent the gracious and treety given efforts 01 the named
aUlhors and compilers and 01 several unnamed reviewers, as well as 01 the sub
committee members. The third edition was produced by Julia Jackson, director ot
publicalons, with the capable assistance 01 associale editor Margaret Oosterman.
Additional sheets will be prepared lor future publication and distribution.
Users are encouraged to submit suggestions lor other sheels 10r consideration
by the subcommittee.
December 1989
AGI Subcommittee on Data Sheets
J. Thomas Dutro, Jr. (chairman), Uniled Slates Geological Survey

Richard M. Foose, Amhersl College

Richard V. Dietrich, Central Michigan University

Contents
Prelare
Major Geochronologlc and Chronoslratgraphic Unts
Precambrian TIme Scale
Geamagnetic Polarity Time Scala
Lale Cenazaic Polarity Time Scale
Standards for General Purpose Geologic Maps
Geolog1c Map Symbols
Geologic Symbols
Fault Symbols
Symbols lar Fluvial Nonmanne Sequences
U.S. Public Land Survey Grd
Sladia Tables
Trigonometric Formulas and Functions
Natural Functions
Correction for D,p
Dip, Deplh, and Thickness of Inclinad Strata
Conversion 01 Slope Angles
Contour Spacing Irom Slope Angles
Critera tor Determining Top and Bo!tom 01 Beds
Folds
Joinls and Faults
Mineral Hardness
Speelllc Gravity
Macroscopie Identilication 01 Common Roek-forming Silicales
Dala Pertaining lo Importan! Nonsilicale Minerals
Separation Characteristics al Minerals
Gem Materials
Gemstone Durability
Gemstone Misnomers
Cryslal Syslems

Bravais Lattices
Structural Classification 01 Sllicate Minerals
Field Classilicalion for tgneous Rocks..~Phanerites
Aphanites
Textures 01 Igneous Rocks
Comparison Chart for Eslimating Percentage Campo sitian
tgneous Masses
Pyroclastic Sedimenls and Rocks
Characteristics 01 Falloul Tephra-Subaerial
Subaqueous
Volcanoes-Morphologic Types
Exptosivity Versus Eruplion InteNal
Graph lar Delerminlng lhe Size of Sedimentary Particles
light Partlcles
Grain-size Scales
Sieves for Detalled Size Analysis
Companson Chart for Eslimating Roundness and Sphericity
Descriptive Terms for Megascopic Appearances of Rock and
Particle Surfaces
Names for Sedimentary Rocks

1.1

1.3

1.5
1.7
2,1
3.1
3.4

3.7
4.1
5,1

6.1
7.1
7.2
8.1

S.2
9.1
9,2
10.1

11,1
12.1

13.1
13.2
14.1
15.t
16.1
17.1
lS,1
IS,2
19.1
19.2
20,1
21.1
21.2
22.1

23.1
24.1
25,1
26.1
26.2
27.1
27,2
28,1

28.2
29.1
29.3
30.1

31.1
32.1

Contents
Names for Llmestones
Classirlcation of Limestones According to Depostional Texture
Descriptiva Classification 01 Metamorphlc Rocks
Metamorphlc Facies
Pressure Temperatura Diagram
Concept and Classilication 01 SOlls
Soil Horizon Designations
American Soil Taxonomy
Checklist for Field Descriptlon 01 Soils
GUlde lor Textural Classilicatlon
Unified Soil Classifieatlon System
Soil Plaslicity Chart
Outline for Environmental Impact Stafements
Checklist lor a Mine Report
Investigalion 01 Seismle Intensity
Selsmic Effects List
Modifled Mercalli Seismic Intensify Scale
Geologic Study 01 Earthquake Effects
Checklist lor Earthquake Effeets
MaJor Public Sources 01 Geologlealln1orma\lon
International Geological Surveys
State and Provincial Geologieal Maps
Geologicai Highway Maps
Map and Aenal Photograph Coverage al the Unlted States
Bibliographies, Indexes, and Abstraets
Classllications 01 Llbrary Holdings
Powers 01 Ten
Electromagnetic Spectrum
Measurement Conversions-English to Metric
Metnc to English
Gemological Welghts and Measures
Hydraulic Conversion Data
Energy Conversion Tables
Glossary 01 Statistical Terms Used In Geology
Period,e Table al the Elements
Abundance 01 Elements
Abundance 01 Elements In Sedimentary Rocks
Crustal Abundance
Chemical Analyses 01 Common Rock Types~lgneous Rocks
Sedimentary and Metamorphlc Rocks
Gravimetric Conversion Factors
Geophysical Data
IUGS Classilleallons~Plutonic Rocks
Volean ie Rocks
Optical Determlnations
An,Conlent 01 Plagiociase Feldspars
Calculabon 01 Norms~Rules lor Short Form 01 Barth Katanorm
Rules lor Short Form al CIPW Norm
Data for Norm Calculalion
Sample Calculation al Short Form of Barth Katanorm
Sample Calculatlon 01 Short Form 01 CIPW Norm
vi

331
33.2
34.1
35,1
354
36.t
36.2
36.3
37.1
37.2
38.1
38.2
39.1
40.1
41.1
4L2
4L4
42.1
43.1
44.1
44.7
45.1
45.4
46.1
47.1
48,1
491
501
51.1
513
52.1
53.1
54.1
55.1
56.1
57.1

59.1
59,4
60.1
61.1
62.1
62.3
63.1
64.1
65.1
65.3
65.5
657
65.8

Contents~~~~
Majar Fassil Groups Used for Datlng and Correlatlon 0 1
Phanerozoie Sir ata in North Amenca
Geologlc Distnbution 01 Lile Forms
Physical Propert1es of Recent Manne Sediments
Identilication 01 Mlnerais by Slaimng-Carbonates. Gypsum.
and An hyd rita
Feldspar
Projectlon Nels-Eoual Area
Equal
Wulff Not
ACF.
and AFM Diagrams
Phase Equlhbna Diagrams lor Mineralogy and Petrology
Solutlons 01 Earthquakes
Momenl and Momant Magnilude
Calculaling Ihe Richter Magnitude 01 a Local EarthquaKe
Applcation of GeophySlcal Melhods
Geophyslcal Wel! Logglng Technlques
Use 01 Mohr's Circle in Geology
Physical Properties 01 Building Stones
Planats and Large Saleliiles
Oceans and Major Seas
Cantinanls and Larga Islands
Impacl Craters
Pnneipal Mounlalns Peaks 01 the World
Notable Valeanoes of the World
Notable Voleanic
Largo Rlvers 01 Ihe
Large Rivers 01 North America
Earthquakes
Proofreader Symbols
Preparing and Presenllng a Sllde Talk
Stale Boards and Offices Regulatng the Practlce 01 Geology
Inde,

69.t
69.3
70.1

10.2
71.1

72.1
73.1
74.1

751
76.1
77.1
781

791
80.1
81.1
81.2
82.1
83.1
84.1
84.3
85.1

85.2
86.1
87.1
88.1

89.1

vii

AGI DATA SHEET 2.1

Standardsfor General Purpose

Geolo~J!:

Map_s__.._._ _.__

U.S. Geological Survey, Revised Carlographlc Technical Slandards, 1978

A general pIJrpose geologic rlap porlrays the dstrlbullon and strcture of Earth
matena 1s in tnalr trlJe relattons to the configuration of the Eanh's sUffaca. Alt10ugh the
map shows +ea!ures at or rear lhe SJrface, the relal10nshlps porlrayed mak;e it passlbie
to draw reasonabie ,nferences
t19
depth. An acceplable general pUf"
pose geologic map should mee! the

i The map st';ould be on a base tha'!

topograph:c base
low rellt~f tha: Ihe

l1eets National Map Accuracy Standards. A

except 0(1 srnallscale maps or 'n areas of such

conlours does 1'101 hl~der geologlc lnterpretalon

Ttle completad map should be

AII symbo!s on :he map shou!d l1her
In co~mon usage or be
ma:eriaL T1e sources 01 geo!oglc data should be
tor
m the
tlle map, contacts 'nferred from geophyslcaL photogeologlc, or
all parts
remote sens'ng data should be idenflfled and exp!alned
A!I g80!oglcally signlflcant Uflts mappab:e at the scale shou!d be shown, aM
geolog,c features sholJld be deplcted uniformly tr-roughout tlle afea 01 t'ie map.
4 Mines,
he map

quarnes. wells. anO drill holes shou:d be shown

poss'ble al

Geo1oglc Interpretat,ons snould be Inlernally cons:slent and plausible. Re!a

tlOns oi cartacts af geo:ogic umts ta opography shou!d be conslstent with racK
atlltudes. strallgraphy, and slructure showr on the iT'ap and Ir cross sectlons.
Should be adequa1ely portrayed
structJral
should be 'ndlcated wherever practica!.
shou!d be
mcludeo If needeo for c!arity. and these shou!d be consistent with re!ahons
deplcted on the map
SLr!IClal unlts Sl10uld be d st'ngUlshed and where poss.ble, s<JbdlVlded on the
basls 01
rno~phology andor litho!ogy. l~ tha map meelS al: cnter,a
but Ihls
termed a bedrocK geolog1c map. It t fPeets I11S cr,teflon,
but does not pO~Hay the bedrock umts, tI shoJld be ten~ed a sJrf!c:al geologic
map In sorne cases, more Iran one map may be requlfed :0 prov de adeQuate
genera Durpose coverage of an area.

Faults :hat display mappable oHset ot stratlgraphlc or iltholog:c umts or

dlsp'ay eVldence ot recent :novement or are of so me other specla!
cance. sr.ould be rnapped and classltlsd as lo type
reverse.
stnke-sllp). ano P arid dlreC!lon 01 relatlve
be S'lown wher
ever possble.

9.

AGI

AGI DATA SHEET 1.1

Major Geochronologic and Chronostratigraphic Units

U.S.G.S. Geologic Names Committee, 1980 edltlon
Age eStim ares , of
boundanes ln
mllhon yea rs Imy )

Subdl\llSIOnS 10 us e by th e U S Geolog lcal Su /v ev

!an d lheH rnap sy mbotsl

f-------+-

00 10

117 )) 1

CenOlO lC

Fra or
tr athem

f-----+--------I-14

1l3161

I[nl

38

134 381

55

154 551

f - - - - - + - -- -' - - - ---1-- - - - - - - ! - 63

'63 66 1

f-------+-

Phaneru/nll

Fo n ar

:)'

Fr:: or
r r a t ~e m

Eonolh em

erel aceu us

Meso lQl [

S '( s1(~m

1m
Uoper
P I~ r lQ~

fp o, ho l
Selles

f-------~- 95

1959 /1 -

' KI

f----------''-------~138

:135 1411 -

f--------------~ 1 0 5

11001 151-

1\\71
1 - - - - - - - 1 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - + - " ' 1 40

Pa leOl GIC

t ro r
Era >- em

f----------------+-410

1 - - - - - - - - - -

14054 15:

435

'4354401

- - - - + - 500

1495 5'01-

(a mbrlan P f~nod DI S~ S I !lm ',(1

I---+-----''-------------------_+_~

ProterolOlC
Fo nor

570

BOO

1.600

- f - !.50C

,n U S - f - 3,fiOO

I - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - + _
Pr Dler olO lc V IVl'

Fon orh em l el
P r l')! ~ rO l CI ( X IXI \

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Arr.hean
Eonur

- - --

Eono lherr'

IAI

OIOeS! kno wro

'0'"

1 Ranges retlect uncertaln !le s af ISOIOp lC[lnd b10str all graptllc age " gnm ents Age 01bou nd anes no t cl ose ly br(1cket ed by
eXlst lng data shown by -- Decay constan!!', and Isowp e rat __-> ernp loyed are clted In SI81ger and Jager 11977)
Rocks older than 570 m y also ca! led Precambrl an (p e). a [lme te rm w l hout sp ec tl,c ra nk
Time ter ms w ltnou! spe c1hc r8nk.

Note
The 1983 edition by the U.S.G.S. Geologic Names Committee is essentially unchanged Irom
this version , except lor incorporating the Precambrian Time Scale 01 Harrison and Peterman
(see Data Sheet 1.3).

AGI O S-td -B9

AGI DATA SHEET 1.2

REFERENCES
Other geologlc time scales. Including internationally accepted epoch and
terms, and detalls on boundanes, geochronalogy, and corre!atons can be
in 1he following publicaVans.
AAPG. 1978: Studles in Geology 6.388 p.

Berggren. WA. 1972: Le/haia. v. 5. n 2. p 195-215.

Evernden, J.F.. Savage, DE, Curtis, GH. and James. GT, 1964: Am. J. SeL. v.

262, p. 145198.

Gao/. Soc London, J., v. 120S. 1964. 458 P

Harland, WB.. and others. 1982. A Geo/agie Time Seale. Cambridge University

Press. Cambridge. 131 p.

Lambert RS, 1971: Geol. Soco London. SpeClal Publications 3. Part 1. p. 931.

Monning. M., 1989: Eplsodes,

V.

'2. no. 1, p. 3-5. chan

Palmer, A.R . 1983: Geo!ogy. v. 11, p. 503504.

Odln, G.8., ed.. 1982. Numarieal Dating n Slratlgraphy. John Wiley and Sons,

New York, 2 valumes. 1040 p

Od,n, G.S , 1982: Episades.

V.

1982, n. 3, p. 39.

StelgBr. R.H., and Jager. E. 1977 Earth Planot. Sel. Le/!' v. 36. P 359-362.

U.S. Geologic Names Committee. '983. U.s.G.S. Bu!!. 1537-A, p. Al-M.

Age eslimales fo' the Phanerozolc are by GA. Izett, MA Lanphere. M.E
MacLachlan, CW. Naeser, J.D. ObraaoVich. Z.E. Peterman, M. Rubln, T W. Stern,
and R.E. Zarlman at the request 01 the Geologlc Names Commlltee. Age
estimates lor the Precambnan are by the Inte'national Un'on 01 Geological Sel
mees Working Group on the Precambrian lar the United Stales and Mexlco. J.E
Harrison, chairman {sea Data Sheet 1 3).

AGI DATA SHEET 1.3

Precambrian Time Scale

E. Peterman, U.S, Geotogical SUfvey

Jack E. Harrison and

500

EON

ERA

~c~~L_--~~----4570

LATE
PROTEROZOIC

900
1000
MIDDLE

PROTE ROZOIC

5N

a:

1500

W
1

I~

1600

a:
a..
!/)

EARLY

PROTEROZOIC

2000

a:
<t
w
>
Z

2500

2500

:i

LATE ARCHEAN

...J

3000

3000

<t

:x:
u
a:
3500

MIDDLE

ARCHEAN

3400

<t

EARLY ARCHEAN

'- -

4000

--/ --n8CO?}- ....... -- "

I
, ________ . _____~~4550

Source J.E. Harrison and Z.E. Peterrnan, 1982, North Ameflcar

of GeochOnO'T'etr'ic Un:ts
graphc Nomenclalure Report
cambrian TIme: AAPG Bu/L v 66. p,

ThlS time Bcale for lhe Precambrlan IS reeommended lor use by 1M Interna
honal Unlon 01 Geologloal Selenees (IUGS) Worklng Group on the Preeambnan for
Ihe Unlted Stales and MeXICO and by the Canadlan and Unlted Slates groups
preparing reports on the Precambrian. The scale conforms in time Intervals wlth
those recommended for the ProteroZOle by Ihe IUGS Subeommlss,on on
Precambrian Stratlgraphy {Slms. 1979) and suggesls subdlv!Blons lor lhe Archean,
whleh has nol yal besn dlvided by Ihe Subcomm!ssion,

AGI DATA SHEET 1.4

Formal names for eaos and eras are shown on the diagram. Subdivision of
and geologic
eras into periods may bacome appropriate as new
data for North Amenea accumua18. The term
is an Informal designa
tion lar rocks older than 3800 m.y.
These recommendations do not raqulre abandoning terms such as Penokean
or Helikean, which are meaninglul in some
Such terms can be related to
the Precambnan time scale by delining their
spans in years and by notln9
whether they dlrectly correspond wilh one 01 Ihe standard time units or whelher
they ove'lap standard boundanes. Similarly, delinln9 and namlng local geochrono
metrie units based on the spacial needs 01 an area is encouraged, provid.ng that
and are referenced lo the standard
such units are expressed In terms of
uMs 01 the time scale Such local
terms should not be extended
beyond the local a'eas where they
geologic applicabilily because such exten
sions could Vltlate benelits 01 a standard time scale and introduce ambiguity in
communication.
References
Norlh Amar-can Cr1mISsIOr' on Stra!,g~aph,c
a
lime scale for lte Pre

Am
Jartes. H.L.,
deClslcrs by the Sul,como"ss'on
3, p. 193204

v 9L no 6. p 377-38;)
n?vlCw and a report on reC8'lt
Precambriar Res .. v 7. "le

Slms, P.K .. 1979, Preca'llbria1 s;.Jbdlv!oed Geollmes, v. 24, no. 12, p. 15.

AGI DATA SHEET 1.5

GEOMAGNETIC POLARITY TIME SCALE

During periods marked in black, the Earth's north and south magnetic poles con
formed to those al present, and during periods in while, the poles were reversed; num
bers and lelters identify magnetic intel"lals and reversals recorded by systematlcally
orlented magnetization 01 mineral grains in seafloor lava and mapped as magnetic linea
tions (alter LaBrecque and olhers, 1977; Lanphere and Jones, 1973; Larson and Hilde,
1975; and Van Hinle, 1976),
Om,y,
()uat!mary

~.
i~

Pliocene
4

4A

5
5A

Miocene

10

,' !
a

eA ,

20

8-

c:

Oligocene

tU

30

10

" 12

.~
1

40

'7

la

'9

Eocene

2C

50

23
24

Paleocene

Maestrichlian

25
26

la::

.~

60

-70

ReferenC8$

La Brecque, J,L" Kent, DV., and Cande, S,C" 1977, revised magneUc polarity time scale lar Late
Cralaceous and Cenezoic time: Geology, v, 5, p, 330-335,
Lanphere, MA and Jones, D,L" 1973, Cralaceous lime scale from North America: Am, Assoc,
Petroleum GeoL Sludies in GeoL, no, 6, p, 259-266,
Lamon, R,L, and H,lde, T,W,C, 1975, A revised time scale 01 magnetic reversals lor lhe Early Cre
taceous and Late Jurassic: Jou'- Geophys, Res" v, 80, p, 2586-2594,
Van Hinte, J.E., 1976a, A Jurassic time $cale: Amar. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Bull., v. 60,
p,489-497
Van Hinte, J.E" 1976b. A Cretaceous time sca!e: Amar, AS$oc. Petroleum Geologisls Bull., v. 60.
p.498-516,

AGI DATA SHEET 1.6

Maestrichtian

..'l""
o

Campanian

80

11
(.)

....'"

90
Cenomanian

100
Alblan

110

Apilan

en

.:\l

"

11
'"
~

Barremian

(.)

120
Hauterlvian
Valanglnlan

130
Berrlaslan
u
.;

Tlthonl::r

'"~

..

140

~
Kimmeridgian
Qi

Oxfordian

...1

------~~.-

'"

E
'"

..,

150

.;

..

Callovian

:::1

iS

:2

:::t

~~

--

Bathonian

160

AGI DATA SHEET 1.7

LATE CENOZOIC POLARITY TIME SCALE

tJ)

~
Jaramillo

Reference
Mankinen, EA and Dalrymple. G.B., 1979, Revised geomagnetic polarity time scale lor the inter
val 0-5 m.y.S.P.: Jour. Geophys. Res., v. 84. p. 615-626.

AGI DATA SHEET 3.1

revised by D.M. Kinney

This data sheet lisIs map symbols commonly used on geologic maps published by the
U.S. Geological Survey.
BEDDlNG

2~
Strlke and dp 01 beds

Horiz.ontal beds

Slrlke 01 vertical beds

Strike and dip of beds where

top 01 beds can be
dstinguished; used only In
areas of COfr:;~II~~ overtumed

Approximate strike and dip

25~

Strlke and dip 01 overturned

beds

./'"\ 50
Generalized slrike and dip ot
crumpled.
plicated,crenulated,OT un
dulatlng beds

Apparenl dip

Strlke an dip 01 bedS and

plunge 01 slickensides

FOLlATION ANO ClEAVAGE*

Strike and dip 01 lolalion

Strike and dip of cleavage

Stfike of vertical cleavage

Horizontal foliation

Strike of vertical 'olation

Horizontal cleavage

/1/1 ) )

Alternatlve symbols 10r other planar elements

JOINTS

Strike and dp of jomt

~o

Strike of vertical ]oint

Horizontal joint

~75
Slrikes and dlps 01 mulliple systems

"Tne map explanation should always speclly the kind 01 cleavage mapped

AGI DATA SHEET 3.2

Verileal Hneation

Honzontal lineation

25~

25
1/
Double llneation

/20

Strike and dip 01 beds

ShOWU1g hOrizontal hneatin

'30

Vertical tOliation, showmg

plunge of Imeation

25

15

Strike aod dip 01 beds,

ShowlOg rake of Ilneation

60

SHike and dip of foHation

aod plunge Oi !loeaton

Strike and dip 01 beds aod

plunge o' Imeation

6~

4 0 / 90

Strlke aod dip 01

fOlfaMn showing
hotjzonial lineatlon

Vertical beds, showmg

plunge of !mealion

Vertical beds, show1ng

hOrizontal lineation

Vertical fOliation, showing

horizontal Imeation

25~
60
Stnke aM dlp of foliation
showmg ra\\e Di hneation

Generahzed suike of falded

beds or folJation, showlng
p,unge of tetd axes

Approxlmale contact

nferre contact

CONTACTS

50
Concealed contact

90
I

Cor'llacl, showing dip

Vertical coniact

- - - - - - - _ ...

_--~

....

_------

FOLDS

~-f-

40

~~

Anticline, showing
crestHne and pi unge

Qvertumed anticline, show

ng trac~ ofaxial surtace,
d ip of Itmbs, and ptunge

Mino' anUclme, showing

plunge

Syncline, sllowing erestllne

Overtumed syncHne, show

mg !tace 01 axial surlace
and dip uf limbs

Minor syncline, showmg

plunge

and plunge

~15

AGI DATA SHEET 3.3

FOLOS (continued)

--v- --\--

...

Inferred axes

Approximate axes

Horizontal fold axes

Ooubtful axes, dotted

where concealed

Concealed axes

Dome

~15
40
Fold

FAULTS

Vertical tault

Fault, showing dip

.....

Approximate tault

-------

- ---?........ .

Inlerred tault

Concealed lault

Ooubtful

where

u
~
Normal fault.
down

Fault, showing relative

movement

~
low-angle reverse
T. upper plate

Normal lault, showing

bearing and pi unge 01
relative movement 01
downthrown block

-~25Reverse tault, showing

bearing and plunge 01
relative movement of
downthrown block iD)

-?

'i~~40
Fault zone or shear zone.
showing dip

Lineament

....... "

~:

..

Fault breccia

See Data Sheets 3.7 and 3.8 lar addtional jault symbols.

AGI DATA SHEET 3.4

CROSS SECTlONS
High angle faulls

normal faul!

reverse faul!

vertical laul!

Low angle faulls

~
overthrust

under!hrust

-~
Kllppe

Fault, showing relalve

lateral movement

A, away Irom observer

T, toward observer

~
Fenster or window

OIL AND GAS WELLS

011 well

Well locatlon

011 well, wlth show 01 gas

Dry hole

011 and gas well

Gas well. wlth show 01 oil

Gas well

-<r

-9

Dry hole, with show 01 o!

Dry

Show 01 011
gas

Dry hale, wilh show 01 gas

Shut in well

Abandoned oil well

11

Abandoned oi! well, wth

show 01 gas

Abandoned o! and gas well

wilh

Abandoned gas well

AGI DATA SHEET 3.5

SURFACE OPENINGS
lARGESCAlE MAPS

Vertical shaft

Inclined shaft

Portal 01 tunnel or adit

Trench

Small prospect pit or open cut

*c::J

Portal and open cut

Large open pit, quarry,

or glory hole

Dump

SMALlSCAlE MAPS

~
Vertical shaft

Inclined shaft

-!

Portal 01 tunnel or adit

Trench

"X'

Prospect pi!

Mine, quarry, glory hole,

or large open pit

x
Sand, gravel, or clay plt

:. B~DI::ND: :.
Vein, showing dip

----

----...
Stringers or veinlets
01 mineralizatlon

1#

"

.b::

Altered wall rock, showlng

intensily 01 alteration

H ghgracr. 01.

.'o?/
-;r, o. . '

~
.~
.

. ", .

Lowgrade mineralization

-....

II

o
Vertical drlll hole

=-AxiR~

Vein 01 highgrade

mi neralized rock

----------""""~
Veln 01 lowgrada
mineralized rock

50/

Inclined drill hole,

showing bearing, inclination ,
and position 01 bottom 01 hola

AGI DATA SHEET 3.6

UNDERGROUND WORKINGS
(horizontal line denotes waterlilled)

Shaft at surlace

~
~

Shalt going above and below levels

Bottom 01 shaft

Foot 01 raise or winze

Head 01 raise or winze

v
v
v

:::; Spacing 01
chevrons can be
used to indicate
steepness
V
~ 01 workings

v
v

Inclined workings
(chevrons point down)

Raise or winze
extending through level

Ore chute

Stopes

Cross sections
Stoped above
~

Stoped below

400

375

Elevation 01 rool

00000

0000000

Lagging or cribbing along

drift

Elevation 01 Iloor

-----1----

--_.~-----

Caved or otherwise
inaccessible workings

_.'-.-

~.~-~--

Filled workings

Use standard geological symbols lor rock types, laults, 101ds, contacts, joints, lineations,
attitudes. etc.

AGI DATA SHEET 3.7

Fault

.,Vlmg'Ol5

by Mason L. HiII, consulting geologist

INTRODUCTlON: The following fault symbols are designad to remove the ambiguity
resulting Irom lailure 01 traditional symbols to distinguish between fault slip and fault
sepBrBlion. Where a linear geologic element is displaced, the actual relative movement
(slip) can be determined (e.g., displaced Intersection of dike and bed). Generally,
however, where a tabular geologic element is displaced, only apparent relative move
ment (separation) can be determined. Thus, for example, these symbols provide for Ihe
importanl distinction between normal lault (only separation known) and normal slip
lault (slip known). Reler to 'Dual Classilicatlon 01 Faults,' Mason L. Hill (1959), A.A.P.G.
Bull., V. 43, p. 217-21.

GENERAL SYMBOLS
Fault trace, lor maps and sectons
Approxlmately located trace, for maps and sections

?--

Conjectural trace, for maps and sectlons

.... -l' ..

Concealed map trace; conjectural (.. ? ..)

Dip direction; amount (...J~). approximate amount
(-.U.5__l, conjectural directon L ..L 1-..J.

SLIP SYMBOLS FOR MAPS

(Add direction and amount 01 dip. direction 01 relative slip, and slip plunge where known.)

Thrust slip laul!. Sawteeth on relatively overthrusl block; laull

dips < 45"

111

Reverse slip laul!. Reclangles on relalively elevated hanging

wall block; laun dlps > 45'. Dlp dlreclion Is illustraled

65

Rightlateral slip faul!. Arrows show relative movement 01

block opposite Ihe observer

Leftlaleral Slip laul!. Fault dip and slip plunge are illuslrated.

735

1I dip-slip and strlkeslip componenls are nearly equal, Ihe

name reverse lelllaleral slip laul! Is appropriale

Nole: 1riangles, reclangles, and barbs may be shown as appropriale and convenienl along Ihe map
trace 01 the laun. However, none 01 these symbols should be used on maps unless some evidence
of al least the approximate orientation 01 slip ia obtained.

AGI DATA SHEET 3.8

SLIP SYMBOLS FOR SECTIONS

Thrus! slip laul!. Arrow shows principal relative movement

component; lault dlps < 45'
Reverse slip laul!. Fault dlps

> 45'

Normal slip lault

RlghHateral slp fault. Principal relativa movement component

01 blOCk toward observer lB shown by the lelter T

Lelt-Iateral slip laul!. Leller A (away) and arrow (downward)

show relatlve movement components. If these components are
nearly equal, the name normal left-Ialeral slip lault Is used
Note: Single barb arrows and let!ers (T and Al may be shown on elther slde 01 the sec!lon trace 01
the faull, as approprlate and convenien!. However, none 01 these symbols should be used on sec
tlons 1I only separatlon Is determined.

SEPARATION SYMBOLS FOR MAPS

(Add dlrectlon and amount 01 dlp, il and where known)

+65

Dip separation-apparent relative movement In lault dip;

D, downthrown or U, upthrown. Normal lault has dip toward

downthrown block; reverse lault has >45' dip toward up

thrown block (illustrated); thrust laull has < 45' dlp loward

overthrown block

Strike separation
apparent relativa movement In laul! strike
01 block opposlta the observer. R, rlght-Iateral lault; L, lel!
lateral lault

Dip and slrlke separatlons nearly equal. (A normal left-Iateral

lault Is IlIustrated)
Note: Letters Indlca!lng separation may be shown as approprlale and convenlent on elthar sida 01
the lault Irace. The symbOls (+) and (-) may be subslituled lor U and D bul none represents any
componeni 01 slip. Separatlon symbols ara nol needed lor sectlons, and are only occaalonally
necessary tor mapa because the dlsplacement 01 labular g9OIoglc units Is usually obvlous.

~~;;~=~~~ ~~e':~I~~~a~!~~~~%nd~:~~f;e~~~~~~~~~fdlfn~~~\?~~f~I~~:~: ~~'~~~~~~a~~~:

known. Only those symbols used on a particular geologlc illustratlon need be shown In Ihe legend.

Sea Data Sheet 3.3 tor addltonal tault symbols.

AGI DATA SHEET 4.1

Symbols for Fluvial Nonmarine Sequences

Tor H. Nllsen, San Carlos, Ca!lfornla

I~~t(/l

Burrow, invertebrote

Brecci a

IOOQoJ C o nglame rate,

O O O

Burrow, verte bra te

clast-supported

IIII:JIIIA

Conglomerate,
~ matrix- supported

Root cast

1_ - 1Rip-up

cla sts,
shale o r mudstone

Tree stump, in place

Rip-up clasts,
sandstone

Tree stump, clas t

1~ 3
(0) 0 )

1< '-.:

': <1 Sand sto ne , massive

Plant fossil

~ Sands tone

~ parallel-str~tified

Vertebrate fossil

~ San dsto ne,

~ trough cross- stratified

Invertebra te fossi l

~ Sandsto ne

Mudcracks

~ tab ular cross-stratifie d

~ Sand stone, contorte d

:;) 0

:;:;

~ cross-s tratification
t~ 1 Sandstone,

~:..,.;, ripple-marked

1:-%1

Sandstone,
~~ , convoluted- Ia minated

""'1Sandst o ne,
. '.~: para llel-Iaminated

I '~'

I:=., :~

Siltston e

Mudstone o r shale

Ca rb o nate

.1
'W~*
/

illID
lB
"Gt-OS-td-82

/ // /

Carbonate concreti ons

Flute cast

Load cas t

Paleo curren t azimuth

/ / //

Pal eosol

Raindrop imprints

Poin t bar sequenc e

Finn g-up ward cyc le
Coa rsenng-upwa rd
cyc le

AGI DATA SHEET 5.1

U.S. Public Land

Grid

compilad by Andrew J. Mozola, Wayne Slale University

Townships are numbered north and south 01 the base line, and east and west 01 the prin
cipal merldian. Each township Is a six mile square that Is further subdivided into thirty
~~h~~g ~:ea~~~!~~~oC~i~~~ sections. The sections are numbered consecutively Irom

Townsh,p .J NtNfh

36 S4 mI

Rahglf2 Wut

BASE

UNE

Specialland survey systems are used in Ihe original thirteen states and in Texas, Louisiana, and
Kentucky, among others. Details about these systems can be obtained Irom the geological
surveys 01 the respective states. The Universal Transverse Mercator (military) grid. shown on mos!
topographic maps, is explained in Thompson (1979). Some helplul references:
Haney, D.C., 1979, Carter Coordinate and Topographic Index Map 01 Kentucky: Kentueky Geol.
Survey, Series XI, scale 1:1,000,000.
Newton, M.B., Jr., 1972, Atlas 01 Louisiana, a gulde lor students: Louisiana State Univ. School 01
Geosciences Mise. Publ. 72-1.
Sewell, G., and Rogers, M.B., 1973, The History 01 Texas Public Lands: Texas General Land Olfice,
Austin, Texas, 53 p.
Thompson, M.M., 1979, Maps lor America: U.S. Geol. Survey Spec. Publ. 265 p.

AGI DATA SHEET 5.2

A secton of land is one mile square contaning 640 acres. In the followng dagram,

PT. A
CTR., SW'I., SW1f4 , NW'/4, of SECo 24, T 1 S, R 2 E
PT. B = CTR., NEv4, NE'I., NEI/., of SECo 24, T 1 S, R 2 E

Secton 24

neno"
E eno"",,

80 rods

1/4poSI

CORNER

IlOchatns

I
NIV 1/4 "f ..

40 ACRES

..

'"w

....

wEST

1/4

-..

~I
::;1

:..' ~
,'-'

UN!:

I
I

ro

'"
~

orll:l

N:E t- --'--"!.-"~.-"'''''-I

1;)

ro

:
(AS'f

'"w
i3
<1

c::

'C!::

~;

'::;" o,,",,/4pOSI

20A

40 ACRES

....,

+ i!O

chatnS

/320 tel

tenft!r 01 seclfon, \

,,\\\\

,'"""

l'

1/4 posl
I /

--w-SEt

SWir

-~-:;'/

160 ACRES

///

S
11

1, I 1\

1\\
SECTION CCRNER

1/4

sI ..

40 clloms -2640 feel- /60 rods

SECT'ON

Measurements
One Link = 7.92 Inches; 100 Links
One ChalO
16.5 feel; 25 Links
One Roo
Ooe Chain '" 66 fee!; 100 Links; 4 Rods
80 Chains
5280 fee!; One Mile; 320 Rods
One Acre = 43560 square fee!; 160 square rods
A Side 01 a Square Acre = 208.71 feel
One Arpen! = 2.9127 chains; 192.24 fee!, orO.848398 of an acre

=
=

NOTE: In some places, iotswere added to the north tier 01 sections in a

Irregularitles in surveys
(irregular
are common in the
stream courses where hornp~;tPrHiir)(1
to the later
reverse of that In the
subdiviSlons (Isd).

~:::.

AGI DATA SHEET 6.1

Stadia Tables
compiled by R. L. Threet, San Diego State College
COMPUTATION OF VERTICAL DISTANCE
Multlply the stadia table value (factor), for the measured vertical angle, by the full stadia
Intercept on 8 plumb rod.

AGI DATA SHEET 6.2

40

4l

42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

31.69
31.71
31. 74

31.76

31.78
31.80
31.83
31.85
31.87
31.89
31.92
31.94
31.96
31.98
32.01
32.03
32.05
32.08
32.10
82.12
0.33

This
r modero, inlernal focusing
ordinary work wilh older, external facusing instrumenl$. For grealer precio
sion with exlernol focusing inslruments, add (1 fool X sine vertical <Ingle) lo
tolal computed vertical dislonce.

AGI DATA SHEET 7.1

Trigonometric Formulas and Functi_o_n_s__________

Compiled by R. V. Dietrlch, esnlral Michigan Unlversily

On both diagrams and in the equations, lowercase Greek lellers designale angles and upper
case Roman letters designale sides

RIGHT TRIANGLES

cos

Therefare: sin 't

(Y

And:A=Csina =Blann
B=C cos
!l

{f

=A

col,~

=_B_
cos (~

=!:l

tan

and cot

= E:l

(y

Also: sin u

etc,
cos

; tan u = cot iJ ; etc,

Furthermore: C' = A' + B'

And:

!l

+ :3 = 90

OBLIOUE TRIANGLES

A
sin ,~

etc,
A tabulation 01 numerical values 01 the lunctions is on the reverse side 01 this sheet. Values
lar fractions 01 angle5-e,g,. the sine lar 256' (= 25'/'oO)-may be calculated by interpola
lan, More extensive tables are given in several mathemalics (trigonometry) and surveying book5
and are available on appropriately keyed calculators,

AGI DATA SHEET 7.2

NATURAL FUNCTIONS

10
11

12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45

Sine

Tan.

Cosine

Cotan.

0.0000
0.0175
0.0349
0.0523
0.0698
0.0872
0.1045
0.1219
0.1392
0.1564
0.1737
0.1908
0.2079
0.2250
0.2419
0.2588
0.2756
02924
0.3090
0.3256
0.3420
0.3584
0.3746
0.3907
0,4067
0.4226
0.4384
0,4540
0,4695
0.4848
0.5000
0.5150
0.5299
0.5446
0.5592
0.5736
05878
06018
0.6157
0.6293
0.6428
0.6560
0.6691
0.6820
06947
0.7071

00000
0.0175
0.0349
0.0524
0.0699
0.0875
0.1051
0.1228
0.1405
0.1584
0.1763
0.1944
0.2126
0.2309
0.2493
0.2679
0.2867
0.3057
0.3249
0.3443
0.3640
0.3839
0.4040
0.4245
0.4452
04663
0.4877
05095
0.5317
05543
05774
06009
0.6249
0.6494
0.6745
0.7002
0.7265
0.7536
0.7813
0.8098
0,8391
0,8693
0.9004
09325
0,9657
1.0000

1.0000
0.9998
0.9994
0.9986
0.9976
0.9962
0.9945
0.9925
0.9903
0.9877
0.9848
0.9816
0.9781
0.9744
0.9703
0.9659
0.9613
0.9563
0.9511
09455
0.9397
0.9336
0.9272
09205
0.9135
0.9063
0.8988
08910
0.8830
0.8746
08660
0.8572
0.8480
0.8387
0.8290
0.8192
0.8090
0.7986
0.7880
0.7771
0.7660
0.7547
0.7431
0.7314
0.7193
0.7071

Infin.
57.2900
28.6363
19.0811
14.3007
11.4301
9.5144
8.1443
7.1154
6.3138
5.6713
5.1446
4.7046
4.3315
4.0108
3.7321
3.4874
3.2709
3.0777
2.9042
2.7475
2.6051
2.4751
2.3559
2.2460
2.1445
2.0503
1.9626
1.8807
1.8041
1.7321
1.6643
1.6003
1.5399
1.4826
1.4281
1.3764
1.3270
1.2799
1.2349
1,1918
1.1504
1.1106
1.0724
1.0355
1.0000

Cosine

Cotan.

Sine

Tan.

-------

90
89
88
87
86
85
84
83
82
81

80
79
78
77
76
75
74
73
72
71
70
69

68
67
66
65
64
63
62
61
60
59
58
57
56
55
54
53
52
51
50
49
48
47

46
45

AGI DATA SHEET 8.1

Correction for Dip

AnQle betwee n strikc and direction of sect ion

IAngleofl
' u 11 el i p ,

70 ~
SO '
65
SS '
45
75 '
1 60 '
19 51 '1 9' 40' ~ o 24' 1 3' S'! b' 41' I 8 13' 7 41 ' 7" 6'
14 47 '1 14 31' 14 ' 3' 113 ' 3), 1 13' 34' 112' 2b' 11 ' 36' 10' 4'
1;) ' 43' 19 " 23, 1 18 , 53 ' lo 15' ! 17, 30' ! 16" 36' 1S' 35 ' 14 ' 25 '
&0

10U

1S
20
25'

24 4&' 24 15' 123039' 22 55' 1 22"

i 29 ' 37' 29'

0' 120 54' 19 39' 18 15'

0

30
0
35

3'~ o 36' 34 4' 33 21' 32 " 24' 1 310 13' 129 ' 50 ' 213 ' 12' 26 ' 20'

4 0

39 " 34' 1 39'

45

44 " 34, 144

9' ,2 8 29' 27 37' 26 ' 34' 125 lb ' 23 SI' 22

2' 38 15' 37 15' 36'

O'

12'

34 30' 32 ' 44' : 30 41'

43 13' 142' 11" 140 54' 39 19' 37 27' ! 3s' 16 '

l '

SO"

,49

SS "

[ 54' 35' : 54 '

4' 53 ' 19, ' 52 18' 51

60 '

159 0 37' i s9'

8' 153 ' 26' )57' 30'156

65

164040' : 64 " 14' 63 36'162046'161 0 42,160 21' 58 40,156 0 36'

70

34 ' 49

1
l' 48 14' 4]" 12'145 0 54 ' 44 17' , 42 23' 40

:!:~' 49' ,6b ~

69 " 43' , 69 " 21'

75 ' 174 ' 47' : 74 30'174 '

0

7'

3' 49 29' 147 35'145 17'

19"54 ' 49'153 0

7,1167 0 12' 66

0"50 46'

8' 64 35' 62 46'

s,ln, 32' 72' 4c ' \71 53' 70 43' 69 14'

In
o

i 79 51' !79 39' 17,9 22' 178059' ,713 29'

51' n 2' 76' O'
35 ' i 64 , 56 ' ;134 ' SO' 1'4 41' 84" 29' ' 1:4 14' E3 54' &3 29' 82 57'

00

,"9

lob 59 ' lob ' So ' l!3bo 56' 88 54' E!S" 51' 813 47' 88 42' b!3 35'

t)f l

;,Ilqlt>

r.nql e be tltoleen strike and dir e ction of sect i on

40

dipl

Tu il

10
15

2lJ

13

25

35 "

28' , S ' 46'

46' ' 44'
lo,i

20

35

12'-

25

2: 14 0 15'
30' 6" 28 '

11 " 40 ' 10

19 '1 o' 45'

1;6 1,1' 14

30

30'

21' ,10

5"

5h ' 13 "

I~'

7' 11

16 '

9'

20'

IS O

3 2/'
5' 14 '

2" 37'
3 33'

28

45 '

133'7'

7"

6'

5 23 '

3' 37, 1 1 49 '1

O"

3'

6' 53'

4 " 37 '

2 20'

O' 2b'

5"44'

2 53'

o' 35 '

6" 56'

3' 30' [' o ' 42'

6' 13 ' 43 ' 11 ' 10, 1 hO 30 '

SO
55

42

fo

- 5
70
7S
(JO

20' 25' 42' 22 " 45' 1 I~ ' 31

,! 16"

22 '

0' 112 " 15' : o' 17' 1 4 11'

O"

50'

SO' 26' 33, 122 55' ; 18" 53' 1 14 ' 30' 19" 5 1'14 ' 59 '11 0 O'

27 ' 34

21' 30 ' 47,126 ' 44, 122

33 ' 39

20' 35

32'13 1'

7'126 "

11' 1170

9' 11

41'

S 56'

2' 20' 17 ' 113 0 SS': 7'

6'

l'

11' 1

l' 26, 1

T4 0

4'

47' 140

54', 36 o 14 ' 130 ' 29' 24 '

8' 16 ' 44 '

1st!

2' : 50

53"46

5~' : 4r

11' , 36 ' IS'

2' [20' 25' 10 35' 1 2" 9'

f.O

73 " 57

36 '

57, 14':1

16';43 ' 13' ; 35

i 7

22 ' 164

:74

40'

~ 72

5e '
75'

14' 21' 53' 19 " l b' , 16 2~'113 ' 28 ' : 10 16'

:'4 '1 29

~ ,.

40'

5' 1

lO "

1 45" o' 53' 1 o' 10'

2" 40 ,1 1 20'10 16'

'

' 4

~O

05

b2

15' 01

20'

89

'bb"

27' '8'0

15 ,ISb'

~'

2~ "

57' 37 ' 1S1" 55 ' 44

34' 67 " 21,1 f2

5' 7'0 ' 19 ,1 7s '
O' 7

38,I J7 ,

3S' 1 1 44'

25' 25 ' 30' 13' 2b'12 ' 45'

1' ' 32 o 57' 11:: '

l '

3 o 44'

43' SS " 44' 44 " 33' 26 " Is'ls o 31'

3~'

71 ' 20 ' 63 ' 15' 44 54' 11 ' 17'

S' b6

9' 84

IS' 78' 41,144 " 1

This table has been adapted 'ram Appendix 1, p, 128 in A.R, Dwerryhauae's Ge%gica/ and
Topographica/ Maps, pUblished by Messrs, Edward Arnold, Landan , Adaptation ia reprlnted !ram
F,H, Lahee's Fie/d Ge%gy, McGrawHiII Baok Ca,
AGI,DS,65

AGI DATA SHEET 8.2

OIP, OEPTH, ANO THICKNESS OF INCLlNEO STRATA
Di p

Th i ckness

Depth

Th i ckness

Depth

Dip 1ThCkneSS

1. 75

175

Di p

31

51.50

60.09

61 "

5746

180.40

3.49

3.49

32

52.99

62.49

62"

88.29

188.07

5.23

5.24

33

54.46

64.94

6.98

6.99

34

55.92

67.115

Depth

63

09 10

196.26

64

89.88

205.03

SO

8.72

8.75

35

5736

70.02

90.63

214.45

10.45

1051

36

58.78

]2.65

66

224.60

7
.;O

12. 19

12.28

37

60.lti

75 36

67

91.35
92.05

13 92

14.05

38

61.57

78.13

68

92. ]2

24751

15 64

1584

62.93

80.98

,0

la"

17. 36

17.63

11

I:J .00

19.44

12

20.79

21.26

13

2250

23.09

14

24.19

2493

15

25.88

2679

16

27.56

28.67

17

29.24

3057

18

30.90

32.49

19

32.56

34.43

20

34. ;:0

21

3584

22

3746

3640
3839
40.40

40

27475

65.61

86.93

]1"

42

66.91

90.04

]20

94.55
9').11

307 n

43

68.20

93.25

73

95.63

327.09

44"

69.47

96.57

74

96.13

348.74

45

70.71

100.00

46

7193

75
76

96 59
97.03

37321
401.00

97.44

433.15

78

97.81

470.46
514.46

290.42

47

73.14

1103.55
107.24

46

74.31

111.06

49

75.47

115.04

79

98.16

50

76.60

119.18

80

98.48

567.13

51

n.71

123.49

81

98.1]

631.3

52

78.80

127.99

82

99.03

711.54

53 o

79.86

132.70

03"

99.25

814.43

b4

99.45

951.44

:0

99.62

86

99.76

5r

99.66

8C

99.94

40.67

4452

54

80.90

13764

25

42.26

46.63

55

81 .92

142 81

26<>

40. n

56

62.90

14b 26

2]'

43.84
45.40

50.95

5r

8387

153.99

28

46.95

53 17

50"

b4.80

160.03
166.43

55.43
57.74

93 97

41

24

50.00

260 51

70

83 91

42.45

30

93.36

64.28

39.07

40.48

23559

23

29

65

60

86.60

09

14301
.07

1I

::lOe.l1
128
15

.63
)0

17321

By permission from Fleld Geology, 5th Ed, by F.H. Lahee. Copyright (1952) McGrawHIII Book Co.

AGI DATA SHEET 9.1

Convtnsiion o,

Conversion from per cent grade lo vertical angles in degrees and minutes o, are

per cent
grade

vertical
ang 1e

per cent
grade

0035'

26

01 09

3
4

01 44

27
28

02 18

02 52

03 26
04 00

7
8
9

04 35
05 09

10
11

05 43
06 17

12

06 51

13
14

19
20
21

07
07
08
09
09
10
10
11
11

22

12 24

23
24

12 57
13 30
14 02

15
16
17
18

25

24
58
32
05
39
12
45
19
51

29
30
31
32
33

angle

1434'
06

51
52

15 39
16 10
1642

53
54

17 13
17 44
18 16

34

18 46

35

19 17

36

19 48

37
38
39

20 18
20 48
21 18

40
41

21 48
22 18

42

22 47
23 16

43

44
45

23 45
24 13

46

24 42

47
48

25 11
25 39
25 06
26 34

49
50

per cen t vertica I

grade
ang le

55
56

2701'
27 28
27 56
28 22
28 49

per cent
grade

76

3714'

77

37 36

78

37 57

79

38 18

80
81
82

38
39
39
39
40
40
40
41
41

29
29
30
30
30
31
31
32

15
41
07
33
58
23
48
13

67

32
33
33
33

37
02
26
49

68

34 13

69

34 )6

93
94

70
71

34 59
35 22

95
96

72

35 45

73

36 08
36 30
36 52

57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66

74
75

vertical
angle

83
84
85
86
87
88

39
00
21
41
01
22
42
02
21

89

41 40

90
91

41
42
42
42
43

59
19
37
55
14

43
43
44
44
44
45

32
50
07
25
43
00

92

97
98
99
100

Conversion from degrees to per eenl 01 grade

vert ca 1

ang 1e
(degrees)

per cent ver

grade

1.7

3.5
5 2

3
4

7, O

5
6

8.7
10.5
12.3
14. O
15.8
17.6
19.4
21.2
23.1

7
8
9
10
11
12
13

per cent
grade
~es

vertical
angle
(degrees)

14
15
16

24.9
26,8

27
28

28.7

17
18

30.6
32.5
34.4
36.4

29
30
31
32
33

38.4
40.4
42.4

34
35
36

44.5
46.6
48.8

38

19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26

37
39

By permission from Field Geology, 5th Ed, by F.H. Lahee.

Copyright (1952) McGraw-Hill Book Co.

AGIOS-eS

vert j cal

angl e
(deg rees)

5C.9
53.2
55.4
57.7
60.1
62.5
64.9
67.4
70.0
72.6
75.3
78.1
81.0

40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50

per cent

83.9
86.9
90.0
93.2
96.6
100.0
103.5
107.2
111.1
115.5
119.2

AGI DATA SHEET 9.2

CONTOUR SPACING FROM SLOPE ANGLES
Con tour Ft. =
i nterva 1
S lope or dip
angl e in degrees
1

10

20

25

50

104.6

286.4

56.3
38.2

143.2
95.4

191

14.3
11.4

28.6

71.5
57.1

143
114

286

9.5
8.1

19.0
16.3
14.2

47.5
40.7

95
81

35.5

71

190
163
142

12.6

31.5
28.3

63

126

57
51
47

57.3
28.6

19.1

3
4
5
6
7
8

7.1
6.3
5.6
5.1

9
10
11

22.9

11.3
10.3

573
286

1046

1432

2864

563
382

716

1432

477

954

1908

357
285

715

1430

571
475
407

1143

237
203
177

355

711

315

631

113

157
141

283

103

128

567
514
470
433

229

12

4.7

9.4

25.7
23.5 i

94

117

257
235

13

4.3

8.7

21.6

43

87

108

216

14

20.0
18.6

40

80

100

17.4

37
35

93
87
81

200
186

4.0

8. O

15
16

3.7
3.5

7.5
7.0

17

3.3

6.5

16.3

33

75
70
66

18

3.1

6.2

15.4

31

62

77

19
20
21
22

2.9

5.8

14.5

29

58

5.5
5.2
4.9
4.7
4.5
4.3

13.7
13. O
12.3

27
26
25
23
22
21

55
52
49
47

25

2.7
2.6
2.5
2.3
2.2
2.1

72
68

26

2.0

4.1

10.2

27
28

2.0

3.9
3.8
3.6

9.8

20
20

9.4
9.0

19
18

1.7
1.7
1 .6
1.5

3.5

8.6

3.3
3.2
3.1

8.3
8.0

17
16
16

7.7

15

35
36

1.5
1.4
1.4

3.0
2.9
2.8

7.4
7.1

15
14

6.9

37
38

1.3
1.3

2.7
2.6

39

1.2

2.5

40

1.2

41
42

1.1
1.1

43
44
45

23
24

31
32
33
34

5729
2864

951
814

401

174

373
349

163

327

154

308

145

290.

65
62

137
130
123

270
260
247

45

59
56

117
112

43

53

107

235
225
214

41

51

102

204

39

49

98

37
36

47
45

94
90

196
188

35
33
32
31

43
41
40

86
83
80

160

38

77

154

30

37
35
34

74
71

143

14

29
28

69

138

6.6
6.4

13
13

27
26

33

66

133

32

64

128

6.1

12

25

31

61

123

2.4

5.9

12

24

30

59

119

2.3
2.2

5.7
5.5

11

23
22

29
28

57
55

115
111

1.1
1.0

2.1
2.0

5.3
5.1

10

21
20

27
26

53
51

107
103

1.0

2.0

5.0

10

20

25

50

100

1.9
1.8

29
30

100

Contour spacing in feet on the ground

11.7
11.2
10.7

11
11

180
173
166

148

To Ilnd the contour spacing lor a slope or dip angle 01 24 degrees. with a contour interval 01
20 ft. locate line 24 in the left column and number 20 on the top line. At the intersection 01 these
two lines, read the proper value lar the contour spacing, which is 45 ft. One may interpolate
lar values between those shown on the data sr,eet. Far instance, a contour spacing 01 96 It lalls
mldway between 27 and 28 degrees In the left column; hence. the slope angle is 27 1/2
degrees. Far converslon to meters. 1 It = 0.3048 meter

AGI DATA SHEET 10.1

Criteria 'or Determining Top and Bottom

O, Beds.

by Siemon W. Muller, Stanlord Unlversity

PHYSICAL
Traclng 01 beds or recognltion 01 a known normal sequence. The top and bottom 01 ver
tical or sleeply inclined beds may be delermined by Iracing to or correlating with the
known normal (upright) sequence (A) in the area where these strata are either only gent
Iy lolded (at B) or not at all delormed (at A).

Scouring or channeling. Scouring or chan

neling 01 strata with subsequent filling 01
the channels will truncate the underlying
strata. The concave sides 01 channels will
generally point upward. The edges 01 beds
truncated by erosion (unconlormity) are
toward the original topo
Conglomerates. Basal and intralormational
conglomerates may contain pebbles and
boulders which can be recognized as hav
ing been derived Irom the beds below.

~ . O . . C; .-: ~. ~ . o -:0. ' 0 -"00 ~ " .c,~ ~

~cho~o"-,:::,,,ct:c>~o;'~

Solution surfaces. Irregular solution sur

laces may lorm along the top 01 limestone
beds or other relatively soluble rocks.

~~

...X:

Graded bedding. In sediments with graded

bedding, the texture will grade lrom coarse
below to line above. This olten does not
hold true in currentbedded deposits.
Graded bedding may be present under
various current, including turbidity current,
conditions. However, it should be borne in
mind that under these conditions a grada
tion in texture may be Irom coarse to line as well as Irom line to coarse. As origlnally de-

r~nt~~ ~o~~~~~,~?r;e~~I~n~e~~~ug~~s~g~~a~:tr;~~i;tW,d~t~::' ~:?:r~!~~ ~~~~~~~;~o~~~~

rent bedding" which is produced by "resorting and redistribution 01 material."
Crossbeddlng.ln crossbedding one set 01
layers or laminae are truncated by overly
ing layers, but away Irom this contact the
layers sweep along a concave curve to a
conlormable contact with the underlying
layers. The concave si de 01 crossbedding
generally points toward the original upper
side. Individual crossbedded laminae may
showa downward gradatlon in texture
Irom coarse to line.

AGI DATA SHEET 10.2

Mud cracks. Mud cracks generally
decrease in width downward and may be
IlIled with material which composes the
overlying beds.

Rlpple marks. In symmetrical ripple marks

the crests (tops) are sharper than the
troughs. Occasionally minor crests may be
present in troughs.

Sole marks. Small, wave or tongue-like

penetrations 01 a coarse clastlc material
Irom aboye into a liner clastic material
below along minor surlace irregularities on
a bedding plane. Some 01 these marks are
explained by delormation or Ilow 01 uncon
solidated (and diluted or watersaturated)
sediments by gravity' sliding along a
primary incline 01 a bedding plane and
possibly triggered by earthquakes. These
leatures tend to develop along a contact 01 sand (now sandstone) overlying a clay (now
shale), but are rarely (il ever?) lormed at the contact 01 clay overlying sand.
Fracture cleavage. In the upright section 01
lolded rocks, the Iracture cleavage is
generally steeper than the beddlng (a), but
when the beds are overturned the reverse
is true (b).

Curved fracture cleavage. Curved Iracture

cleavage may be observed in delormed
beds where individual beds have a percep
tibie gradation 01 texture Irom coarse
below to line aboye (graded bedding). On
the side with coarser texture (bottom) the
angle between the Iracture and the bed
ding will be larger or more obtuse than on
the side with the liner texture (top or lace
01 the bed). The convex side 01 the curo
vature 01 the Iracture cleavage will bow out
toward the original top 01 the bed.
Pebble dents. When the matrix is bulged
around an imbedded pebble on one side
only, this side is the original bottom (a). Ap
parent denting 01 laminated sediments
aboye and below an embedded pebble may
result lrom the subsequent compaction or
compression 01 sediments (b).

.
~: ~

."

---

.....

....

......

,~-~.

Reference
Shroek , R.R. , 1948 Sequence in Layered Rocks. MeGraw-Hill Baak Ca, Ine ,
New Yark-Taranta-Landan, 507p ., 397 figs.

AGI DATA SHEET 10.3

PALEONTOLOGICAL
Bryozoa. Shells 01 invertebrate organisms
or other solid objects Iying with their
longer axes in the plana 01 stratilication
may be encrusted by bryozoans on the up
per slde.
Brachlopods. Crania-like brachiopods oc
cur cemented on other shells or on substrate with their convexo conical valves
pointing upward .
Pelecypods. a)Shellsol Schizothaerus(fer
tiary) and Pholadomya (Mesozoic) are not
uncommonly lound in their original buried
position, "standing on end " with their
posterior (siphonal) end pointlng upward.

b) Rudists and rudist-like aberrant pele

cypods are occasionally lound in their
original upright position with the Iree valve
at the topo

c) Disjointed or spread-out open valves

01 convex pelecypods are generally
brought to rest by wave action or by cur
rents with their convex side up. Exceptions
to this rule are not uncommon. Observa
tions based on a single shell or only a lew
shells are not completely reliable.
d) Inequivalved pelecypods il buried
alive will have their more convex valve
pOint downward.
e) Shells 01 marine organisms or other
solid objects on the substrate may be en
crusted on their Iree, uppar surlace with
cemented lorms such as oysters, barna
cles, or other sessile organisms.

Worm Iralls. Worm trails and trails 01 prob

lematical organisms generally leave
grooves on the face of the bed. Worms
grubbing near the surlace 01 the subslrale
will leave raised, flaltened ridges wilh a
barely perceplible groove in Ihe middle,
presumably due lo the "caving" 01 Ihe
grubblng "Iunnel" afler the organism
passed Ihrough Ihe lunnel.

I~
'

AGI DATA SHEET 10.4

Gastropods. In vermetids and similar
wormgaslropods Ihe linal leeding tube (as
well as scars 01 early stages) generally
points upward duri ng Ihe lile 01 the animal.

Corals. Solitary corals cemented to the

substrate are normally oriented with their
narrow end down, widening (and branch

in'B~~~i~{dorals

may be preserved in Iheir

original position wlth their calyxes point

:~~g~P~~;~d:'l,o~~ ~~~it~9.e~?lc~~~f~ r;;!~

cling to Ihe side or even the bottom 01 a

protruding edge and haye Iheir calyxes
pOint downward.
Colonial corals (and calcareous algae) 01
biscuit or bun shape normally grow and
become buried wlth their convex side up.
Echlnolds. Sea urchins when lound in
large numbers are commonly oriented with
Ilat ventral (oral) side down and convex doro
sal side up.
PHYSICAL CRITERIA FOR IGNEOUS ROCKS
Laya flows. Tops 01 interbedded lava Ilows
,..,.,....,.....,..,....,...,..,..,..,..,..,...~..,...,..,..,-"...,....,...,..--.."
generally are more vesicular. In lavas
which contaln branching tubules the direc
n
lhoe ~!r~~~r;~i~~ iju~c~~~ ti~e !'g!~~ ~~~
original top 01 the lava Ilow.
A more or less perceptible contact meta
morphlsm (brickrOO burned soil) may be
present In the rocks below the bottom 01
Ihe lava flow, but no metamorphism and a
depositional contact will mark the top 01
the lava Ilow.
Crestsof wrinkles The crests or tops 01
~~
wrinkles on the surfaces 01 lava are genero
~:: : :-:~>:::'J
ally smoother and more broadly curvOO
_
than the spaces between the wrinkles.

7":

f~:fu~e~a~~~c~I:~I~~~~;vgl\~~efl~~~wing

f-

al Upper surfaces 01 pllows are moder

ately or gently convex and relatively
smooth.
b) Bottoms 01 pillows commonly have
cusps pointing down Into Ihe inlerspaces
between the underlying pillows.
cl Pillows are generally more vesicular
near the top than near the bottom.
d) Smallscale columnar joinling may be
more or less well deyeloped around the up
per periphery. Columnar jolnting Is poorly
developed or is altogether absent on the
bottom side 01 the pillow.
e) Pillows exlruded upon unconsoli
dated sediments are likely lo ruffle and
crumple these underlying sediments and
may have enough heat to bake these con
lorted sediments.
1) The top 01 the plllow lava Ilow general
Iy shows no heal ellect on the overlying
sOOlments. The "pillowy" surlace 01 the
flow is gradually ellaced or leveled by the
overlylng sediments, which tend to 1111 the depressed area more rapidly.

AGI DATA SHEET 11.1

Richard M. Foose, Amherst College

Folds in rocks 01 the Earlh's crust are created in response lo various lorces
thal resull in compressive, tensile, and shearing stresses. Various components 01
lolds may be measured by geologisls, providing an opportunity to "reconstruct"
the nature, causes, and physical attitude 01 both the stresses and Ihe lorces.
For example, each lold has Iwo limbs and an "imaginary" plane Ihat bisecls the
angle made by Ihe Iwo limbs (Ihe axial plane, or AP). By measuring them, Ihe
geologisl may "map" and describe the lold.
Anticline and syncline are general lerms that describe lolds. An anticline is
generally convex upwards, and its core contains the straligraphically older rocks.
A syncline is generally concave upwards, and its core contains the stratigraphi
cally younger rocks. Figure 1(Al shows a syncline in the center and an anticline
on either side.
Antilorm (limbs close upwards) and synlorm (Iimbs close downwards)
describe lolds in slrala lor which the slratigraphic sequence is unknown.
Folds may be classifed by differenl syslems. The most important lollow:
Geometrical (descriptive). This is mosl commonly used.
Morphological. Based on large-scale shape 01 lolds, mainly at depth.
Mechanical (kinemalic). Based upon mechanisms that occur in the rocks
when folding occurs.
Teclonic. Based upon Ihe localion and posilion 01 folds in the continental tec
tonic framework.

Wnt

Figure 1, Some varieties 01 lolds. AP, axial plane. (A) Symmetrical (upright) lolds.
(B) Asymmetrical folds, (C) Overturned lolds (overfolds), (O) Recumbent lolds.

Geometrical (Figure 1l. Based on appearance 01 lolds in cross-sectional view.

1, Symmetrical lold. Limbs dip the same. AP is vertical.
2, Asymmetrical lold. Limbs dip at different angles. AP is inclined,
3. Overturned fold. Limbs dip in same direction but nol same amount. AP is
inclined,
4. Recumbent lold, AP is nearly horizontal.
5. Isoclinal fold (Figure 2). Limbs are parallel. AP may have any orientation.
6. Chevron fold (Figure 3). Lmbs make sharp, V-shaped junclure al cres!
and trough ollold.

7, Box fold (Figure 3). Limbs make box-like shape.

AGI-DS-rmf-69

AGI DATA SHEET 11.2

8. Monocline (Figure 4). Single limb dips in one direction but with differing
amount 01 dip.
9. Structural terrace (Figure 4). Single limb nearly Ilat, bounded by two
monoclines.
10. Homocline. A homocline is a monocline in which the dip is constant or at
least without signilicant variation in amount.
11 . Fan lold (Figure 5). Crest and trough l iare out at AP.
12. Open lold (Figure 6) . During the lolding there has been no "1Iowage,"
even in soft, incompetent beds .
13. Closed (tight) lold (Figure 6). During the lolding there has been
"llowage ," and the incompetent beds thicken and thin.

B'ci:::
~
e

Figure 2. Isoclinal lolds . AP, axial planes. (A) Vertical isoclinal lolds. (B) Inclined
isoclinal lolds. (C) Recumbent isoclinal lolds.

Figure 3. Some varieties 01 lolds. AP, axial plane. (A) Chevron lold. (B) Box lold.

Figure 4. Monocline and terrace . (A) Monocline. (B) Structural terrace.

"

\ (--' ;

B
Figure 5. Some varieties 01 lolds. AP, axial plane. (A) Fan lold. (B) Kink bands.
A Iracture may separate the kink band Irom the rest 01 beds.

AGI DATA SHEET 11.3

A
Figure 6. Open and closed lolds. (A) Open lolds. (B) Closed lolds.

Morphologlcal. Based on changes in lold shape with depth.

1. Similar lold (Figure 7) . Folds that do not increase in size upwards or

downwards but maintain a similar shape. Individual beds in these lolds
thicken at their cresl and Ihin on Iheir limbs.
2. Concenlric (parallel or competenl) lold (Figure 7) . A fold in which Ihe
thickness 01 all beds remains conslant wilh depth, resulting in individual
lolds thal increase or decrease in size upwards and downwards.
3. Disharmonic fold (Figure 8) . Folds in which the individual beds Ihicken
or thin indiscriminalely and not in harmony with each other.
4. Supratenuous (compaction) fold (Figure 9) . A fold in which the individual
beds are thinner above a central fulcrum-such as an irregularity in the
basement-and thicken away Irom the lulcrum.

B
Figure 7. Types ollolding. (A) Similar folding. (B) Concentric lolding.

'PIOj snonuaeJdns '6 am61:!

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vvvvvvvv

CUOlJea 'H'N Jav) 'SpJOOSJ IIIjP UO pSSEq IEOO 10 spaq uasudaJ seU!l ue~
-oJ8'no pau!w uaaq aAE4 lE4 IEOO JO spaq lueSJdeJ seu!1 P!IOS 'eluEAIsuuad
10 Uisee al!OeJ4IUV UJe4lJON a41 U! SPIOI ~!uowJe4s!p O SUO!lOeS SSOJ::) "S aJnol:!
,0001-1',..n:.....
-:;::-----------------------.,

000

,009

,00.

,oca

'H-"'$

p'n l33HS

nvo I~V

AGI DATA SHEET 11.5

Meehanical (kinematie). Based on Ihe mechanisms by whieh aelual lolding
oeeu,s and s also relatad to daplh in Ihe erusl.
1. Flexural-slip loldlng (Figure 10). The individual beds slip pasl one anolber,
oulward Irom synclinal (trough) axes and inward !oward anlichnal (cresl)
axes
2. Shear (slip) lolds (Figure 11). These lolds resul! Irom differential shear
along many Iraclures (cleavage), ereating anticlinal and synclinal shapes
without aelual lolding 01 individual beds. Typically, Ihese lolds oeeur at
greater depth than those 01 Ilexural slip.
3. Flow lolds (Fgure 12). These lolds are produeed at great depth and
result Irom extreme Ilowage 01 rock beds, partieularly in soft, incompetent
rocks, lke shale or limeslone.

A
Figure 10. Cross seelions IIustrating flexura tolding. (A) Anticlna. (B) Synclina.

Figura 11. Cross seetions iIIustrating shaar foldng. Haavy blaek line, XZ, s a
beddng plane. Inclinad light Unes are fractures. (A) Belore dsplaeemenl on !,ae
tures. (B) After dsplacament. (C) Bacause 01 Iricton, beds tend to parallal lbe
fraclures. (O) Fold resulls I bed mainfans continuily.

AGI DATA SHEET 11.6

Ifa= a5~

d = 2.2
1'= 0.09 w

Figure 12, Bed deformed by shear or flow folding, The maximum thlekness 01
the bed is al the hinge; the lhickness is greatly reducad on the limbs

Teclonlc
1, Folds 01 the outer loreland, Because the outer loreland Is at the grealest
distance Irom the lorces al delormation, the lolds all tend to be simple,
symmetrical, open, parallel, flexural slip lolds,
2, Folds 01 the inner loreland, These lold., located closer lo Ihe forces 01
delormaton, lend lo be asymmetflc or overturned, tight, similar, and
shear or Ilowage lolds.
3, Folds 01 the disturbed belt, or core, located in the zone 01 maximum tee
tonic forces and stress, These lolds inelude very tight, isoelnal shear
and flow folds, and disharmonie folds.

References
Billings, Marland P., 1972, StructuralGeology, 3ro 00, p, 50,53,54,55,56,120,121,
124, Figures are reprintOO by permission 01 Prentice Hall, Ine" Englewood Clfls,
New Jersey,
Darton, N,H" 1940, Some struetural features of!he Northern Anthracite Coal Besin,
Pennsylvania, U,S, Geo/. Surv, Pral, Pap, 193, p, 69-61.

AGI DATA SHEET 12.1

Jolnts and Faults

Compilad by R. V. Dletrlch, Central Mlchlgan Unlverslty

JOINTS
A joint is a fracture along which there has been only separation - i.e., the
only movement has been perpendicular to the break. A group 01 essentially
parallel joints is called a jOint seto Two or more sets of joints that intersect so that it
appears !hey wera lormad as a result 01 the same group 01 stresses are callad a
jont system. Many 01 these fractures may have been healed - Le., filiad with
minerals depositad by, for example, ground water or hydrothermal solutions - and
now are veins.
In the field, the strikes and dips 01 joints are usually recorded. For reports, the
orientations 01 joints are often shown on maps andlor diagrams.

FAULTS
A lault is a fracture along which the rocks on one side 01 the break have
movad with respect to the rocks on the other side 01 the break - i.e., there has
been displacement of the blocks parallel to the Iracture. Although some fault
zones have essentially vertical or horizontal dips, most do not. Figures 1 and 2
iIIustrate typical lault orientations. For example, basad on the relative movements
01 their two blocks, normal faults (Figure 2A) are !hose whose hanging-walt blocks
have movad downward with respect to their footwall blocks. In addtion, faults with
strike-slip movements are often called right-Iateral or left-lateral - if one stands
on one block, faces the other block and sees that it has moved to the right, then it
is righHataral. The sama relation is seen Irom either block.

Figure 1. Nomenclature 01 laults. This is a normal lault wth an oblique slip - Le.,
the displacement had both strike-slip and dip-slip components. The strike-slip
displacement is such that the fault is left-Iateral.

AGI DATA SHEET 12.2

1-

!:i

....1

:::>

:::>

c{

c{

1.1.
....1

1.1.
W

c{

Ul

IX:
W

IX:

>
w

IX:

:::>
O

:::>
O

:::;

:::;

al

al

ti

(.)

al

1....1

:::>
1

c{

:::>

Il.

....1

....1

c{

IX:

<i.

1.1.

:::;
Ul

..u
:.::

a:

ti

(.)

!:i
:::>
c{

1.1.

Ul

IX:

w
>
w

IX:

al

Figure 2. Types 01 laults. Of the laults shown, C, A+C, and B+C are also left-Iateral
laults. (Modilied and redrawn after W.B. Clark and C.J. Hauge, California Division
01 Mines and Geology, Special Publicaron 39,1973.)

AGI DATA SHEET 12.3

Low-angle faults - i.e., those with dips 01 less than about 30 degrees
are
usually called thrust laults. In some places, one or more parts 01 the overthrust
plates (Le., the hanging-wall block rocks) have been isolated as a result 01
erosiono Elsewhere, erosion has led to exposures of footwall block rocks tha! are
surrounded by rocks 01 the overthrust plate. The isolated masses are called
klippen (singular, klippe); the exposures 01 the lootwall rocks are callad lensters
or windows. See Figure 3.

Klippe

Fenster

r::'T:'l Footwall block rocks

hi::2J

'

Hanging-wall block rocks

Fault zone (arrows indicate relative movementsJ

Figure 3. Eroded thrust lault.

AGI DATA SHEET 13.1

Mineral Hardness and Speciflc Gravlty

R.V. Dletrlch, Central Mlchlgan Universlty

Mineral hardness, an oltan determined property, is usually dafinad as tha

rasistanca to scratching. For brittla minarais, it is a maasuramant 01 the stress
required to inijate rupture; lor ductile minerals, it is a measurement 01 plastic
deformation. The scale most widely used for measuring relative degree 01
hardness was proposed by Friedrich Mohs in 1824. It follows. with tale (1) the
soltest and diamond (10) the hardest.
Mohs'
Sea le

Mineral

1
2

tale
gypsum

cal cite

4
5

fluorite
apatite

Common Objeet
for Comparison

lingernail (2.2)
copper coin (3.5)
geological hammer (5.1)
pocketknife (5.2)
window glass (5.5)

6
7

8
9

10

leldspar
quartz
topaz
corundum
diamond

Hardness is Irequently used as a diagnostic property, especially for denti

Iying the common rock-forming and ore minerals. With a little practice, one can
estmate the hardness of minerals with hardnesses up to and including 5 by
usng only a pocketknife and noting how easily it abrades the mineral. Harder
minerals scratch the knile blade or geological hammer.
Two precautions must be taken:
1. Check only Iresh (not weathered or otherwise altered) surfaces.
2. Use only single grains because granular masses can often be disag
gregated and thus appear to have been scratched.
To overcome the second difficulty, a good procedure is to try the scratch
test in both directions-that is, try scratching the steel tool with the mineral as
well as scratching the mineral with the tool. A few minerals-for example,
kyanite-have dfferent hardnesses in different crystallographic directions; this
property in itsell is a valuable diagnostic property.
Procedures have been devised for determinng hardness quantitatively.
The most widely known methods are the Brinell, Knoop. Rockwell, and Vickers
procedures. Each involves determining the elfects on a test material 01 a
plunger loaded with a tip 01 particularly shaped diamond or other hard material.
The test material bears the weight 01 the loaded plunger lor a precise length 01
time. The indentation formed is carefully measured, and calculations are made
to convert the measurements to the appropriate quantities (see, lor example,
Eisanstadt, 1971).
None 01 thesa proceduras, however, has been used widely in the study 01
minerals; probably the mos! notaworthy ara the Vickers hardnass data that ara
availabla for soma 01 the opaque minerals. Thus. the Mohs' scala ramains as
the mnaralogist's, as well as the field geologist's, standard for comparison.
Reference
Eisenstadt, M.M .. 1971. Introduction to Mechanical Properties of Materia/s. Macmillan
Publishing Co., New York.

AGI DATA SHEET 13.2

Speclflc gravlty 01 a substance is the ratio 01 its density to the density 01

water. That is, it is the number 01 times heavier or lighter that a given volume
01 a material is than an equal volume 01 water. This property serves as a sim
ply applied, nondestructive test to help identily minerals and is also uselul in
certain petrographic studies.
Several apparatuses, including simple spring balances and specially labri
cated devices, have been used to measure specilic gravity, and gemologists
and others olten use heavy liquids 01 known densities to determine the specilic
gravity 01 specimens. Good results can usually be obtained by using a typical
laboratory balance, a vessel large enough to hold water and the specimen to
be checked, and sorne wire or thread to support the specimen.

Specific gravity measurement. Figure is modified.

Four steps are required :

1. The balance with the support wire (SW) is balanced with the counter
weight (CW) at O.
2. The specimen (Sample) is placed on the support wire and weighed in airo
3. The water-containing vessel-e.g., beaker-is raised to immerse the
specimen, which is then weighed in water.
4. The appropriate values are substituted in the lollowing lormula:
weight in air

specilic gravity

weight in air - weight in water

AGI DATA SHEET 14.1

Macroscopic Identllication 01 Common Rock lorming Silicates

Compiled by Oavid B. Jorgenson; updated and revised by KwoLing Chyl,
Central Michigan University
The following table, which lists only the common silicate minerals, is in tended as a
guide to the rapid identification of these minerals in rocks. More detailed descriptions
can be found in a number 01 books, a few 01 which are listed below.
Major divisions are by color, cleavage, and hardness. "Oark-colored" and "U~ht
colored" are relative terms, and sorne minerals have been classilied In both cateec:nes.

~~~e~~~~,:~~dc~~f~~p~~n:r~~sa~~~ ~~~~'t~r~~~c~;a~~[~7o~~rkm!f~aljaf:~; w~~::

pink. light gray. orange, yellow, light green, lght blue, or a pastel color, and impart a
Ulight" color to a rock.
There are two subdlvisions based on cleavage: "Cleavage Generally Conspicuous,"
and "Cleavage Absent or Inconspicuous." A mineral that typically dsplays at least ooe
well-developed cleavage direction will be classilied as having generally consplcuous
cleavage. Sorne mineral species are listed in both cleavage categories.
Hardness is subdivided roughly on the basis 01 the hardnesses 01 common objects:
H < 3 (fingernail H ;= 2.5), 3 $ H < 5 (glass H = 5; knileblade "'-5.5), 5:5 H < 7 (quartz H
7),7$ H. Sorne minerals are given in more than one 01 the hardness categorles.
References
Berry, L.G., Masan, B., and Oietrch, R.V., 1983. Minera/ogy. 2nd ed. W.H. Freeman
and Ca., San Francisco, 561 p.
Oeer, W.A., Howie, R.A., and Zussman, J., 1966. An Introduction lo the Rack Forming
Minera/s. Longman Group Ud., London, 528 p.
Oietrich, R.V., and Skinner, B.J., 1979. Rocks and Rock Minerals. John Wiley and
Sons, New York, 319 p.
Flescher, Michael, 1987. Glassary of Mineral Species, 5th ed. Mneralogical Record,
Tucson, 227 p. plus appendix.
Klein, e., and Hurlbut, C.S., Jr.. 1985. Manual of Minera/ogy, 20th ed. John Wiley and
Sons, New York, 596 p.

l. OARK COLOREO
A. Cleavage

Generally

Conspicuous

C>

-e

Fealures

Similar

H<3

en
'j

grn

:&

::J:

m
m

Micaceous cleavage;
dark color; elaslic
folia

-1

I.>

Chlorite (Mg,Fe}3(Si,AI)4010(OH)2o(Mg,Fe)3(OH)6

Micaceous cleavage,

green color;

inelaslic folia

Biotile is elaslic

2.6-3.3
Epidole Ca2(AI,Fe)AI20(Si04)/Si207)(OH)
Monoclinic

10 blk

Complete series be
Iween epidole
(AI:Fe+ 3 =2:1) and
clinozoisite (3:0),
which is lighler
colorad

Melamorphic rocks
(Iound commonly with
actinolite, albite, and
chlorite in greenschists);
igneous as alteration
product.

One 01 the end

members 01 the
pyroxene group

Metamorphic rocks;
wilh forsterite,
enstalite. calcite.

Augite (Ca.Na)(Mg.Fe,AI.Ti)(Si.AI)206

112

Monoclinic

Blk, dark grn

ii:

.
G>

I1

Diopside CaMgSi 20 s
Monoclinic

grn

Imperlect prismalic
cleavage al near 90';
stubby prismatic
cryslals: light color

)
1. OARK COLOREO
A. CleaV8ge

Generally

Consplcuous

~f
;,,81

Mineral Name-Composltlon

ol!!

Crystal System

e;,

5:sH < 7

Color
Luster
Hardness
Speclflc Gravlty

Olagnostlc Featunls

Grayish, yellowish ,
grnwt, olivegrn, brn
Vitreous to pearly;
bronzite: submetallic
luster

Prismatic habit and

cleavage at - 90
angles; color; pearly
luster on cleavage
planes

Similar Specles

Common Occurrence

Enstatite M92Si206
Bronzite (Mg,Fe)2Si206
Hypersthene (Mg,Fe)2Si206
Orthorhombic

't:

5 112 -6

3.2-3.6

Complete series be
tween MgSiq3 and
FeSi03 . Enstatite may
contain Irom O to

~r~~ ~~)o?~~~:~.nzite,

sthene, 30 lo SO"".
More Ferich specles
are not common.

Igneous rocks,
especially peridotites,
pyroxeniles. gabbros.
basalts. Also high
grade metamorphic
rocks. Ferich
varielies lound in
melamorphic iron lor
mallons. Commonly
associated with
clinopyroxene .

Hornblende Ca2(Mg,Fe)4AI(Si 7AI )0 22(OH ,F)2

Monoclinic

~
J:I
:c~

Dark grn to blk

Vitreous
5-6
3.0-3.4

Prismatic habit and

cleavage at - 56 0 and
124 dark color ;
crystals elongate,
sometimes librous

Augite has similar

colors but diflerent
cleavage angles.
Other amphiboles,
especially actinolite,
may resemble horno
blende.

Igneous and
metamorphic rocks .
Wldely distributed.

Slender prisms,
prismatic cleavage
(120 green color

Hornblende is usually
darker colored .

Metamorphic rocks;
characterist ic 01
greenschist lacies
metamorphism.

Actinolite Ca2(Mg,Fe)5Sia022(OH)2
Monoclinic

<C

Grn
Vitreous
5-6
3.0-3.3

) ;

Glaucophane Na2(Mg ,Fe)3AI2Sia022(OH)2

Monoclinic

Blue, lavenderblue
Vitreous
6
3.1-3.4

Color; librous habit

Partial series be

~~~r7eg~~~~~~~~~

increasing Fe.
Crossite is in
termediate member.

Only in metamorphic
rocks. With adelle
and lawsonite it
reflects low temperature
high pressure
metamorphism.

9
O

I~

m
m
-t

:;:

1. DARK COLOREO
A. Cleavage
Generally
Conspicuous

i I

~t
!!!.

CJ

5~H<7

.!! I
..8

Mineral Name-Composlllon

~~~~ss

Crystal System
Speclllc Gravlty
Cummingtonite (Mg,Fe)7Sia022(OH)2
Monoclinic
Light brn
Silky; fibrous

Color

Dlagnostlc Featuras

Similar Specles

Common Occurrence

Needlelike, commonly
radiating; color

Complete series be
tween cummingtonite
(Mg>Fe) and grunerite
(Fe>Mg). Anthophyllite
and gedrite are similar
to cummingtonite.

Metamorphic rocks,
commonly with horno
blende or actinolite.

5~~

~
<1:

3.1-3.6

:;:

Common accessory in
igneous rocks; larger
crystals in so me
gneisses, schists,
marbles.

Gray, brn, grn, blk, yel Luster, and wedge

Resinous
shaped crystals
5-5V2
3.4-3.55

B. Cleavage Absent
or Inconspicuous
H<3

3~H<5

5:::H<7

Chrysocolla (Cu,AI)2H2Si205(OH)4nH20
(Undefined)
Grn to grn-blue
Vitreous to earthy
2-4
2.0-2.4

Color; conchoidal
fracture; low hard
ness

Dioptase appears
similar, but forms
rhombohedral
crystals

Oxidized zones of
copper deposits; with
malachite, azurite,
cuprite.

Serpentine Mg 3Si 20 5(OH)4

Monoclinic or
orthorhombic
polytypes

Variegated grn
Greasy, silky
3-5
2.5-2.6

Color, luster; fibrous

habit is common

Antigorite is the platy

variety, chrysotile is
the fibrous variety_
Solter than fibrous
amphiboles.

Occurs as alteration
of Mgsilicates,
especially olivine.
Associated with
magnetite, chromite.

Pale yelgrn to olivegrn

Vitreous
6V2-7
3.27-4.37

Glassy luster, con

choidal fracture.
Color

Complete series be-

Mafic igneous rocks

especialiy peridotite,
gabbro, and basalt.
Associated with
pyroxenes. CommonIy altered to serpentine.

Olivine (Mg,Fe)2Si04
Orthorhombic

re~~i~g~~~ftc~71?te

is a Ca-oearing olivine.

!!I

:.:.

Titanite CaTiSi05
Monoclinic

en

)
a:

1. OARK COLOREO
B. Cleavage Absent
or Inconspicuous

Q.2

~,
O!!

Mineral Name-Composlllon

Crystal System

Color
Luster
Hardness
Speciflc Gravlty

Oiagnosllc Features

Similar Species

Common Occurrence

Titanite CaTiSi0 5

5:SH < 7

Monoclinic

el>

Gray. brn , grn, blk, yel Luster, and wedge

Resinous
shaped crystals
5-5V2
3.4-3.55

Chondrodite (Mg,Fe)5(Si0 4 )2(F,OH)2

Monoclinic
Light yel to red
Vltreous lo resmous

Color; occurrence in
marbles

6-6'12

.~

3.1-3.2

Common accessory
in igneous rocks;
larger crystals in
some gneisses,
sChists, marbles.
Other members 01
the group are humite,
clinohumite, and
norbergite, which are

~=ff~~~,'~ ~m

J:

chondrodite.
7~H

Metamorphosed
dolomitic limestones.
Associated with
phlogopite, spinel,
pyrrhotite, and
graphite. Commonly
altered to serpentine.

Almandine Fe3Ai2Si3012
Isometric

~
c:J

a.
~

c:J

..,

~
c

Andalusite AI Si0
2
5
Orthorhombic

Deepred lo
brownishred
Vilreous to resinous
6V2-7'h
3.5-4.3

Color; isometric
crystal habit; hard
ness

Mg and Mn substitute
Ireely for Fe. Mg end
member is pyrope,
Mn end member is
spessartine. Ca
bearing garnets are
grossular, andradite,
and uvarovite.

Almandine is the
most common garnet,
being widely
distributed in
metamorphic rocks;
al so as a detrital
mineral. Pyrope oc
curs in ultrabasic ig
neous rocks.

Fleshred, reddish
brn, olivegrn
Vitreous
7V2
3.16 3.20

Nearly square prism

habit ; color; hardness

Variety chiastolite
has colored carbono
aceous inclusions ar
ranQed in cruciform
deslgns. Other
AI2Si05 polymorphs
are sillimanite and
kyanite.

Metamorphic rocks,
especially argil
laceous, often found
with cordierite; can
occur with kyanite or
sillimanite.

U'J

::z::

C,n

1. DARK COLOREO
B. Cleavage Absent
or Inconspicuous
7~H

'

oe.

Mineral Name-Composltlon

Crystal System

Color
Lust...
H.rdness
Speclflc Gravlty

Olagnostlc Features

Similar Specles

Common Occurrance

Staurolite (Fe,Mg,ln)2Alg(Si.All402210H)2

!t)oi
(/)

::1:

Monoclinic

Redbrn to brnblk
Resinous to vllreous
when fresh; dull or
earthy when altered.
7-71/2
3.65-3.75

Distinct prismatic
hablt, often with
cruciform twins. Un
twinned crystals are
dis1inguished from
andalusite by Iheir
obtuse prlsm shape

Brn
Adamantine
71/2

Prismatic habit; color,

luster, hardness, high
specific gravity

Regionally metamor
phosed AIrich rocks.

c:n

lircon lrSi0 4
Tetragonal

4.68

Tourmaline (Na,Ca)(Fe,Mg.AIILi,Mn, .. ,)(AI,Fe,Cr,Mg)S(B03)3(SiS018)(OH,F)4

Hexagonal

Blk, dark brn

Vitreous lo resinous
7-71/2
3.0-3.25

Prisma1ic habit, with

rounded, triangular
cross seclions. Color,
hardness

The black. Fe-bearing

variety, shorl, is most
common. Other 'lar
ielies are dravite.
elbaite, verdelite,
rubellite. indicolite.
achroite.

Beryl Be3AI2(Si6018)
Hexagonal

or lght yel Hexagonal prism

form; color

!!l

Varieties of gem beryl

are distinguished by
color: aquamarlne,
morganite, golden
beryl, eme raid.

11. LIGHT COLOREO

A. CINvage
Generally
Consplcuous

a:
a.
::lB
E!::I

c:l1!.

H<3

Mineral Name-Composltlon

Crystal System

Color
Luater
Hardness
Speclflc Gravlty

Olagnostlc FNtures

Similar Specle,

Muscovite KA12(AIS301 O)(OH,F)2

Monoclinic

il

Tale

Colorless; yel, pale

brn
Vilreous to pearly
2-21/2
2.76-2.88

Micaceous cleavage;
IIght color; elastic
folla

May be confuse<!
with phlogopile or
lepidolite; biotite ia

Ihe dar!< mica

Appl8iJrn, gray, wl
Pearly lo greasy
1
2.7-2.8

~~~3~:S~Sg;~~~~ap:e1

Oistinguished Irom
clay mlnerals by lIs
occurrence

Typically acicular;
radiating habil

Other zeollles are

similar in appearance
and occurrence

Lining cavilies in
basall; wilh other
zeolllas. cal cite

Olher zeolites are

similar in appearance
and occurrence

Cavilles In basalt;
wilh olher zeolltes
and calcite

Ma~Si .OM(OHI_

Nalroli!e Na2AI2S301Oo2 H20

Orthorhomblc

3:SH<S

il

Common Occurrence
Granltes, pegmatites,
metamorphic rocks,
especially schists.
Finei,lralned fibrous
variety la sericite,
common as hydrcr
thermal alterallon
product or retrograde
melamorphism. Also
forms detrltalllralns

Heulandite (Na,Ca)2_3AI3(AI,Si)2Si1303So12H20
Monoclinic

wt, tan,
pearly on

Pseudo-orthorhombic
or diamond-shaped
prismatic habil; one
perfect cleavage with
pearly luster

):o

e
CI

en

;;
Monoclinic

pearly on

Tabular habil; commonly sheaflike aggregales; pearly

lusler on one perfect
cleavage

Olher zeollles are

similar in appearance
and occurrence

Gavities in basall;
wilh olher zeollles
and calcite

m
~

.
....
:...

11. LlGHT COLORED

A. Cleayage
Generally
Conspicuous
S::S:H<7

eL!:!
2::1

el!!?
! I
=

II

.1

Mineral Name-COmposi1lon

::I,gt
Crystal System
"Natrolite

Color
Lusler
Hardness
Speclflc Graylly

Dlagnosllc Features

Similar Specles

Common Occurrence

Na~12si30102 H2oColorless or wt

Orthorhomblc

U'J

:::I:

Vitreous
5-5112

~~

!!J

Plagiodase NaAISi30a-CaAI2sI20a
Triclinic

';'8

;tJ
Micracline KAISi30a
Triclinic

Orthoclase KAISi 0
3 a
Monoclinic

Complete series be
tween albite
(NaAISi30a) and anor
thite (CaAI2Si20a); in
termedia!e members
are named oligoclase,
andesine, labradori te,
by!ownite.

Ubiquitoua

Abundant in granites,
ayenites; gneiss;
pegmatites

Wt, gray; colorless

Vitreous to pearly
6
2.62-2.76

Prismatic cleavage
near 90'; commonly
shows polysynthetic
twinning that appears
as striations

Wt to pale yel, rarely

red or grn
Vltreous
6
2.54-2.57

Prismatic cleavage
near 90; color; hard
ness. Nearly all deep
green leldspars are
mlcrocline
(amazonstone)
Prisma!ic cleavage at
90 '; color; hardness

Polymorphous with
orthoclase from
which it is
megascopically In
distinguishable.

Distinguished wi!h
diffculty from other
feldspars, but its oc
currence may be
diagnostico

At high temperatures,
complete series ex
ists between

!:..

Wt, gray, flesh-red.

Vltreous to pearly

Granites,
granodiorites,
syenites. Microcline
is the common
K-feldspar in
phaneritic racks.

6
2.57

Sanidine (K,Na)AISi 0
3 a
Monoclinic

Colorless
Vitreous

6
2.56-2.62

,.

~~~~~Baand

As phenocrysts in ex
trusive igneous racks,
especially rhyolites
and trachytes.

Perthite (K,Na)AISi 0
3 a
An inhomogeneous mixture 01 al bite lamellae in a K-feldspar host, caused by exsolution _..._... __ ._. __ ~ ..-,
parallel to POOl in the KAISi30a host. The intergrowths may be visible to the naked eye (macroperthite), visible
by oplical microscope (microperthite), or detectable only by x-ray or electron microscope

:
i

a:

11. LIGHT COLORED

A. Cleavage
Generally

Consplcuous

5:'SH<7

CI.~

ef
CI!!!.
i

Q.

Mineral Name-Composltlon

Crystal System
Diopside CaMgsi 0
2 S
Enstatite M92Si20S
Bronzite (Mg.Fe)2Si20S
Hypersthene (Mg,Fe)2Si20S

Color
Luster

Harelness

Speclflc Gravlty

Dlagnostlc Features

Similar Specles

Common Occurrence

Amphibole

e
2
f

with
ano

Q.

CI

Metamorphic racks;
indicales relatively
high temperature of
metamorphism.

~~~~~~~------~~~~------~~~~~~~----~~--~--~----~~--~~--~

Kyanite AI 2Si05
Triclinic

Bladed habit; tabular

Pol.ymorphous with

~~:;~~e ~~~~~~~~d.

~~:~ft~ite and ano

_._ ,

'

~..

Regional metamorphic

~~~~:,cs~~~n~, ~~~~

undum, sillimanite, ano

dalusite, or muscovlte

B. Cleavaga Absant

or Inconspicuous

3~H<5

5:'SH<7

e
(J)

:;:

m
~

...
.:"

i
11. LIGHT COLOREO
B. Cleavage Absent
or Inconspicuous

S"'::'H<7

~~
en!!.
J,~

~i

Mineral Name-Composltlon

Cryslal Syslem

Sodalite Nas(AISi04)6CI2
Isometric

Analcime NaAISi 0 oH 0
2 6 2
Isometric

Prehnite Ca2AI2Si3010(O H)2

Orthohombic

7SH

Quartz Si0

2
Hexagonal

Beryl Be3AI2(Si601S)
Hexagonal

Color

Lusler

Hardness
Speclfic Gravily

Olagnostlc Features

Slmlrar Specles

Common Occurrence

Blue; rarely wt,

gray, grn
Vitreous
5 /2-6
'
2.15-2.3

Color, massive habit;

occurrence

Colorless, wt,
orange
Vitreous
5-5 /2
2.27'

Luster; freegrowing
trapezohedral crystals

Light grn to wt
Vitreous
6-6 '/2
2.S-2.95

Color; tabular
crystalline aggre
gates in reniform
habit

Colorless, wt, gray

Vitreous
7
2.65

Luster, conchoidal
fracture, hardness;
trace impurities may
produce almost any
color in quartz.
Prismatic crystals are
common

Many varietal names

based on grain size,
form, and color.
Chalcedony is the
common crypto
crystalline variety

Ubiquitous

Bluish-grn or
light-yel
Vitreous
7V2-S
2.65-2.S

Hexagonal prism
form; color

Varieties of gem beryl

are distinguished by
color; aquamarine,
morganite, golden
beryl, emerald

Granitic rocks and

pegmatites. Some
mica schists

Cordierite (Mg,Fe)2AI4Si501SonH20
Orthorhombic

Blue to bluish-gray
Vitreous
7-7 1/2
2.60-2.66

Resembles quartz;
short prismatic,
pseudo-hexagonal
twinned crystals.
Pleochroic

Silica-deficient extrusive and intrusive

igneous rocks.
Relatively rare
Similar in appearance
to leucite, but
analcime is typically
freegrowing in cavi
ties and leucite is
found embedded in
rock matrix

In cavities in basalt;
as primary consti
tuent of some ig
neous rocks

Secondary mineral

~~~na?t;Cr~~t~~s~?th
zeolites, calcite.

Contact and regionalIy metamorphosed

argillaceous rocks.

e
en
::I:
m
m
-1

.....
.:o.

:...
o

AGI DATA SHEET 15.1

PArt$lilninn

to

Imll'\nrt.''lt Non!~iIi,~AtP-

Minerals

Prepared by Yngvar W. Isachs&n, New York Stat& Geological Surv&y

ABBREVIATIONS: S&H, crystal system or divlslon and maximum hardness; Cleavage:
010, 110, etc.; Color: bl, blk, br, gm, ~y, or, pnk, purp, r, w, y; Luster: ad, mat, submat, res,

~~~~~~f~~grr'a~~3;:;g~~Ti~,a~~li~~:~6:~t ~~,IDJ~~~~~1~Pf1:~~:~s~I;I~I~~~~~;b;~;n~~:

flame test; fus, fusibility; h, hardness; It. light; mag, magnetlc; prtg, partlng; rad, radIoac
tiva; sg, specific gravity; stl, staal; strk, straak; tab, tabular; tarn, tarnlsh; transp,
transparent; wk, waak(ly); xls, crystals.

Mineral

Composition

S&H

S.G.

Distinguishing Features

NATIVE ELEMENTS

Gold ................ Au ............................. 1 3

19_3
met,y,malleable,sg
Sil ver ............... Ag ............................. 1 3
10.5
Ag-w,malleable,sg
Copper ............ Cu ............................. 1 3
8.95
met.r,malleable,sg
Platinum ......... Pt ............................. .J 4V2 19.
stlgy.sg.h
Sulfur.............. S ................................0 2V2 2.07
y.res,burn~
Diamond ......... C ................................ll0
3.53
ad,h,111,111
Graphite .......... C ................................H 2
2.23
blk to gy,greasy
SULFIDES

Argentite ......... Ag2S ......................... 12V2

Chalcocite ...... Cu2S .......................... 0 3

Bornite ............ CusFeS4 .................... 13

Galena ............ PbS ........................... 1 2V2

Sphalerite ....... ZnS ........................... 14

Chalcopyrite ...CuFeS2 ..................... T 4

Stannite .......... Cu2FeSnS4 ............... T 4

Greenockite .... CdS ........................... H 3V2

Pyrrhotite ........ Fe1-XS ........................ H 4

Nickeline ........ NiAs .......................... H 5V2

Millerite .......... NiS ............................ R 3V2

Pentlandite ..... (Fe.Ni)9Sa .................. 1 4

Covellite ......... Cus ........................... H 2

~~~Ii~:.::::::::: ~~~~:::::::::::::::::::::::::'~ ~V2

Stibnite ........... Sb2S3 ........................ 0 2

Bismuthinite... BbS3 .......................... 0 2

Pyrite .............. FeSz.......................... 16V2

Cobaltite ......... CoAsS ....................... 151/2

Marcasite ........ FeSz .......................... O 6112

Arsenopyrite ... FeAsS ....................... M 6

Molybdenite ... MOS2 ......................... H 1'/2

Calaverite ....... AuTe2........................ M 3

Sylvanite ......... (Au.Ag)2Te4 ............... M 2

Smaltite .......... (Co,Ni)As3X ............... 16

7.4 sectile.met,dkgy,sg
5.8 sectile.Pb-gy
5.08 met,brbronze,pu rpbl tarn
7.58 100.Pb-gy,sg,h
res.110
4.1
4.3 brassy.h
4.5 stlgy to Fe-blk,fus 1V2
4.9 y,vit
4.65 bronze,massive,mag
7.78 Cur,h
5.5 pale brass y.cap xls
5.0 bronze,1I1 prtg,nonmag
_
4.76 indigo-bl,0001
r.sg,scarlet strk,1010
r.res,010,h
y.res.010,h
4.62 Pbgy,bladed,010,fus 1

6.78 Pb'gy,010,fus 1

5.02 pale brass y

6.33 Ag,w,100
4.89 pale y,"cockscomb" xls
6.22 Ag-w,cf. smaltite
4.73 Pb'gy,bl tone,0001
9.44 brass y to Agw,sg
8.16 Agw.sg,010
6.9 Ag-w,cf.arsenopyrite,Co test

l:!

SULFOSALTS

Polybasite ....... (Ag,CU)'6Sb2S', ........ M 3

Pyrargyrite ...... Ag3SbSJ .................... R 2112

Proustite ......... AgJAsSJ .................... R 2112

Tetrahedrite .... (Cu,Fe)12Sb4S'J ......... 1 4

Tennantite ...... (Cu,Fe)12As.S13 ......... 1 41/2

Enargite .......... CuJAsS..................... O 3

Bournonite ..... PbCuSbS3 ................. 0 3

Jamesonite ..... Pb.FeSbaS14 ............. M 21/2

6.2
5.85
5.57
5.1
4.6
4.50
5.86
5.63

short"hex"prisms,stl-gy to blk
deepr,ad,10'fl
rubyr,ad,1011
tetrahedrons,gy to blk
tetrahedrons,gyblk to blk
gyblk to Feblk
stl-gy to blk, xls
gyblk,acicular to fibrous

AGI DATA SHEET 15.2

Mineral

Composltlon

S&H

S.G.

SIMPLE OXIDES
Cuprite ............ CU20 ....................... 14
6.14
5.68
Zincite ............. ZnO ......................... H 4
4.1
Corundum ...... AhOl ....................... R 9
Hematite ........ Fe.03 ....................... R 6
5_26
4.76
IImenite .......... FeTiOJ ..................... R 6
Rutile .............. Ti02 ......................... T 61/2 4.25
Pyrolusite ....... Mn02 ....................... T 61/2 5.08
Cassiterite ...... Sn02 ........................ T 7
6.99
Anatase .......... Ti02 ......................... T 6
3.90
Brookite .......... Ti02 ......................... 0 6
4.20
10.63
Uraninite ......... U02 .......................... 16

Distlngulshlng Features

r,ad,xls

deepr to or-y
_

h,sg,prtg 0001 and 1011

rbr to blk; r strk

Fe-blk,strk blk to br-r

ad,r to r-br to blk

blk,blk strk

ad,br to blk,lt strk,sg

ad.rbr to blk,001,011

met,ad,br to Fe-blk

blk,submet to dull,sg,rad

HYDROXIDES AND OXIDES CONTAINING HYDROXOL

Brucite ............ Mg(OH)2.................. H21/2 2.40 0001,pearly,w,gy,lt-grn
Boehmite ........ AIO(OH) .................. O
3.1 010,in bauxite
Gibbsite .......... AI(OH)3 ....................M31/2 2.42 001,pearly,in bauxite
4.72 blk,submet,strk br-blk
"Psilomelane"BaMnMnaO,s(OH)14O 6
MULTIPLE OXIDES
Diaspore ......... HAI02 ...................... 0 7
Goethite .......... HFeO ...................... 051/2
Spinel... ........... MgAbO................... 18
Magnetite ....... Fe(Fe02)2................. 161/2
Franklinite ...... Zn(Fe02)2 ................. 161/2
Chromite ......... FeCr20 .................... 1 51/2
Chrysoberyl. ... BeAI20 .................... 0 81/2
Columbite ....... (Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)20s ... 0 6

3.5
4.29
4.0
5.18
5.22
4.8
3.85
5.25

010,bladed,h,in bauxite

y-br to dkbr,strk ybr

h,octahedrons,vit

Fe-blk,blk strk,mg

Fe-blk,dk-br strk,wk mag

submet,strk dk-br,Feblk

h,grn,br,y

Feblk,strk submet

HAllDES

Halite .............. NaCI ........................ 12

Sylvite ............. KCI. .......................... 12

Cerargyrite ..... AgCI ........................ 1 21/2

Fluorite ........... CaF2 ........................ 14

Carnallite ........ KMgCb6H20 ......... 0 21/2

Cryolite ........... NalAIFa ................... M 21/2

2.17
1.99
5.56
3.18
1.60
2.98

100,salty taste
100,bitter taste
sectile, waxlike
deliq,no el
vil to greasy,"cubic" prtg

CARBONATES
Calcite ............ CaC03 ..................... R 3

Magnesite ...... MgC03 .................... R 4

Siderite .......... FeC03 ..................... R 4

Rhodochrosite MnC03 .................. R 4

Smithsonite ... ZnC03 ..................... R 41/2

Aragonite ....... CaC03 ..................... 0 4

Witherite ........ BaC03 ..................... 0 31/2

Strontianite ....SrC03 ...................... 031/2

Cerussite ....... PbC03 ..................... 031/2

Dolomite ........ CaMg(C03)2 ............ R 4

Ankerite ........ Ca(Fe,Mg,Mn)(C03)2 R 4

Malachite ....... Cu2(C03)(OH)2 ......... M 4

Azurite ............ CU3(C03).(OH)2. ...... M 4

2.71
3.02
3.97
3.70
4.44
2.95
4.29
3.78
6.57
2.86
3.02
4.07
3.78

h,101\~it,HCI tet
w,wasslve or 1011,sg,h
1010,ItJo dk-br,sg
pnk,1010,h
eff in cid HCI,h,sg
columnar xls,h,sg
sg,eff in cid HCI
sg,eff in cid HCI, Sr flm
sg,ad,h
curved rhombic xls,HCI test
like dolomite but ybr to br
brt-grn,eff in cid HCI
azurebl,eff in cid HCI

111,cubes,h

AGI DATA SHEET 15.3

Mineral

Composltln

S&H

S.G. Olstlnguishing Futuras

NITRATES ANO BORATES

Nitratite......... NaN03 ............................ R 2

2.27
Niter ............... KN03 .............................. 0 2
2.11
Kernite ........... Na2B.Os(OH)2 .3H20..... M 2112
1.91
Borax ............. Na2B.05(OH) SH20..... M 2112
1.72
Ulexite ........... NaCaBsOs(OH).5H2o..Tr 21/2
1.96
Colemanite .... Ca2BsO,1.5H20 .............. M 41/2
2.43
Boracite ......... Mg3B70,3CI .................... 0 7 1/2
3.1

10T1,cool taste,deliq
011,cool taste,non-deliq
001,100,splintery cl,sg
100,sweet alk taste,xls
"cottonballs",h,tasteless
010,exfoliates if heated
h,isometric xls

SULFATES

Barite ............. BaSO ............................. O 3112

Celestite ........ SrSO .............................. 03112

Anglesite ....... PbSO .............................. O :

Anhydrite ....... CaSO ..............................O 31/2

Gypsum ......... CaSO 2H20 .................. M 2

Chalcanthite ..CuSO 5H20................. .Tr 2112

Melanterite .... FeSO. 7H20 .................. M 2

Epsomite ....... MgSO.7H20 .................0 2112

Antlerite ......... Cu3(SO.)(OH)................. 03112

Alunite ........... KAb(SO.)2(OH)s .............. R 4

Jarosite .......... KFeJ(SO.)2(OH)s ............. R 31/2

4.50
3.98
6.39
2.98
2.32
2.29
1.90
1.68
3.88
2.9
3.26

sg,001,110,tab xls
sg,001,110,tab xls
sg,ad,conch
100,010,OOj
h,010,100,111
azure-bl,met taste
cap agg,met taste
cap agg,bitter taste
grn,010,non-eff in cid HCI
massive,w,gy or reddish
y to br,strk pale-y

PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, ANO VANAOATES

Monazite ........ (Ce,La,Nd.Th)PO .......... M 5112 5.4
Apatite ........... Ca5(PO.)l(F,CI,OH) ........ H 5
3.20
Pyromorphite Pb5(PO.,AsO.)3CI. ......... H 4
7.08
Turquoise ...... CuAI6(PO.).(OH)8 5H2Q T 6
2.8
2.33
Wavellite ........ Ab(PO.)2(OH.F)J. 5H2o. O 4
Torbernite ...... Cu(U02)Z(PO.)2nH20 ... T 2112 3.2
Autunite ......... Ca(U02)Z(PO.)2nH20 ... T 2112 3.2

res,y to rbr,001 prtg

prisms,h,grn,br,bl,purp,c
res to ad,sg,grn,br,y,gy,w
bl,bl-grn,grn,h
radiating globular agg
pale to dk-grn,rad,001
Y to grn,rad,fl y-gr,001

VANAOIUM OXYSALTS
Carnotite ........ K2(U02)2V20e 3H20 .... M 2
Tyuyamunite. Ca(U02)2VZOS nH20 ... 02

5
Y to grn-y,rad,001
3.62 y,rad,turns grn in sun,001

MOLYBDATES ANO TUNGSTATES

Huebnerite .... MnWO ........................... M 4

7.2
Wolframite ..... (Fe.Mn)WO .................... M 41/2 7.4

res,sg,010,transp

brn-blk to Fe-blk,met-ad,

sg,010
Ferberite ........ FeWO ............................ M 4 1/2 7.51 blk,met-ad,sg,010
Scheelite ....... CaWO............................ T 5
6.12 vit,sg,fl bl-w,101
Wulfenite ....... PbMoO .......................... T 3
7.0 tab xls,vit.y,or,r,gy,w,h
REFERENCE: Fleischer, Michael, 1987. Glossary of Mineral Species. 5th ed. Mineralogical Record.

Tuscon. 234 p.

AGI DATA SHEET 16.1

Non-Conductors (high tension pinned)

Magnetic

Weakly

Non

Magnetic

~~~netic

Specific
Gravity

0..'
8.0

80

75

7.0

6.5

Scheehte

! 6O
5.5

Bastnaesite

5.e
Zlfcon

Banle

Xenotme

4.5

Game:

4.0

Sdente
Stauroli:e

Perovsk'te
Epidote
Q1lvlre

KyaMe
Topaz

Apetlle

Sphene

i 35

30

Mica (B1otite)
Beryl
Fe!cspars
Calcita
Quartz
Gypsu~

ChrysO!I!e

2.5

2.0

SulphJf

Unde:r

J 20
See noles on Data Sheel 16.3

AGI DATA SHEET 16.2

Conductors (high tenslon thrown)

'~-----'---'weakly '---NO;;

. ~'....._ _+~_M
.ognetlc

SpeClllC
Gravlty

Magnetlc

"I~~'

Over
8.0

! Copper

80

Ferberte

7.5

Galena

Wolframile

Cassiterite

7.0

6.5
Columbite~

6.0

Tantalite

5.5
Magnetita
Ilmemte; (high iron)

Sarnarskite
Euxenite
Itmenite

Hematite

Davidite

Chromite

Pyrite

5.0

I Molybdenile
4.5
Rutile
Chalcopyrite

8rockite

4.0

Diamond

3.5

, limonite
:

3.0

2.5
, Graphile

2.0

AGI DATA SHEET 16.3

Notes
Starting with a mixture 01 any 01 the minerals listed, it may be determined
whether or not they can be separated by high tenson, magnetic. or gravity
methods and whether any one or a combination 01 methods is required. II the
minerals appear in different columns. they may be separated by high tension
and/or magnetic methods alone. Two or more minerals appearing in the same
column can be separated by gravty concentration il they have sufficient
difference in gravity (usually a difference 01 approximately 1.0).
It should be noted that grain shape and/or size may alter separation
characteristics. This s sometimes a detriment and other times uselu!. As an
example, mica and quartz may in some cases be separated by high tension due
to their grain shape.
Mineral-behavior charaeteristics shown are Irom tests made in Carpeo's
laboratories rather than Irom results 01 theoretieal analyses. Mineral
charaeteristics and behaviors sometimes differ from one deposit to another. The
behavior 01 minerals not shown can usually be predieted by the behavior 01
similar minerals in the above table.

Reprinted. by permission 01 Carpeo. Ine., Jacksonvlle, Florida. Copyright

1954. Carpeo, Ine., now publishes an expanded verson 01 this table tilled
"Eleetrostatie and Magnetic Separaton Characteristes 01 Selected Minerals."

AGI DATA SHEET 17.1

Gem Materials
J.I. Kolvula and R.C. Kammerl/ng, Gemologicallnatltute of Amerlca

GamMaterlal

$YN.RunL&

~f= ~=r I Refractlve In:;x I 01~C;:t'

Characterlstlcs
E........ ~(.33O);
.......... doubIing

Adarnat1linelu_;
. -.... dilperJsion (.044)

OIAllONO
STRONTIUM
TITANATE

CZ

..... CUIIic~..'
GQQ(QIodoIIIIIum

Norm

~.ele-

\Iety"""'II~(.19O!

2_

SI""'II dilperJsion (.080)

2.160
1.970

ZlRCON

C(r....);SuIMIdamanIlne

ANORAOITE

C ('-1; v.. Dem_:

"""'11 dilperJsion (.057)

l."

_k~(.~)

~ca.n.

Cubic
SR

...030

Cubic
SR

".080

Cubic

.004
-020

SR
Cubic

415::: 7-7'1i!

tOlO

SR
Cubic

405:~

SYN. CORUNOUM

A, CC. C (....): Sta.'

curwd growlh on_

1.782 .005
1.770 -.003

ooe

1782
1770

ooe
.010
-.020

Pu,pIe 10 pUrpijIIh '*' eoIOf

1.7eo

C.CC

1.7* .004
175S - 008

OIten ..ry dark In tone

~a.m.c

HYDIIOOROS8ULAA

a.m.c ........,

CC; CoIorMa.lrghI ~

u-

DA

Hexagonal

DA

Hexagonal

u-

DA

SR
Cubic

ooe010

DA

8.

Cubre

378:~

7-7'11

SR
Cuboc

361:~

7_7''''

1.720

.010
- 030

NJG

Cuboc

347::

.012
- 008

SR
CublC

364~\'i

.017

SA

360:.~

CC:A(....)
Colo... oIIIIn Iow .... u,lIt"'"

1718

ZQlSITE

C(,...,
VOry """'11 pIeOchrorsm

1.691 .005

1100

008
013

DA OfAGGI!I.
OrlhomomblC

1660 :1:005
1676

014
016

DA
8.
Monochnl'C

AGIDSrvd-e9

3.84:1: .10 7-7'1i!

.020
-.010

11'"". lght \O dan. blue

OIten greaoy \O ...xy lu_

4.oo .03

1.746

SYN.SPtNEL

JAOEITE

4oo~.:,g

' 11

SA

16eo

1.680
.1.66

CubIC

- 008

t 008

7-7'11

4oo .03

1740

eommon

ti'"

373:1: .02

Onhorl'lomblc

SPtNEI,

4.SS .05

.010
- 026

17~

SPOOUMENE

tI'Ii!

1.810

Cubic

008
010

GROSSULARlTE

' Ii!

705:~

384:1:.03 e'li!-7

1.1IS2 .009
1.770 -.005

a.m.c

S.80.2O

SA

A. CC; C (._,

P'tROPE

10

s-e

010

CORUNOUM

CHRYS08ERYL

3.52.01
S 13.02

1.833

1.790

a.m.c

8-8'1i!

SR
Cubic

A
0IIen datk.n tone

RHOOOUTE

==

-033

.007

~Ia.m.c

IFIux)

ravlty
4.~.03

470~: e-7'Ii!

AUIANOITE

~FuIIonI

=lflC Moh'

DA
U.
TelfagonaJ

Colo<

SYN. CORUNOUM

SR

SPElSARTITE

_ina _Ofange

u...

DA

Cubic

1925 .040 000

IUIIef';mod.diIperJsion(.038) 1.9&4 -.145 .059

a.m.c

Systern

SR

2417

Mode"lIeditpenlion(.ll4S

........

~
~7

2.903

GIIIIuoftca.n.

YAOmu

Rana

NJG

Monoclinc

335:

8-7

3 l i t 03 6',,-7
334: :: 6',,-7

AGI DATA SHEET 17.2

Phenomena & Other

Dlstlnctlve Visual
Characterlstlcs

PEAlDOT
0IIwIne

ANDAlUSlTE

IIory .'rong pleOChrOl.m

TOUAIIALlNE

C.CC(rare)
Slrong dlChrOlsm

TOMZ

'654 t 020
'690

035
038

'634
, 643

t 005

007
0'3

'624 + 011
'644 - 009

0'8
040

'6'9 t 0'0
'627

008
0'0

'6'0
'650
~ 6'
1 - + 009
'632 -.006
16'

Ottan grBaS';' lo xy IUSlftr

BERYL

C. "'(rare)

'577 t 017
'583

TUAQUOISE
NE~TE

Malm.: posslbie

, 560 + 004
'570 - 070

AGG
AGG
MonochnlC

' 544 t 000

'553

009

.... "" and C (rare)

Strong Inchrotsm

'542 + .045
- 011
'55'

008
0'2

~....,

PEAAL
~_

...lIurecl]

........

OATHOCLASE

O
Oull 10 submetalhc luster

"',Ad.C
Vllreous lO pearly luster

OML

P: .... C (rare). May or may

no4h... play-oI~OIOr

DR

DR

Hexagonal

DRorAGG/U+
Hexagonal

DR

OrlhorhomblC

1540

-.005

AGG

, 540

+ 005
-.001

SR
Amorphous

1535
1539

000
004

1530
, 685

155

, 518
, 526 + 0'0

005
008

' 670.
1500

LAPIS LAZULl

MonocllnlC

.... "",C. I

Resll'M)US luSler

DR

AGG

IOUTE

CHALCEDONY

OnhorhomblC

Tnchmc

OUAATZ

....BEA

B+

+ 010

'56'
'564

Waxy 10 greasy Iusler, aften

Engine-turned eHect,

Hex.gonal

DR

Hexagonal

SEAPENTINE

gr.asv 10 dulllusler

005
007

'573

M.y Huorase. red 10 vISible

'oghl

lE""",l]

DR

003
008

'588 + 008

Ioghl

IYOAY

O~llOrhomOoc

~ooa.

M.y fluoresce red lo vISible

SYN. EIIEAALD
Sy". a..yt

(CordIettIel

DRorAGGlB

Hexagonal

SYN. EIIEAALD Sy".

resembles_

B+

005
009

a..ytl~.q

[FIu.,

DR

O~llOrhomooc

1450

AGG
Hexagonal

AGG
DR

+ .020

- oeo

317t04

7-7'h

306:'~

7-7';'z

353t 04

276:

AGG
SR

Amorphous

5-6

295+ '5 8-6~

- 05
272+ '8 7'/2-8
- 05
268t 03

71z-S

266+ 03
- O,

7Vz-8

257 + 23
- '3

2-6

266:

g~

26' t 05

7-7 1/1

, 85t '5

2'12

'08:~

2-2'h

260+ 10 6'h-7
- 05
270:

MonochnlC

SR

334+ '4 6'h-7

- 07

2'h-4

258t03 6-6'h
2 75t 25

5-6

2'5~:

S-6 1h

AGI DATA SHEET 18.1

J.I. Kolvula and R.C. Kammerling, Gemologlcallnstltute of Amerlca

Delinitions

AOOllIONAl

COMME~S

Poor
FaH lo Goo
Good uraMr!y
Gooddurabill!y
Goo durabliity
Farrurabllrty

9
9
10

6- 6112

Poor

Olstlnc\ cleavage

Farrdurablhly

2l2

61/2-

OIle" Good. QUlle

variable

falftoGood
Goo
Good
Good
Good
Goo

V"ry goo durabrllty

Poor
Poor

Topaz
7tl2

6112-7

AG I-DS-IV-69

faH
Poar la Goo
Poor10 Falf
Poor lo FaH

FaHdurabrllty

AGI DATA SHEET 18.2

Gemstone Misnomers
J.!. Kolvula and

R.e.

Kammerllng, Gemological Institute 01 America

GEMSTONE MISNOMERS

MlSND.MfB

'Mexican Jade"

"Mexican Onyx" (or "Onyx")

"Alexandrite" (or "Syn. Alexandrite")

"Colorado Jade" (or "Pike's Peak Jade")

"Colorado Ruby" (or "Arizona Ruby")

"Transvaal Jade" (or "South African Jade")

"Black Pearl" (or "Alaskan Black Oiamond")

"Topaz Ouartz" (or "Spanish Topaz")

'Herkimer Oiamond" (or "Arkansas Oiamond")

'Smoky Topaz" (or 'Scotch Topan

'Indian Jade"

"Oueensland Jade"

"Chalcedony' Moonstone"

"Swiss Lapis" (or "German Lapis")

"Blue Onyx"

"Green Onyx" (or "Chrysoprase')

"Korean Jade" (or 'New Jade")

AGIDS-rvd89

CORRECT NOMENCLATURE
Oyed Green Marble Calcite
Onyxmarble Calcite
Synthetic Alexa ndritelike Sapphire
Amazon Microcline Feldspar
Pyrope Garnet
Translucent Grossularite Garnet
Hematite
Citrine Ouartz
Rack Crystal Ouartz
Smoky Ouartz
Aventurine Ouartz
Chrysoprase Chalcedony
White Chalcedony (or Milky Chalcedony)
Oyed Blue Jasper Chalcedony
Translucent Oyed Blue Chalcedony
Translucent Oyed Green Chalcedony
Bowenite Serpentine

AGI DATA SHEET 19.1

and Bravais Lattices

THE 6 CRYSTAL SYSTEMS
Crystallographic axes lor the six crystal systems' Axes labeled a n, are all the same
length within any given system: axes with differen! lelter labeis are different lengths.
in
the isometric system a, = 8 2
whereas in Ihe hexagonal syslem a, = 8 2 8 3 " e,
in
Ihe orthorhombc syslem 8
In Ihe isometric, tetragonal, and orthorhombic systems,
Ihe angles between axes are
in the hexagonal syslem, Ihe angles between the an axes
are 120", and Ihe angle belween
e axis and the plane 01 Ihe an axes is 90; in the mono
clnic system, the angle designated i3 is grealer than 90', and the other angles are equal to
90; in the triciinic system, none 01 Ihe designated angles is equallo 90'.
A Iypical crystal 01 a common mineral Ihat crystallizes in each system is shown as an
example 01 how Ihe axes relate to cryslals,
ISOMETRIC

TETRAGONAL

HEXAGONAL

Gamat

Zircon

Apetite

ORTHORHOMBIC

MONOCLlNIC

TRICLlNIC

(=CUBIC)

~
"'f

Olivine

AG10S-r'lO-89

Hombiende

Albite

AGI DATA SHEET 19.2

THE 14 BRAVAIS LATTICES
Eaeh laltiee ean be described on the basis 01 points, eaeh 01 whieh has identieal sur
roundings. Notiee Iha! and ' are different expressions ollhe sama lalliee.

rJlJOQ

(B)

I!
t '

Triclinic
b ' c '

fJ

'

'

b
Monoclinic

(b)

90'

'

'

(e)

' 8

Monodinc
(end-centered)

P ' 90'

le

(d) Orthorhombic
8'b"c*8

(h) Hexagonal

(e) Or1horhombc
(end'centered)

(i) Ahombohedral

(f)

Or1homombic
(body-centered)

(n Ahombohedral

Orthorhombic

(g)

(face-centered)

(j) Tetragonal

8'C

"

(k)

_.

'

60'

Tetragonal
(body-centered)

(I) Isometric
(cubic)

(m) IsometriC
(body-centered)

(n)

lsometric
(face-centered)

Silica tetrahedra can, by sharing one or more oxygens, polymerize to form

shown, Ihe oxygens would be al each apex and a slicon would be in each
above with the solid lines on or above the plane 01 the paper and the dashed
Revised alter
revised by R.V.

complex anions. For the tetrahedra

The diagrams are as viewed Irom
below that plane.

L.G., and Mason, B., 1983. Mineralogy: Concepts, Descriptons, Determinations, 2nd edition
WH. Freeman and CO .. New York, 561 p.

s:::

9.
s:::

!.
O

ji)

ti)

!!,

Classification

Structural Arrangemenr

Formula of
Complex
Anion

Nesosilicates

Independent tetrahedra

(Si04 )-4

1:4

Forsterite, Mg2 (Si0 4 )

(Sb07)-

2:7

Hemimorphite, ln4 (Sb07) (OHh H 2 0

g.

Si:O

Example

~
Sorosilicates

Two tetrahedra sharing one

oxygen

~
Cyclosilicates

O'
:::J

2
~

lit
1

3'
==

C'D

;
~

Closed rings of tetrahedra,

each sharing two oxygens

)lo

Aa- - - - - -

(SbOg)-
(Si 4 O'2)-

1:3

Benitoite, BaTi(ShOg)

----------

Axinite, CaJAb (BOJ) (Si 4 0d (OH)

-------(Si 6 0

18)-6

Beryl, Be3 Ab(Si 6 0

18 )

UI

1\)

Inosilicates

Continuous chains b of
tetrahedra
Single chain, each tetrahedron
sharing two oxygens

(Si0 3 );;-/

4:11

~-

----

-~~

Enstatite, Mg 2 (Si0 3 h

------

Anthophyll ite, Mg7 (5i.0 11 h (OHb

(5i.0 11 ),;;6

Continuous sheets of tetrahedra,

each sharing three oxygens

--
(SPa l

----

;4

Jmthompsonite

(5bOs);;/

2:5

Kaolinite, AI 4 (5i 20sh (OH)8

(5i0 2 )0

1:2

Quartz, 5i0 2

jo

Three-dimensional framework of
tetrahedra, each sharing al!
four oxyens

!!I
~

-~Tektosi Iicates

Triple chain
Phylloslicates

e
~

:...~-Double chain, alternate tetra

hedra sharng two and three
oxygens

,.

1 :3
and

AGI DATA SHEET 21.1

~i!!d~Classifica~~n--,=-~ Igneou~!,~CkS_
IUGS Preliminary classificatlon lor plutonic rocks'
THE PHANERITES'

Q-quarlz
A-alkali feldspar'
P-plagioclase
F-"foid'"
Px-pyroxene
Ho-hornblende
Ol-olivine

fod diorilods and

XI, hornblendiles;

In order lo plol a rock's composition in the appropriale triangle on "a", Ihe three eom
ponenls alkali feldspar (A), plagioclase feldspar (P), and quarlz (Ql or the foid minerals
(F) are equaled lO 100 percenl-i,e., the olher componenls are subtracted rom the total
mode and the remaining QAP or FAP pereentages are normalized 10 100 pereent. .. etc.
(for "b" and "e"),
Diagrams for Ihe general nomenelature are presented on Daia Sheet 62, Addi
tional diagrams outlining suggested use 01 prelxes leuco and mela and gving
nomenelature for less eommon phanerites sueh as earbonattes and lamprophyres may
be lound in the following relerences:
Dietrich. R.V. and Skinner, B.J, 1979, Rocks and Roek Minerals: Wiley, N.Y., 369p.
IUGS Subcommisson on the Systematics 01 Igneous Rocks, 1973, Classificalion and
nomenclature 01 plutonic roeks: Geotimes, v. 18, n. 10 (Oc!.), p. 26-30.
Streckeisen, A., 1976, To each plutonic rack lIs proper name: Earth Science Rev" v.
12. p. 1-33,
"plutonic rock", which refers to phanerilc rocks, is no! assumed lo re

felclsp<thclids-IEUCI,le and pseudoleucle, nepheline, sodalile, no sean,

AGI DATA SHEET 21.2

IUGS Group name classlflcatlon lor Yolcanlc rocks
THE APHANITES'
I
II
1II
IV
V
VI
VII
VIII

rhyolitoids
dacitoids
trachytoids
andesltoids, basaltoids
phonolitoids
tephritoids
loiditoids
uitramalitites

A~----,,...-L--{ P Mel

01
pl(
M = 90-100

F
Q-quartz; A-alkali leldspar (inciuding orthoclase, sanidlne, perthite, and anortho
clase); P-plagioclase; F-Ieldspathoids; Mel-melillte; Ol-ollvlne; Px-pyroxene;
M-malic minerals.
Most true aphanites cannot be named without knowledge 01 their mineral com
ponents, which requires employment 01 nonmegascopic procedures. Many aphanitic
rocks, however, are porphyritic and lor those, the group names may be applied tentative
Iy by estimating the overall percentages 01 the component minerals on the basis 01 Ihe
assumption that the compositions 01 the phenocrysts rellect the bulk mineral composi
tlon 01 the rocks,
A diagram lor the IUGS general nomenclature scheme lor volcanic rocks is given on
Data Sheet 62. Additional inlormation and suggestions lor naming aphanites and por
phyries may be lound in the lollowing relerences:
Dietrich, R.V. and Skinner, B.J., 1979, Rocks and Rock Minerals: Wiley, N.Y., 369p.
Streckeisen, A., 1978, Classilication and nomenclature 01 volcanic rocks. .:N. Jb.
Min. Abh., 'l. 134, p. 1-14.
Streckeisen, A., 1979, Classification and nomenclatura 01 volcanic rocks ... 01 the
IUGS Subcommission ... :Geology, v. 7, p. 331-335.
1. Undar the IUGS acheme, these rocks are larmad volcanlc rocks.

AGI DATA SHEET 22.1

Textures of Igneous Rocks

Compiled by R.V. Dietrlch, Central Michlgan University
For many igneous rocks , texture is the chiel clue used to interpret their consolida
tion - espec ially their crystallization - histories . Texture depends upon such interre
lated variables as the bulk chemistry 01 the magma (including the volatile-conten t), rate
01 cooling, and the relative powers 01 crysta llization 01 diverse minerals .
Terms that are Irequently used to describe igneous rock textures are outlined below:

Crystallinlty
Holocrystalline - 100 percent minerals

Hypocrystalline - minerals and glass

Holohyaline - 100 percent glass

Granularlty
Grain size
Phaneritic - grains are visible with the unaided eye or with 10x magnilication
Aphanitic - grains are not discernible with 10x magnilication
(Glassy - does not consist 01 grains)
Grain equality
Equigranular - grains 01 main constituents are the same general size
(see Figure 1)
Porphyritic - large grains (phenocrysts) 01 one or more minerals that occur
in a matrix (groundmass) 01 the same mineral or other minerals or both
(see Figure 2)
Fabric - arrangement and interrelationships 01 constituent minerals
(see Figure 3)
Euhedral, idiomorph ic. automorph ic - all crystal faces developed
Subhedral. hypidiomorphic, hyautomorphic - sorne crystal laces developed
Anhedral , allotriomorphic. xenomorphic - no crystal laces developed

Figure 1. Equigranu lar rock.

AGt -DS-rvd -8S

Figure 2. A porphyry.

AGI DATA SHEET 22.2

Figure 3. Fabric terms

Crysta/ Faces

all
so me
none

A
euhedral
subhedral
anhedral

B
idiomorphic
hypidiomorphic
allotriomorphic

C
automorphic
hyautomorphic
xenomorphic

A: Terms introduced by Cross et al. (t906) ; originally suggested lor use in descriptions
01 igneous rocks but now widely applied in descriptions 01 all kinds 01 rocks .

B: Terms introduced by Rosenbusch (1887) ; Irequently used in America in descriptions

01 igneous rocks .
C: Te rms introduced by Rohrbach (1885) ; used by many European geologists but sel
dom used in America .

References
Cross, W., Iddings, J.P., Pirsson, L.v. , and Wash ington, H.S., 1906. The texture 01 igneous
rocks : J. Geo/., v. 14, p. 692-707.
Rohrbach, C.E.M., 1885. Ueber die Eruptivgesteine im Gebiete der schlesischmahrischen
Kreidelormation : TschermiJk 's Minera/ogische und Petrographische Mitrei/ungen , N.F., Bd .
7, part 1: p. 1-63 (not seen).
Rosenbusch , H., 1887. Mi\roskopische Physiographie der Mineralien und Gesteine, Bd . 2.
Schweizerbart'sche Verlagshandlung, Stuttgart (E. Koch) , 877 p.

AGI DATA SHEET 23.1

Comparison Chart for Estimating Percentage Composition

Prepared by Richard D. Terry and George V. Chllingar, Allen Hancock Foundation, Los
Angeles. Reprinted from Joumal 0# Sedimentary Petrography, v. 25, n. 3, p. 229-234,
Sept.1955.

1%

2%
AGIDs.eS

3%

5%

7%

10%

AGI DATA SHEET 23.2

15%

25%

40%

20%

30%

50%

AGI DATA SHEET 24.1

Masses
Complled by R.V. Dietrich, Central Michigan University

Masses 01 igneous rocks that have consoldated from magma beneath the Earth's
surlace are usually termed intrusive or called plutons. Masses 01 igneous rocks that
have been lormed Irom magma (lava and/or pyroclastic Iragments) on or aboye the
surface are usually termed extrusive or volcanic.
Several bodies of each 01 these kinds of igneous rocks have been given names.
The list below brief1y describes named bodies according to a classilication revised
after Daly (1933). Masses listed with an asterisk after the name are shown on the
diagrams. If known, the name 01 the person who originated the desgnation and the
date of introduction are given in parentheses directly following the termo
Three-dimensional information relating to overall shape and relations with surround
ing rocks (Le., concordance) are required to name most of the masses, and addi
tional data (e.g., time of formation as related to tectonism) are required lor a couple
01 them. Shapes, sizes, and other features may differ lor masses that could be given
the same name; some masses essentially defy naming with any 01 these designa
tions. This last statement, in particular, supports-at least permissively-the com
piler's viewpoint that a name should never be substituted lor a good description.
SUBJACENT MASSES
Subjacent masses have no known 1I00r. They enlarge downward and apparently
merge into subjacent crust.
Abyssolith (RA Daly, 1933) A "bottomless mass" that hypothetically passes
downward into the "vitreous substratum."
Bathollth" (E. Suess, 1885) A mass with no known bottom and an outcrop area 01
greater than 40 square miles (100 km'). It s typically discordant but may be partly
concordant. Also spelled bathylith, batholte, batholyte, and batholyth.
Boss A stock with a roughly circular outcrop area.
Stock" A mass with the characteristics 01 a batholith but with an outcrop area 01 less
than 40 square miles (100 km'). Depth 01 erosion may control naming a mass a
stock rather than a batholith.
INJECTED MAS SES
Injected masses have all three dimensions known or inferred. A few petrologists
call these masses irruptive.
Akmolith (O.H. Erdmannsdrffer, 1923) A largely concordant mass, typically with many
apophyses, emplaced largely within the antilorms 01 dcollements during lolding.
Also spelled acmolith.
Apophysis An irregular tongue-shaped mass, typically discordant, that is an off
shoot lrom a larger intrusion. Also called tongue.
Asthenolith (B. Willis, 1938) A magma body formed by melting in response to heat
generated by radioactive disintegration. This can be either a subjacent or an in
jected mass.
Bell-jar intrusion A bysmalith around which the adjacent strala have been domed
and Iractured.
Bysmalith (J.P. Iddings, 1899) A roughly cylindrical, laccomorphic mass bounded by
laults.
Cactolith (C.B. Hunt el al., 1953) "A quasi-horizontal chonolilh composed of
anastomosing ductoliths whose distal ends curl like a harpolith, thin like a
sphenolith, or bulge discordantly lke an akmolith or ethmolith." (The compilar
presumes that this descriptio.n was made, at least in part, in jest and/or contempt.)

AGIDSrvd-89

AGI DATA SHEET 24.2

Chonolith (RA Daly, 1905) A "sack name" lor any mass with a shape so irregular
that it cannot be called a dike, a sill, a laccolilh, or other recognized body, Originally
spelled chonolite.
Dike' A tabular mass discordant with ether bedding or foliation 01 surrounding country
rocks. Some geologisls, especially Europeans, apply the name only il the mass
is vertical or sleep-dipping, Also spelled dyke.
Ring dikes and cone sheets have the overall conligurations 01 walls 01 hollow
cylinders and hollow eones, respectively,
Ductolith A more or less horizontal igneous intrusion that is tear-drop shaped in cross
section.
Epiphysis An apophysis detached Irom its sovereign mass.
Ethmolith (W. Salomon, 1899) A discordant mass thal is funnel-shaped in cross
section.
Globulith (A. Berthelsen, 1970) An intrusive mass or a group 01 spatially associated
masses with a globular or botryoidal shape and almost concordant contacts,
Harpolith (H, Cloos, 1921) A sckle-shaped mass; essentially a phacolith with a ver
tical or steeply plunging axis.
Interformational sheet A tabular mass emplaced along an unconlormity.
Laccolith' (GK Glbert, 1877) A concordant, Iloored, mushroom-shaped mass.
Originally called laccolite.
Lopolith' (F.F, Grout, 1918) A large concordant, basin-shaped mass, The constituent
rocks are typically layered,
Phacolith' (A. Harker, 1909) A concordant, lenticular (concavo-convex) mass em
placed during the lolding 01 surrounding country rock.
Pluton A general term lor any igneous intrusion.
Ribbon injection A nal-sized sill, typically injected along a cleavage plane 01 a loliated
rock.
Sheet A general ter m lor a tabular mass such as a dike, a sill, an interlormational
sheet. or asole injection.
SIl!' A tabular mass concordant wlth the bedding or loliation 01 surrounding country
rock, Some geologists, especiaUy Europeans, apply the name only il the mass is
horizontal or low-dipping.
Sole injectlon A tabular mass emplaced along a thrust-fault plane (zone).
Sphenolith (C. Burckhardt, 1906) A partly concordant, partly discordant mass that
pushed (wedged) the surrounding country roek aside, in some places overturning
the beds
Stromatolith (J.C. Foye, 1916) A mass comprising tabular injections interfingered with
sedimentary strata.
Stromoconolith (S.1. Tomkeeff, 1961) A layered intruson that is ether conical or
funnel-shaped
Tongue See Apophysis.
'Shown on the diagrams that follow

AGI DATA SHEET 24.3

TRANSITIONAL MASSES
Transitional masses bridge the gap between intrusive masses and volcanics. They
comprise both subsurface and supracrustal gneous rocks.
Diatreme* A volcanic pipe consisting largely 01 breccia.
Neck" The mass that
olten applied to

the conduit 01 a lormer volcanic ven!. The term s most

remnants 01 su eh masses. Also called pipe or plug.

EXTRUSIVE MASSES
Extrusive masses are largely igneous and pyroclastic rocks that have lormed at
or above the Earth's surface. Some geologsts call these rocks eruptive.
Ash flow" A deposit produced by gas-charged volcanic ash. Also called pyroclastic
flow.
Bedded volcano See Composite cone.
Bulbous dome See Lava dome.
Cinder cone" A conical vent formed by the accumulation of cinders and other
vesicular ejecta, typically basaltic to andesitic in composition. Also called pyroclastic
cone.
Composite cone" A volcanc cone that consists 01 both lava Ilow and pyroclastic
materials. Also called strata-cone, stratovolcano, or less oflen, bedded volcano.
Cumulo-dome A seldom-used name lor lava dome.
Fissure flow A lava flow formed as the result 01 an eruption from a fissure.
Lava cone A volcanic vent consisting largely 01 lava flow material. Also called shield
volcano.
Lava dome Another name lor lava cone, especially one with a domical shape. Also
called bulbous dome.
Lava flow" A mass 01 rock consolidated lrom lava that flowed from a volcanic vent
or lissure.
Maar" A low-reliel explosion crater the walls 01 which consist largely or entirely of
loose fragments 01 country rock and possibly some magmatic ejecta. These ap
parently volcanism-associated leatures are not, in the opinion 01 some geologists,
igneous in origino Also called embryo volcano or explosion pi!.
Plateau eruption* An accumulation 01 successive lava flows that covers a vast area
lor example, a plateau basal!.
Pyroclastic cone See Cinder cone.
Pyroclastic flow See Ash flow.
Shield volcano A cone consisting wholly or largely 01 lava flow material. Also called
lava cone.
Strata-cone See Composite cone.
Stratovolcano See Composite cone.
Taphrolith (J.J. Sederholm, 1902) A trough-shaped mass at least part 01 which
Ilowed out along boundary faults into a trough or graben.
Volcanic cone A general term that includes cinder eones, lava eones and domes,
and composite (strata) eones.
Volcano A typically conical edifice, produced by extruded lava and/or pyroclastc
materals.
'Shown on the diagrams that follow.

AGI DATA SHEET 24.4

The following schematic diagrams show relations of a few of the masses de
scribed: A, modified after R.G . Schmidt and H.R. Shaw (1971); B, redrawn after A.F.
Buddington (1929); e, basad on descriptions.

Ci nder

J?E~I
Granite
.,..,-;
~

~ Country
l!:C::J::I!i Rock

AGI DATA SHEET 24.5

8S~ Lopolith

Intruded

~ country rock

References
Berthelsen, A., 1970, Globulith : A new type 01 intrusive structure, exemplilied by
rT,)etabasic bodies in the Moss Area, SE Norway: Norges Ge%giske Unders(Jke/se
(Arbok, 1969), no. 266, p. 70-83.
Buddington, A.F., 1929, Granite phacoliths and their contact zones in the Northwest
Adirondacks: New York State Museum Bulletin, no. 281, p. 51-107.
Daly, RA , 1933. /gneous Rocks and theDepths of the Earth. McGraw-Hill Book Co.,
New York.
Foye, J.C., 1916, Are the " batholiths" 01 the Halliburton-Bancroft area, Onl., correctly
named?: J. Geo/., v. 24, p. 783-791.
Hunt, C.B., Averitt, P., and Miller, R.L., 1953, Geology and geography 01 the Henry
Mountains region, Utah: U.S. Geo/. Surv. Prof. Pap. 228.
Schmidt, R.G., and Shaw, H.R., 1971, At/as of Vo/canic Phenomena : U.S. Geol. Surv.,
20sheets.
Tomkeieff, S.I., 1961, Alkalic ultrabasic rocks and carbonatites 01 the U.S.S.R.:
/nternationa/ Ge%gy Review, v. 3, p. 739-758.
Willis, B., 1938, Asthenolith (melting spot) theory. Geo/. Soc. Am. Bull., v. 49, p. 603-614.

AGI DATA SHEET 25.1

Pyroclastic Sediments and Rocks

Richard V. Fisher, Department 01 Geological SCiences, Unlversity of California,
Santa Barbara
The term pyroelastie is commonly used to reler to volcanic materials ejected

Irom a volcanic vent There are two main causes 01 explosive activity: (1) internal
gas expansion from within a magma body, and (2) magma-water interactions that
cause steam explosions. Type 1 activity produces particles known as pyroc/asts;
type 2 activily produces hydroelasts. Vo/canie/astc has a broader meaning and
applies lo clastic deposits with particles 01 volcanic composition irrespective 01
origino Volcaniclastic particles are created in the lollowing ways.
Pyroe/astie parte/es (pyroe/asts) lorm by disinlegration 01 magma, as gases
are released by decompression and then ejected Irom a volcanic vento
Hydroe/asts form by magma-water interactions in two major ways. Explosive
Iragmentation 01 magma and ejection through vents occur when magma and
water (such as ground water) come into contact and steam is generated in
conlined spaces. Nonexplosive thermal contraction and granulation produces
particles when magma inleracts with water in unconfined spaces.
Autoclastc fragments lorm by mechanical Iriction during movement of lava
and breakage 01 cool brittle outer margins, or gravity crumbling 01 spines and domes.
AI/oc/astc fragments form by disruption 01 pre-existing volcanic rocks by
igneous processes beneath the Earth's surface.
Reworking 01 the aboye Iragment types by rivers, wind, turbidity currents, and
other agents results in reworked pyroc/astc deposits.
Epic/asts are lithic clasts and minerals (usually silicates) released by ordinary
weathering processes from pre-existing consolidated rocks. Volcanic epiclasts are
clasts 01 volcanic composition derived lrom erosion 01 volcanoes or ancient
volcanic terrane with no volcanic edifice.
To interpret pyroclastic sediments and rocks, it is advisable lo dislinguish
between epiclasts and other volcaniclastic fragments so as to determine
contemporaneity 01 volcanism and sedimentation. Terms such as pyroclastic,
hydroclastic, and epiclastic also reler to the processes by which the Iragments
originate. Thus, a pyroclast cannot be transformed into an epiclast merely by
reworking by water. wind, glacial action, etc. Recognizing the differences in these
materials and processes is importan!, because sediment supply rates commonly
differ by orders 01 magnitude between degrading ejecta piles and erodng
epiclastic terrains.
FRAGMENT NAMES
Blocks. Angular to subangular; cognate or accidental origin; size >64 mm.
Bombs. Fluidal shapes; shaped by aerodynamic drag 01 atmosphere on fluid dots

01 lava; size >64 mm.

Spatter. Nearly molten bombs, usually basaltic, that readly weld upon impact to

lorm agglutinate.

Pumce. Highly vesicular glass; usually Iloats; commonly lelsic; no size lmitations.

Scoria. Less vesicular than pumice; sinks in water; more malic than pumice; no

size limitations.

Aecretionary /aplli. Lapillus-size particles lormed by concentric accretion 01 ash.

AGI DATA SHEET 25.2

WAYS TO ClASSIFY PYROClASTIC DEPOSITS ANO ROCKS
GRAIN SIZE

Clast
slze(mm)

Consolidated
pyroclastic
rock

Pyroclast

Unconsolidated
tephra

Bomb, block

Agglomerate

Agglomerate, pyroclastic
breccia

Lapillus

Layer, bed of laplli

(Iapilli tephra)

Lapillistone

Coarse ash

Coarse ash

Coarse tuff

Fine ash

Fine ash

Fine tuff

64mm-2mm
1/16mm

GRAIN SIZE MIXTURE

BLOCK!! ANO BOMBS

/75

tI

(f

,,'"

I$

25 k----------~
LAPILUTUFF

LAPILLI

75

25

PERCENTAGE OF LAPILU ANO ASH

COMPONENTS

UTHIC

ASH

AGI DATA SHEET 25.3

SOURCE OF FRAGMENTS

Essential (juvenile). Parlicles (cryslal, lithic, vitric) derived Irom new magma.
Accessory (cognate), Particles derived Irom earlier eruptions at same
volcanic center.
Accidental. Particles of any origin or composition Irom rocks through which
the vent penetrates.

MANNER OF TRANSPORT

Pyroclastc fall. Particles derived from ejection of ballistic fragments and

eruption plumes that fall from the atmosphere onto land or into water.
100~------------------~------------------~

F (%)

50

HAWAIIAN

soo

O,OS

50,000

o (km')
F% is weight per cent 01 deposit finer than 1 mm along dispersal axis where
it is crossed by isopach tine that is 10% 01 the maximum thickness (0.1 Tmax )
isopach line. D is area 01 dispersal,

Pyroclastic flow. Ho!. essentially nonturbulent, gaseous sediment gravity

flow; emplaced at high velocities on low slopes, filling in low topographic
irregularities.

Eruptive
mechanism
Eruption
column
collapse

Pyroclastic flow

Deposit

Pumice flow,
ash flow

Ignimbrite,
Pumice*
pum ice flow
deposit,
ash-flow tuff

Scoria flow

Scoria flow
deposit

Scoria'

Block and
ash-flow
deposit

Dense lava*

Lava dome
Block and ash
collapse
flow (nue
(explosive
ardente)
and gravita
lional)

'Upward decrease of density of juvenile clasts.

Characteristic fragment

AGI DATA SHEET 25.4

Pyroclastic surge. Hot, expanded, turbulent, gaseous sediment gravity flow;
more dilute than pyroclastic flow; emplaced at high velocities over topographic
irregularities, thickening in valleys and thinning on hilltops.

Eruptive
mechanism

Type of pyroclastlc surge

Temperature,
moisture

Typesof
fragments

Phreatomagmatic
(column
collapse)

Base surge

Relatively cool,
wet

Juvenile,
accessory
lithics (poorly
vesicular)

Accompanying
pyroclastic
flows

Ground surge

Hot, dry

Juvenile

Ash-cloud surge

Hot, dry

Juvenile

Blast surge

Hot, dry lO wel

Juvenile lithics
(micro
vesicular)

From lateral
blasts

Lahar. Flow is a high concentration mixture of volcanic clasts and water;

deposit is composed of clasts of volcanic composition. Same word is used for
flow and deposit. Lahars originate in the following ways:
Directly by eruptions. Through crater lakes, snow or ice, or heavy rains
falling during or immediately after an eruption; by mixing of pyroclastic surges
with water in rivers; by dewatering of volcanic avalanches.
Indirectly due to eruptions. Triggering of loose saturated debris by
earthquake activity, rapid drainage of lakes dammed by erupted products, or
remobilizalion of 100se volcanic debris on steep volcano slopes by melling snow
or heavy rains shortly after eruplions.
Indirectly due lo processes not related to eruptions. Erosion of old
volcanoes or volcanic terrane wilh no volcano edifices Ihalleads lo debris flow action.

AGI DATA SHEET 25.5

MIXTURES WITH NONVOlCANIC PARTlClES

Pyroclastic
Agglomerate,
agglutinate,
pyroclastic
breccia
Lapillistone
Tuff
coarse
fine

100%

75%

Tuffites (mixed
pyroclastlceplclastic)

Epiclastic
(volcanic
and/or non
volcanic)

Clastsize
limits(mm)

Tuffaceous
conglomerate,
tuffaceous breccia,

Conglomerate,
breccia

64

Tuffacaous sandstone
Tuffaceous siltstone
Tuffaceous mudstone,
shale

Sandstone
Siltstone
Mudstone,
shale

25%

0% by volume of
pyroclasts

1/16
1/256

References
Cas, R.A.E, and Wright, J.V., 1987. Va/canie Raeks: Madem and Ancien!. Allen
and Unwin, Winchaster, Massachusetts, 528 p.
Fisher, R.V., and Schmincke, H.-U .. 1984. Pyraclastic Racks. Springer-Verlag,
New York, 472 p.
Heiken, G., and Wohletz, K.H., 1985. Va/canje Ash. University of California Press,
Berkeley, 246 p.

AGI DATA SHEET 26.1

Characteristics of Fallout
Alter Fisher and Schmincke, 1984

SUBAERIAL TEPHRA
Dlstribution (Fallout Pattern) and Thickness
Distribution is circular or lan-shaped (regular to irregular) wilh respeel lo source.
Secondary thickness maxima may occur lar downwind.
There are flat wedges Ihal syslematically decrease in Ihickness along fan axes.
Some have displaced or multiple thickness maxima.
Thickness may be skewed to one side, perpendicular to fan axis.
Azimuth of fan axis may change with dlstance Irom source.
Apex 01 lan axis may not be on volcano (e.g., Mount SI. Helens),

Structures
Plane parallel beds drape over gentle topography and minor surface irregularilies.
Ash layers wedge oul against steep slopes (> 35 or 40).
Laminations and thicker beds rellecl composilional changes or textural changes;
either 01 these may cause overall color changes.
Minor lenticularity may occur close lo so urce.
Grading may be normal or reverse in various combinalions depending upon varia
lions in wind and/or eruplion energy, venl radius, or erupllon column densily.
Reverse grading in beds on cnder cones and on other steep slopes commonly
develops by downslope rolling or sliding 01 dry granular material.
Fabric in beds is typically isotroplc because elongate Iragments are uncommon.
Exceptions: phenocrysls such as biotite, amphlbole, etc., and platy shards.
Bedding planes may be sharp il Ihere are abrupt changes in eruptive conditions,
wind energy, or dlrections, or in composition.
Bedding planes are distinct il deposils are on wealhered or erosional surfaces, or
on dlfferent rock types. They may be gradatlonal il deposition is slow by small incre
ments so Ihal blolurbatlon, wind reworklng, or olher soi!lorming processes dominate.

Textures
Size and sorting parameters vary geometrically with distance lo source. Spread 01
values is greater in proximal amas Ihan in distal areas.
Sortlng: moderale lo good. Inman sorting parameters, 0'<1>' 1.0 to 2.0, are mosl
common. This applies 10 relatlvely coarse-grained as well as 10 line-grained tephra.
Median dameler, Mdq,: highly variable; coarser close lo source than larther away.
Mdq:. IS commonly -1.0 lo -3.0d> (2 mm to 8 mm) or smaller (phi values) close lo
source. Farther Irom source, Mdd> may vary Irom O.0d> (1 mm) lO 3.04> ('/B mm) or
more.

Composltlon
Subaerial lephra composilion is mafic 10 slliclc, calc-alkaline lo alkaline, etc. Siliclc
or intermediale fallOUI is more wldespread than maflc lallout because 01 usually
greater explosivlty and volume 01 the eruptions,
Inlermediate composillon is commonly assocated with large composile volcanoes.
Malic composllion is commonly associated wllh cinder cones and extenslve lava
flows,
Bulk composilion gene rally becomes slighlly more silicc away from so urce due to
eolian fractionation.

Rock Associations and Facies

Close to source (within vent or on steep volcano slopes): lava flows, pyroclastic
flows, domes, pyroclaslic tuf! breccias, avalanche deposts, and debris Ilows.
Inlermediate dslance to source: coarse-gralned tephra, some lava flows, pyrOclaS
lc flows, ash lalls, and reworked fluvial deposlls, The coarser-grained pyrOclastic
deposits gradually decrease, and reworked pyroclastic deposits gradually increase
away from source.
Far from source: airfall tephra, most easily recognized in marshy, lacustrine, wind
blown environments. Rock associations depend on environment 01 deposilion There
are no relatad lava flows or coarse-grained volcaniclastics.
AGI,DS-""l-I19

AGI DATA SHEET 26.2

SUBAQUEOUS TEPHRA
Distribution and Thickness
Dislribution 01 airfall pattern may be modilied by waler currenls -mosl often lo
an irregular lan shape close lo source. Dislribulion tends lo beco me Ihicker loward
source bul may be highly irregular.
Thickness 01 single layers is commonly < 50 cm unless augmented by currenls
in low places. Thick layers with many Ihin laminae may be multiple lall units.
Structures
Plan e parallel beds exlend over hundreds 01 km 2 . Normal grading s Irom cryslal
and lilhicrich bases lo shard-rich tops.
Basal conlacls are sharp; upper contacts diffuse due to reworking by burrowing
animals.
Structures may be inversely graded il pumice is present. Presence 01 abundant
pumice suggesls restricted circulalion and is more common in lacustrine than in
marine environments.
Structures on land-based oulcrops may include post-depositional thickening,
thinning, and flow slruclures, especially if diagenetically altered, or they may include
water-escape structures and load or slump struclures.
Textures
Size and sorting parameters vary irregularly wilh distance from source but over
all, size tends lo decrease.
Sorting: good to poor depending upon amount 01 biolurbation. Inman sorting
parameters, O'," generally > t.O,, and < 2.5
Median diatneler, Md</>: comtnonly > 3.0</> - fine-grained sand size and smaller.

w.

Composition
Subaqueous lephra composilions range from matic lo silcic, wilh silicic ash
mosl widespread.
Composition is generally relaled lo composition 01 nearest volcanic sources.
The Si02 conlent 01 glass shards may range 10 per cent wilhin a single layer.
Bulk samples are more Si02-rich near top Ihan boltom 01 single layers because
olgrading.
Ancient layers in terrestrial geologic settings are typically altered to clays (domi
nantly monlmorillonite) and zeolites and are commonly known as bentonite (ton
stein in Europe).
Rock Associations and Facies
Tephra is commonly interbedded with pelagic calcareous or siliceous oozes, or
with terrigenous muds and silts depending upon proximily to land. Terrigenous
materials are commonly turbidites.
Ancient tephra layers on land are commonly interbedded wilh non-volcanic or
tuffaceous shale or siltstone.

Reference
Fisher, R.V., and Schmincke, H.-U., 1984. Pyroclastc Rocks. Springer-Verlag, New
York, 472 p.

-_-..

____81___

COMPOUND VOlCANO
COMPLEX VOlCANO

.-.

STRATO-VOlCANO
(COMPOSIH VOLCANO)

Oa ~

iI:"
:D-a

S
al
r-er
"l1li

0'<

C)C)

(;0

-ter

<!!!.
"<
mo
(/)

...............

SOMMA VOlCANO

l1li

:l

CALDERA

j'

41

El
(/)

SHIElD VOLCANO

l"'VA DOME

ee

CRATU ROW
FISSURE VEN T

.............

CINDU CONE TUFF CONE

TUFF RING
SCORIA CONE
PUMICE CONE
PYROClASTlC CONES -

g
111

o
i

:l
~

MAAR

--

Schematic profiles (vemcally exaggerated-2:1 shadad and 4:1 dark) from the data o, R.J. Pike
(1978. Proc. 9th Lunar Planet. Sci. Cont., p. 3239-3273). Shapes and relativa sizes are only
approximate. as dimensions vary within each group. lIIustration from Smithsonian publication
VoIcanoesotthll W~ 1981, Hutchinson Ross, Stroudsburg. Pa., 240 pp. More volcano data
appears on Data Sheets 84.1-84.4.

:l

11 1;

(/)

:J:

!!I

:1

50

50
."e..

z=>
O~

te>

~I

50

~I

VEI

(HIGHLV EXPLOSIVE)

60" F.... T.... L

o
VEI

C/'I

3'" F.... T.... L

VE'

311(, F.... T.... L

L _______

o."
o

zc:.

O~
:::

"':x:
OU
c..<

~w

-1

5i

.....
."

::>>

c.:...
w _

....

<I~

:IJ
C/'I

50

50

:!

50

c..! ~!

VEr

VE I

311 F....T.... L

VEI

211 F.... T.... l

50
VEITO
11
0 __
111
_
F........
_
L __

1
o

:IJ

12" F.... T.... l

c:

_II......

(5

L _____________

L _____________

(NON-EXPlOSIVE)

10
INTERVAL

100

BETWEEN ERUPTIONS

:IJ

1000

10,000

(YEARSl

Increased explosivily occurs wth longer eruption intervals. Data lor hislograms are from 4320 historie eruptions in which the time
interval Irom the start 01 the previous eruption is known. These are grouped by Volcanie Explosivity Index (VEI, see Data Sheet
84.2). For eaeh group, the percentage 01 historie eruptions thal have caused fatalities is also shown. IlIustration from Smithsonian
publication Vo/canoes of the Wor/d, 1981, Hutehinson Ross, Stroudsburg. Pa., 240 pp.

f\,)

AGI DATA SHEET 28.1

Graph for Determining the Size of Sedimentary Particles

Data Sheet Commlttee, alded by George V. Chlllngar
DARK PARTlCLES

d. = /0 mm

d. = /5 mm

Place sand grains or rock particles in the central part 01 the circle. Compare the size 01 the par
ticles with those on the graph with the aid 01 a magnilyi ng glass . Record the corresponding
number (1 , 2, 3, 4. 5. 6. 7.8) in notebook. For samples with partic les 01 varying sizes, record the
most common size lirst.

Note: A comparator is available lo make size comparisons in the field and laboratory
from Edmund Scientific Company, Barrington , New Jersey .
AGIOs-M

AGI DATA SHEET 28.2

L1GHT PARTICLES

Relerences: (1) George V. Chilingar, 1956, Soviet classilication 01 sedimentary partic les and
Vasil'evskiy graph: AAPG Bull., v. 40, no. 7, p. 1714. (2) M.S. Shvetsov , 1948, Petrography 01
sedimentary rocks, 2nd ed ., 387 p. Gosgeolizdat, Moscow-Leningrad

AGI DATA SHEET 29.1

Grainsize Scales
By Roy L. Ingram. University 01 North Carolina
GRAINSIZE SCALE USED BY AMERICAN GEOLOGISTS
Modified Wentworth Scale - after Lane, et al., 1947. Trans. American Geophysical
Un ion, v. 28, p. 936-938
GRADE LlMITS
phi

mm

-12

4096

-11

2048

mm
--_

GRADE NAIv1E

mehes

....- -

161.3
very large
80.6
large

-lO

40.3

BOLlders
medium

-9

512
srnall

lO. 1

256

large
Cobbles

5.0

GRAVEL
-6

64

2.52

rnrn
very coarse

1.26
-4

16

31.5mrn
16rnm
rnediurn

032

Pebbles

8rnm
fine

0.16

NO.5

008

No. 10

very fine
-1

verycoarse
0.04

No. 18
No.

+1

rned,um
+2

1/4

0.250

Sand

SAND

No. 60
fine

li8

0.125

No. 120

+4

1/16

0.062

No.

+5

1/32

0.031

1/64

0,016

11228

0008

1/256

0.004

veryfll1e

rnediurn

+7

very fine
Iv1UD

0.002

+9

rned,urn

-1-10

1/1024

0001

Clay size
fine

1/2048

0.0005
very fine

AGIDSrvd-82

AGI DATA SHEET 29.2

GRAINSIZE SCALE USEO BY ENGtNEERS
(A.S.T.M. Standards 0422-6_3_;0_64_3_-_18.-'-)_ _ __

GRADE LI MITS

GRADE NAME

Boulders
305

12.0
Cobbles

76.2

3.0

3.0 in.

~.-

.....- Gravel

4.75

0.19 - No. 4

2.00

0.08

coarse
No. 10
medium
0.425

Sand

No. 40
fine

- 0.074

.. No. 200
Silt

0.005 ... ~. ~-- .... _ .. - - - - -......

GRAINSIZE SCALE USEO BY SOILS SCIENTISTS

U.S. Dept. 01 Agriculture, Agriculture Handbook No. 436 (1975)

GRADE LlMITS

------
NAME

G~ADE

-76.2--3.0

75mm
Gravel

2.0

0.08

No. 10

1.0

0.04

No. 18

~-

very coarse
coarse
0.500

No. 35

0.250

No. 60

0.100

No. 140

0.050

No. 270

medium

Sand

fine
very fine
Silt
-0.002

AGI DATA SHEET 29.3

SIEVES FOR DETAILED SIZE ANALYSIS

-4.0
-3.75
-3.50
-3.25

16.000
13.454
11.314
9.514

16.0
13.2
11.2

95

-3.00
-275
-2.25

8.00
6.727
5.657
4.757

8.0
6.7
5.6
4.75

-2.00
-1.75
-150
-125

4.000
3.364
2.828
2.378

4.00
3.35
2.80
2.36

-1.00
-0.75
-0.50
-0.25

2.000
1.682
1.414
1.189

200

1.70
1.40

10

12

14

16

0.00
0.25
0.50
0.75

1.000
0.841
0.707

1.00
0.850
OllO
0.600

18

20

25

30

1.00
1.25
1.50
1.75

0.500
0.420
0.354
0297

0.500
0.425
0.355
0.300

35
40
45
50

2.00
2.25
2.50
2.75

0250
0210
0.177
0.149

0.250
0.212
0.180
0.150

60

70

80

100

3.00
3.25
3.75

0.125
0.105
0.088
0.074

0.106
0.090
0.075

4.00
4.25
4.50

0.062
0.053
0.044

0.063
0.053
0.045

120

140

200

230

325

AGI DATA SHEET 30.1

Comparison Chart for Estimating Roundness and Sphericity

Maurlce C. Powers, Elizabeth City StBte Universlty
This sheet showing both sphericity and roundness suggests that particle shapes that
initially break out or weather Irom parent rocks tend to be either discoidal, rodlike
(prismatlc), or spheroidal. It lurther suggests that as the particles are reduced in size by
abraslon andlor chemical weathering they tend to assume more nearly spherical
shapes. This , 01 course, is not invariably true, but it is the evolutionary process to be ex
pected.
The chart below incorporates median rho values lor roundness and sphericity. as sug
gested by Folk (1955). because 01 the ease 01 handling these values statistically. and be
cause they represent midpoints 01 each roundness and sphericity class. Alter determining
Irequency and cumulative percents lor roundness and sphericily classes. each may be plot
ted as histograms or as cumulative curves on probability paper. Such plots give a visual
relerence lor samples under examination and afford an opportunity to carry out statisticl
nrocedures.

"'GIOS-rvd-89

AGI DATA SHEET 30.2

This chart has the following advantages over other charts such as the one given on
the 1953 AGI Data Sheet
1. Most sedimentary particles between sand and cobble size wlll appear similar to
one of the particles iIIustrated.
2. When a "match" or near match has been found, the investigator has simultaneously
determined the roundness, the sphericity, and the general shape lerm that describe
the particle.
3.

ir~u~~~~;s;wls~~~r~~:~~~~i~~~:s~na~~t~~it~~~~~~~b~{iyS~;~~r~~hi~rr~l~t~~:
~~Wer?~~~li~s~~~h~~~e~~et~~~~~li~s~~:(~~~)~<>ts~I;~~d~0~fsi~~ud~7~g~l~nd

4. Relationships belween roundness and sphericity populalions and Ihe fluid

dynamics or aerodynamics 01 a transporting medium may be investigated.
Experience indicates thal at leasl fifty grains from a sample should be examined in
order lo arrive al valid average values.
Allhough the fluid dynamics involving particles of differenl shapes and varying parti
cle slze Is rather complex, it appears lo blend for slzes smaller than 2 phi, even if they
have differenl shapes.

co~~ g~~;rt~ ~~~~~~~~g~~~h~~~sr.~~er!lit~ra6~~;~~~:h~~~ ~~!~~~~f~i~~~~~~

abraded lo more nearly spherlcal formS.Excellent examples of highly spherical lour
malines and zircons can be found in the Carmel formation of southeastern Utah.
Wllh the exceptlon of certain phyllosilicates that tend to retain thelr discoidal shapes
even as extremely smallsized partlcles, discoidalshaped mineral grains may lollow a
similar sequentlal shapin, thus also eventually becoming spheroldal. It Is noteworthy
in Ihis respect that fine micas as well as clay mlnerals (both groups are phyllosillcates)
commonly form "fine partlngs" in shales and even In fine sandslones and sillstones.
For particles larger than 2 phi, the effect of grain shape on fluid dynamics or
aerodynamlcs Is more compllcated. Allhough discoidal shapes have greater surface
area per unlt volume than other shapes, they tend to be imbrlcaled on sedlment floors,
an arrangement which effectlvely streamlines the particles and makes them relatlvely
stable wlth respect to curren! acllon. Rods have less surface area par unit volume than
discs, bu! tend lo roll rather easily wlth their long axes essenlially perpendicular to curo
rents. Spheres have less surface area than other shapes and roll easily on plaln Sur
faces; spheres, however, are rather easlly entrapped in pockets and other irregularities
on sediment surfaces and thus may be removed from the transpor! load.

References
Barrett, P.J., 1980, Tha shape 01 rock particlas, a critical reviaw: Sedimentology, v. 27, p.
291-303.
Dobkins, J.E., and Folk, R.L, 1970, Shape davelopment on Tahiti-nui: J. Sediment. Pet., v.
40, p.11561203.
Doyle, LJ., Carder, K-L, and Steward, R.G., 1983, The hydraulic equivalence 01 mica: J.
Sedimento Pet., v. 53, p. 643-648.
Els, B.G., 1988, Pebble morphology 01 an anclent conglomerate: the Middelvlei gold plac
er, Witwatersrand, South Africa: J. Sedimento Pet., V. 58, p. 894-901.
Folk, R.L, 1955, Student operator error in deterrnination of roundness, sphericlty and grain
slze: J. Sedimento Pet., V. 25, p. 297-301.
Komar, P.D., Baba, J., and Cul. B., 1984, Grainsize analyses 01 mica within sediments and
the hydraulic equivalence 01 mica and quartz: J. Sedimento Pet., v. 54, p. 1379-1391.
Krumbein, W.C., 1941, Measurements and geologic signiflcance 01 shape and roundness
01 sedlmenlary particles: J. Sedimento Pet., V. 11, p. 64-72.
Landon, R.E., 1930, An analysis 01 beach pebble abrasion and Iransportation: J. Gso!., V.

38, p. 437446.

AGI DATA SHEET 30.3

McBride, E.F., and Picard, M.O., 1967, Downstream changes in sand composition, round
ness, and
size in a short-headed, high gradient stream, Northwest Italy: J. Sedimento
Pet, V.
p.l016-1026.
Milis, H.H., 1979, Downstream rounding of pebbles
Peto v. 49, p. 295-302.

a quantitative review; J. Sediment.

Powers. M.C., 1953, A new roundness scale lor sedimentary partides: J. Sediment. Pet., V.
23. p. 117-119.
Sneed, E.D., and Folk, R.L., 1958, Pebbles in the lower Colorado River, Texas, a study in
particle morphogenesis: J. 6eol., v. 66, p. 114-150
Visher, G.S., 1969, Grain size distributions and depositional processes: J. Sedimento Pet.,
39. p. 1074-1106.

V.

Waag, C.J., and Ogren, DE, 1964, Shape evolution and fabric in a boulder beach, Monu
ment Cove, Maine: J. Sedimento Pet., V. 54, p. 96-102.

AGI DATA SHEET 31.1

Descriptive Terms for Megascopic Appearances of Rack

and Particle Surfaces
Compiled by Maurice C. Powers, Elizabeth CUy Slale University

[Most delinitions are slightly revised versions 01 those in the A.G.!. "Glossary 01
Geology" (2nd ed.)]
Burnished surlace-Megascopically indistinguishable Irom polshed and sorne var
nished surlaces. Polished surfaces are marked by extremely fine scratches lormed
by surlace abrasion whereas burnished surlaces result Irom more nearly random
removal 01 multimolecular sized pieces to lorm a nearly Ilat surface.
Chattermark-One 01 a series 01 small, closely spaced, short curved scars or cracks
~:Jrn~fo~~::~~e~r~~p~~~eof~l~i~c~~: brittle rock surlace by rock Iragments car
Crescentic gouge-A crescentic mark in the form 01 a groove or channel with a sorne
what roundad bottom; it is lormad by the removal 01 rock material from between two
Iractures; it is concave toward the direction from which the ice moved (Le., its
"horns" point in the direction 01 ice movement).
Desert varnish-A thin dark shiny lilm or coating, composed 01 iron oxide commonly
accompanied by traces 01 manganese oxide and silica, formed on the surlaces 01
pebbles, boulders, and other rock Iragments in, lor example. desert regions alter
long exposure. It is believed to be causad by exudation 01 mineralized solutons lrom
within and deposition by evaporation on the surlace. A similar appearance produced
by wind abrasion is known as desert polish. Syn: desert patina; desert lacquer; desert
crust; desert rind; varnish.

Dr~~:~~';;d9:s~~:S~~b~~~~ ~~~~~a~i'ah~~~R ~~~~ curved laces intersecting in three

Dull luster-The luster 01 a mineral or rock surface that difluses rather than reflects
light, even though the surlace may appear smooth (c.f. (rosted surlaee, matte sur
faee).
Einkanter-A ventilact having only one lace or a single sharp edge.
Etched-A naturally eorroded surlace 01 a mineral or rock with the erystal or structural
pattem enhanced lor observation beeause 01 differences in reliel.
Faeet-A nearly plane surlace produeed on a roek Iragment by abrasion. as by wind
sandblasting, by the grinding aetion 01 a glacier, or by a stream thal differentially
removes material Irom the upstream side 01 a boulder or pebble.
Frosted surlaee-A lusterless groundglasslike surlaee on roundad mineral grains,
espeeially 01 quartz. It may result Irom innumerable impaets 01 other grains during
wind aetion, lrom chemieal aetion, or Irom deposition 01 many microscopie erystals,
lor example, 01 line silica seeondarily deposited on quartz grains (e.1. matted sur
faee).
Groove-A low area between two ridges; a linear depression 01 whieh lhe length greatly
exeeeds lhe width. A groove is larger than a striation.
Matte(d) surlace-An evenly roughened surfaee (c.f. frosted surfaee).
Pereussion mark-A ereseentie sear produeed on a hard, dense roek (e.g., chert or
quartzite) by a sharp blow, as by the violen! collision 01 a eobble with a boulder in a
streambed.
Pitted surlaee-Marked eoncavities not related to the eomposition or texture 01 the
rock on which they appear. The depressions range in size Irom minute pits eaused by
dust partieles to those that are a lew eentimeters aeross and a lew eentimeters deep.
Polished surlace-Charaeterized by high luster and strong relleeted light.lt may be pro
dueed by various agents, e.g., desert varnish or abrasion by glacial Ilour (e.l. bur
nished surfaee).
Seored surlaee-Parallel seratehes, striae, or grooves on a badroek surlaee eaused by
the abrasion aetion 01 roek Iragments transportad by, lor example, a moving glaeier.
Serateh-See groove, scored surfaee, and striated surlace.
Striated surlaee-Surlaee marked by fine lines or seratehes, generally parallel or sub
parallel to eaeh other.
Surfaee luster-The appearanee 01 a surlaee in reflectad light, generally deseribed by
its quality and/or intensity. For example, metallie versus nonmetallie and bright ver
susdull.
Varnlsh-See desert vamish.
AGIDSrvd82

AGI DATA SHEET 32.1

Names for Sedimentary Rocks

Condensed by A.R. Compton trom Manual of Fleld Geology, John Wiley and Sons, New
York,1956

..(1)/,,
/)VI>

'"

J::

'"
-; '"

i/I~

:S lo i V&"J6J

i;i

.~

~~
.go

~g

le

'"

<ll

<ll

E
o

:g
.,

"

.;

~
'O
o

.~

a:

'c:'"
"

~g

==()

",u

'C~

-o
c:

"

<IJ

"

-;;

<ll

-;

-o
c:

;;

'"

~~~

'"
'O

~.g~

~~~

(Jo(/)

6J11q

%/)

/)ve

en
11
6J "/e"
10IV6J"
~&i;i

&!V6J /;r
J

,;
-o
c:

'"

<IJ

Arenlte: relatvely well sorled sandslone.

Waeke: sandstone so poorly sorled as lo inelude more than 20 percenl 01 silt or clay.

Graywacke: strongly indurated dark-colored wacke.

Shale: siltstone (silly shale) or claystone (clay shale) with promlnent bedding cleavage (flssllity).

Mudstone: mixture 01 silt and clay with blocky or spheroldal Iracture.

Argilllte: ~~gg~ra!nl~~~~:~I~eneraIlY recrystalllzed) clayslones or siltstones Ihat break Into hard,

AGI DATA SHEET 32.2

wacke

Rocks In th,s general

area are chlefly volcarllc
sandstones. formed by
drrect r~worklng 01
pyroclastlc material,
Feldspar
gra1ns

Unstable Ilne-grarned
rock Iragmen!s

Names lor Sandstones, Based on Composilion. To name a rack: (1) determine the amounts 01 Ihe various
mineral and rock grains, (2) Sum these amounls iolo Ihe Ihroo groups shown al !he corners 01 Ihe !,iangle.
aod (3) usrng the proportions between Ihe groups. estimate a poio! 10 the triangle. A poorly $Orted sand
stone with equal amoun!s 01 quartz. leldspar. aod slate grains. for example. would lall at poin! x (a
lithic, leldspalhic wacke). Other detrital minerals tha! lorm mOfe lhan 10 percenl 01 Ihe sand may be
used as adjeclives in the name, as biolllic. From a dagram suppled by C. M. Gilbert.

~""T--~---""""

-~-~-~~------\25%

Pebbly
wacke

Pebbly
mudstone

1 I
Ratio 01 sand to sil! plus clay-s1ze
Names lor Sedimentary Rocks Containing GravelSize Fragments

pebbles, etc

AGI DATA SHEET 33.1

Names tor Limestones

GRADE SIZE SCALES

0.004

0.03 0.06 0.12 0.25

0.5

1.0

8.0 (mm)

2.0

.,

~f?

.,1

calcilutite

>

calcisi Itite

calcirudite

calcarenite

CLASTIC LIMESTONE CLASSIFICATION

Modlliad after R.L. Folk, 1959.(Wlth permission 01 the American Association 01 Petro

leum Geologists.)

ORTHOCHEMICAL ROCKS

ALLOCHEMICAL ROCKS

allochems > 10%

sparry calcite

>
microcystalline
calcite

'"'~"""~

m
intrasparite

Fossils

microcrystalline
calcite

>

sparry calcite

..

.. :"...............

<""".<

... .: ... . ::: ... . :.:.: micro

:..'::..::::: C;19t~o

...:' ...::.:.::...:...:.:.:.:...:.::..:...... :.. :.: ... :.......... C rystall ine

: :. : : .. . .:: : . . :. 01 rock

intramicrite

micrite

~.~. . . .~ ~~i

dismicrite

biosparite

Ooliths

:.::.

:....:. ..:...:...:...:... ...:....: .:..... ... . . . :.....:....:.:

~
~

AUTOCHTHONOUS
REEF ROCKS
.....

"

...

:::..:.: .: ...:.... ...:::...:..:....:: .:.::.... . :...:...:.......... :.: :

...

biol ithite

Pellets

pelsparite

AG I-DS-jld-82

:.:.:..:::

.:. .:.: .: !. .

pelm icrite

.......

AGI DATA SHEET 33.2

CLASSIFICATION OF LIMESTONES ACCORDING TO DEPOSITIONAL TEXTURE
Modified after R. J. Dunham, 1962.
(With permission 01 the American Association 01 Petroleum Geologists.)
Depositional
Texture Not
Recognizable

Depositional Texture Recognizable

Original components were nol bound together

during deposition
Contains mud'

I Lacks muda

Mud-supported
Less than 10, \, More than lO
percent grains percent grains
MUDSTONE WACKESTONE

Original
components
were bound
together during
deposition

Grain-supported

PACKSTONE \ GRAINSTONE BOUNDSTONE

g~~~b"NL;+~~

a Particles 01 clay and line silt size .

b To be subdivided according to classilications designed to bear on physical texture or diagenesis.

~ [~~;%~~
mudslone

wackeslone

boundstone

crystalline
carbonate

The line stipple represents mud matrix

RelerenC8S
Dunham , R. J ., 1962. Classificalion 01 carbonale rocks according to deposltlonal texture. In
Classilicalion 01 carbonate rocks, W. E. Ham (ed.), 108-21. Amer. Assoc . Petrol. Geol. Mem . l .
FOlk, R. L. , 1959. Practical petrographic classification 01 limestones. Amer. Assoc . Petrol.Geol.
Bull . 43, 1- 38.
Greensmith, J. T., 1978. Petrology 01 Sedimentary Rocks (Sixlh Edition), p. 124-132. London:
George Allen & Unwin .

AGI DATA SHEET 34.1

Descriptive Classllication 01 Metamorphic Rocks

by Robert R. Compton, Stanford Unlversity

In thls binomial system for naming metamorphlc rocks, the maln rock name Is based on

~~dtl~:~~e n~u~hs~ ~sc~~ ag~tt,~:_t~~?f~P:~~'~tm2~ea~'9~~~1~~~~7::,~~s ~~~nr~I~~dT~

names are meant 10 be applled on a descrlptive basis; a schislose rock, for example,
should nOI be called a hornfels just because it Is found in a contact aureole.

TEXTURES
SChlstose-gralns platy or elongate and oriented parallal or subparalleL Follated (Iepidoblastlc) II
fabric Is planar, IIneated (nematoblastlc) If linear.
Granoblllsllc-gralns approximately equldlmenslonal; platy and linear gralns orlented randomly or
so subordinate that lollation is not developad.
.

~~~~~~~~-;;-g~~~:s,ir~rJl~I:~ ~~~~!~r~~~~:~:~~~~I~e~~!~t~~C~~S;~P~~; f:;~B~iJ~ ~~~~ell~n~

freshly broken surfaces show a sugary coating that will not rub off (Iormed ~y rendlng 01 interlock
Ing gralns).
Semlschlstose (gnelsslc)-platy or linear grains subparallel but so subordinate or so unevenly
dlstrlbuled that rock has only a crude foUallon; especially common in metamorphosed granular
rocks, such as sandstones and Igneous rocks,
Cataclllstlc-clastlc textures resulting from breaklng and grlnding with lillle, II any recryslalllza
tion; characlerized by angular, lensoid, or rounded Iragments (porphyroc/asts) In a Ilne-gralned and
commonly streaked or layered groundmass, Mortar slructure applles lO nonorlented arrangements,
and phacoida/, flaser, and augen structura apply to lenticular arrangements.

ROCK NAMES
SCHISTOSE ROCKS

SChlst-gralns can be sean wlthoul using a microscope,

Phylllte-all lor almost all) gralns 01 groundmass are mlcroscoplc, bul cleavage surlaces have
sheen caused by rellections from platy or linear minerals; commonly corrugated.
Slate-grains are micr05copic; very cleavable; surfaces dull; lougher Ihan shale and eleavage como
monly oblique lo beddlng.
Phyllonlte-appearanee like phyllite but lormed by eataelasis (sea mylonlle) and recrystallizatlon
commonly 01 coarser-grained rocks, as Indlcaled by rellet rock sllces, slip folds, and
porphyroclasts.
GRANOBLASTIC ROCKS

Granullle or Ilrllnolels-granoblastic rocks, irrespective 01 mineral eomposillon; because granu/ite

can connote special compositons and conditlons 01 origln, granofe/s may be preferred.
Quartzite, marble, and amphlbolite-composllional names thal generally connote granoblastlc
texture; exceptlons should be modifled lor clarity, as schistose quartzlte or p/agioc/ase hom
blende 8cMst
Tactlte (skarn) - heterogeneous calc-silicate melasomatic rocks 01 uneven grain, Common usage
implies a contact metasomatc orign,
HORNFELSIC ROCKS

AII called homfe/s, or, il rellet !eatures are elear, hornfelsic may be used with the original rock
name (as hornla/sic andesite).
SEMISCHISTOSE (GNEISSIC) ROCKS

Semlschlsl-line-grained (typcally less than 1/4 mm) so that individual platy or lineate grains are
indistlnct; relct features often common.

~e~~~:t;Pe~~::,1I61;g:~~~~ ;~~~~~2i:O~h:~S~m:r~nag~~~~~~~c'r. ~\~~ ~~ l:~:::: ~~~~u;~~~~~

be dislrlbuted evenly through the rock or may be concentraled locally so thal some layers or
len ses are granoblastic or schlstose (banded gnaiss).

was condensed from Manua/ of fie/d geo/ogy, John

AGI-OS.Jml-89

AGI DATA SHEET 34.2

CATACLASTIC ROCKS

Where original nature 01 rock Is sU" apparenl, rock name can be modifiad by suitable adjectives (as
eataclastie gran/te, flaser gabbro, phacoldsl rhyolite),
Cataclasite - a rock conlaining angular Iragmen!s tha! have been produced by Ihe crushing and
Iracturing 01 preexisling rocks as a result 01 mechanical torces.
Mylonite -

loliated, lineatad rock, commonly wilh ribbons 01 quartz and lenticular porphyroclasts.

Ultramylonite, pseudotachylyte-Aphanitc lo nearly vltreousappearing dark rock commonly in

jeclad as dikes mIo adjoinmg rocks.
RELICT ANO SPECIAL TEXTURES ANO STRUCTURES

~~ffl~~(a~f~~~;?::d~e":tJ;~~!,P;~':n~~g~~t;:;ed~~t~!~~~s~1!\~lilo~t~~o~~~~~~ln:rra~:t~~Yh~:

produced promlnent new mlnerals, names such as chloritized diorta and sariefized granfa can be
usad.
Strongly metasomatized rocks with coarae or un usual textures may require special names such as
gresen, Quartz-sehor/ rock, and eorundum-mica rack.
Mlgmlltlte-a composite rock composed 01 igneous or igneous-appearing and/or metamorphic
materials that are generally distingushable megascoplcally,

AGI DATA SHEET 35.1

Bernard W. Evans, University 01 Washington
A metamorphic lacies has been delined (Turner, (968) as: "a sel 01 metamorphic mineral
assemblages, repeatedly associated in space and lime, such thal Ihere is a constant and
therefore predictable relation between mineral composition and chemical composton." Ponts
to nole are (1) the concept is pelrographic, or lield-oriented, (2) any one lacies encompasses
all possible rock compositions, (3) lacies are not delined n terms 01 pressure and temperature,
nor in terms 01 mode 01 occurrence, (4) facies are delined in terms 01 sets 01 mineral assem
blages, deally set out n a sequence 01 (triangular) paragenetic diagrams. showing changing
mineral compatibilities across the facies boundaries.

~fss6:~~:~~~~~c~~~~:s~t:~2~Po~ii~:c~~i~~~~:~?!~~~~~~3e~~~V:;:II~~:.n~~~~

01
more, lew metamorphic rocks can be satisfactorily depicted in triangular, three-component
(Ior example, ACF) diagrams, or in projection onto triangular diagrams.
The accompanying tables show the characteristic mineral assemblages lor eight widely
recognized metamorphic lacies, keyed to bulk rock composition. For each facies, the upper
row gives the typical mineral assemblage. and the lower row () lists possible additional min
erais. Minerals in the latter may not necessarily occur throughout the lacies, may be restricted
lo fairly specilic bulk compositions, and may be incompatible with others in the lis\. For exam
pie, kaolinile and paragonite occur in highly aluminous pelites in the zeolite lacies, and should
not be accompanied by K-Ieldspar. Rocks 01 basic (basaltic) compositon provide the assem
blage diagnostic 01 each lacies (capitalizad), with the possible exception 01 the sanidinite lacies.
Assemblages in other bulk compositions mayo in a lew cases, be diagnostic 01 a specilic facies,
lor example, staurolite+ muscovite+ quartz (amphibolite lacies). Individual minerals seldom
serve this purpose; lor example, neither glaucophane nor lawsonte is restricted to the blueschist
lacies. Accessory minerals have only been included where they are specilically known lo char
acterize a metamorphic lacies.
The inferred pressure-temperature relationships of Ihe lacil!s are based on a combination
01 lield observations and experimental reversals 01 reactions. Although most ollhese reaction
boundaries are a lunction 01 PH,o in addilion lo PsoIids and T, it appears in practice Ihal Ihere
is a sufficiently close relationship between the two pressure terms lor the metamorphic lacies
lo be interpreted in lerms 01 Plilhostatic and T. Possible exceplions, notably the granulile and
eclogile lacies, are still a subjecI 01 debate among petrologists.
Reference

Turnar. F. J. (1968) Maramorphic Petrology, Mineralogical and Feld Aspects, McGraw-Hill, Inc., 403 p.

Facies

Pelitie

Basle

Ultrabasle

Zeolile
kaolinite, paragonite,

,. . ....''' .. ~~' .........,;....''''.... adularia,

CA-ZEOLlTE + CHLORITE +
QUARTZ + ALBITE
carbonate

en

:r:

~
~

PREHNITE or ACTINOLlTE +
PUMPELLYITE + ALBITE +
CHlORITE + QUARTZ

Prehnile-pumpellyitel
Pumpellylte-actinolite

lawsonite, stilpnomelane

phengite + chlorite + quartz

Blueschisl

Eclogite
kyanite, adeite, omphaeite

\)

antigorite, carbonate, tale,

diopside

Facies

Pelitle

Caleareous

Basle

Ultrabasle

calcite + dolomite + quartz

Greensehist

tale, aetinolite, K-feldspar

cal cite + dolomite

Amphlbolite
(Inel. Hornblende
hornfels)

eummingtonite, enstallte

Granulite
(tnet. Pyroxene
hornfels)

hornblenda,

e
e

Santdtnlte

e
lA

::r
m

COI
UI

AGI DATA SHEET 35.4

PRESSURE-TEMPERATURE DIAGRAM

(SJalaWOI!}I) 1Ildaa
It)
It)

It)

U">

It)

It)
rt')

rt')

!!?

52

It)

O
O

52

(1)

O
O

O
O

c:

c:

....----

\,..... /
\
r

"""'

<3-

,----....
----LUl1

.,..-/

lS!4:>s{J

~
~

(1)

O-

\
\
\

..........

:!

52

CD

U)

(SJBqOI!}I)d

,-

(1)

O
(1)

O
O

rt')

O
O

..

..
O
O

a..
I

It)

"'

:::J

'O

O='
O

"

(1)

U)

.~

O
O

&&J[)

....

""

..........

O
O

"

CD

(/)

..........

9l!/oq/f'd

r-

91UnUOi9

en

'U

52

AGI DATA SHEET 36.1

And Classification Of Soils

Roy W. Slmonson
DEFINITION: Soil Is a natural, historical body with an internal organization reflected in
the profile and its horizons, conslsting of weathered rock material s and organlc matter
with the former usually predomlnant, and formad as a continuum at tha land surface
largely within the rooting zonas of plants.
HYPOTH ETICAL SOIL PROFILE:
wlth notatlons lor master horlzons
p...1980
nomenclature

current
nomenclature

~
~

01
Oe

lOose leavas and organic debrls, largely undecomposed.

Organic debrls, partially decomposed.

A dark-colored horlzon 01 mixed mineral and organlc

malter and wllh much blologlcal activlty.

A Ilght-colored horlzon 01 maxlmum eluviatlon; promi

nent in some soils but absent in others,

~
~

ES

Transitlonallo B but more ka A (or El than B; may be

absen!.

BE

Transitional lo A (or E) but mora like B lhan A (or E);

may be absen!.

82

Maxlmum accumulatlon 01 silicate clay minarais or 01

sesquloxldes and orllanle malter; maxlmum expresslon
01 bloeky or prlsmallc struclure; or bolh.

'

Be

Translltonal to C bul more Ilke B Ihan C; may be absen!.

Wealhered parent material, occaslonally absenl; forma

Ilon 01 horlzons may lollow weathering so closely tha!
Ihe A or B horizon rests on consolidated rock.
Layer 01 consolidaled rock beneath the soil.

CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM: Tha system is describad, and classes in Ihe upper lour
categories are delined in U.S. Departmenl of Agriculture Handbook 436 (1975). Guides
are also inciuded lor delining classes in the fllth calegory (families). Changes since
1975 are recorded in Soil Management Support Services Monograph 6, "Keys lo Sol!
Taxonomy: (Soil Management Suppor! Services are in the Soil Conservation Service,
U.S. Deparlment 01 Agriculture, WaShington, D.C.)
The syslem consisls of six categores. They are lsted in descending sequence with
approximate numbers of classes in each (as 01 1988): orders (10). suborders (50), great
groups (250), subgroups (1,550), lamilies (5,500), and series (12,000). Numbers of fam
lIies and series are lor the Uniled Stales only.
The nomenclature of the system s systematic except for the series category. The
name of each class identfes Ihe category lo which it belongs. The name 01 each class
from families to orders dentifes all parenl classes of higher rank. Thus, the name of
each family ncludes all or parts 01 he names of the parenl subgroup, great group, sub
order, and order.
Names 01 soil groups used in the pasl-e.g., laterite, latentc soil, pOdzol, and cher
nozem-are not used in the system. The term laterte has been restrcted lO sesquiox
ide-rich materals that are hard or thal harden upon exposure when Ihey are wet and
then dry. Names such as podzols and chernozems and the phrase lateritic soils were
used for assortments of sols thal are now classlied under other orders of the system.
Further information about the classifcation system is given on Data Sheets 36.3
and 36.4.

AGI~OS-r ...d-89

AGI DATA SHEET 36.2

SOll HORIZON DESIGNATIONS
Roy W. Simonson.
J., v. 46, p. 443,1982.

Guthrie and Witty, 50il Sei. 50c. Am.

A. Capitalletters, lowercase letters, and Arabic numerals are all used to form hor
zon designations. In addition, prime notations are used to make some distnctions.
1. Capital letters, singly or in pairs, identify master horizons, shown in the
hypothetical soil profile on Data Sheet 36.1.
2. Lowercase letters are used as suffixes with the capital letters to indicate
subordinate leatures 01 master horizons.
3. Arabic numerals are used in Iwo ways: Firsl, Ihey are used as suffixes to
indicale vertical subdivisons 01 horizons. Second, they are used as pre
lixes with Ihe capital lellers lo indicale lilhologic discontinuilies within
profiles.
4. Prime notalions are used lo dislinguish Iwo or more horizons within a pro
file that are separated by anolher horizon bul have Ihe same designaton.
When two separaled horzons have the same designaton, the prime
notaton is used lor the deeper one, e.g., E and E'. If three separated hor
zons have the same designalion, a double prime is used lor the deepesl
one, e.g., E, E', and En.
B. A list 01 the lowercase letters used to identify subordinate leatures of master
horizons is given below. Opposite the lellers in current use are those thal were
replaced in 1982. Briel explanations are given lor the current leller suffixes.
Old

New
a
b

en
e
9
h
ca
m
sa
p
si

I
9
h

m
n
o
p
q

ir
t

v
w
cs
sa

Features Represented
Highly decomposed organic maller
Buried
Concretionary or nodular
Moderately decomposed organic matter
Frozen
Markedly reduced, expressed in low chromas, etc.
IlIuvial accumulaton 01 organic matler
Slightly decomposed organic maller
Accumulation 01 carbonates
Strongly cemented
Accumulation 01 sodium
Residual accumulation 01 sesquioxides
Dislurbed, as by plowing
Accumulalion 01 silica
Soft bedrock
lIIuv/al accumulation 01 sesquioxides
Accumulation 01 clay
Plinthitic
For B horzons only, se! off by color or structure or both
Having Iragpan leatures
Accumulation 01 gypsum
Accumulaton 01 salts

AGI DATA SHEET 36.3

AMERICAN SOIL TAXONOMY: PART I

Roy W. Simonson. Principal sources are U.S. Department of Agriculture Hand

book 436 (1975) and Soil Management Support Services Monograph 6 (1987).
CLASS CRITERlA: Classes are distinguished in all six categories 01 the sys
tem on the basis 01 diagnostic leatures, chielly kinds 01 horizons. Six surlace
horizons, labeled epipedons, are diagnostic, with one, the mollic epipedon, 01
special importance. Sixteen subsurlace horizons serve as criteria, with nine
widely used and seven not. More than 20 leatures other than horizons are
used as class criteria - lor example, moisture regimes, temperature regimes,
and evidence 01 cracking and churning.
Principal features lor selting apart the 10 soil orders are gross composition
01 the soil (mineral versus organic). diagnostic horizons, distinctness 01 hori
zons, and base saturation.
Principal leatures lor distinguishing suborders within orders are moisture
regimes. temperature regimes, mineralogy, argillic horizons, and composition
01 horizons.
Principal leatures lor distinguishing great groups within suborders are
presence or absence 01 certain diagnostic horizons and the occurrence 01 hori
zons extra to the delinitive sequence lor a suborder.
For subgroups, a norm is lirsl selecled lor the great group as a whole. This
is meant lo typily or epitomize the great group. Soils that lit the norm lorm a
subgroup. Additional soils 01 the great group are then set apart based on the
properties shared with other great groups. For example, certain soUs are
selected as the norm lor the great group 01 Hapludalls and labeled Typic Hap
ludalfs. Other soils in the great group on the wet side but not wet enough to be
Aqualls are then set apart as Aquic Hapludalfs.

Soll Orders

Names and Major Features

Alfisols

Soils with subsurlace horizons 01 silicate clay accumulation and

moderate to high base status. Formative element: aff.

Aridisols

Soils with very dry moisture regimes, little organic matter, and
some diagnostic leatures. Formative element: d.

Entisols

Soils with little or no horizonation. Formative element: ent.

Histosols

Soils consisting largely 01 organic maller. Formative element: st.

Inceptisols

Soils with some diagnostic horizon or horizons, poorly

expressed. Formative elemen!: ept.

Mollisols

Soils with thick, dark surface horizons, moderate to high in

organic matter, and well supplied with divalent bases. Formative
element: 011.

Oxisols

Soils with lew weatherable minerals, very low supplies 01 bases,

and poorly expressed horizons. Formative elemen!: ox.

Spodosols

Soils with subsurlace horizons 01 amorphous accumulations or

01 cementation with ron oxides. Formative element: od.

Ultisols

Soils with subsurface horizons 01 silicate clay accumulation and

low to very low base status. Formative element: uft.

Vertisols

Soils moderate to high in clay and with evidence 01 cracking

and churning. Formative element: ert.

AGI DATA SHEET 36.4

AMERICAN SOIL TAXONOMY: PART 11

o,

Roy W. Simonson. Principal sources are U.S. Department

Agriculture
Handbook 436 (1 975) and 5011 Management Support Servces Monograph 6
(1987).
NOMENCLATURE: AII names 01 elasses in a single eategory have the same

formo Names are also distinetve lor every eategory. The names 01 the soil

orders have three or lour syllables and end in sol. One syllable 01 the name 01

eaeh order s used as the final syllable in eonstructing the names 01 suborders,

great groups, subgroups, and lamilies. The names 01 suborders consist 01 two

syllables, a prelix plus the element Irom the name 01 the parent order. The

names 01 great groups eonsist 01 a prelix plus the name 01 the parent suborder.

The names 01 subgroups are binomials, with the name 01 the paren! great

group as the seeond word. The names 01 lamilles eonsist 01 the names 01 the

pare nI subgroups preceded by several modiliers based on particle size distri

bulion. mineralogy, and temperature. The syllables used as prelixes in the

names of suborders and 01 great groups are ehielly 01 Greek and Latin origino

A lew are Irom other languages.

Examples 01 syllables used as prelixes to construct names 01 suborders

with lormative elements lrom names 01 orders:

and
aqu
arg
bor
lerr
Iluv
psamm
ud
ust

J.. Ando, dark soil

L., aqua, water
L., argilla, clay
Gr., boreas, eool
L., ferrum, iron
L., fluvus, river
Gr., psammos. sand
L., udus, humid
L., ustus, burnt

For soils with much amorphous material.

For soils wet to various degrees.

For soils with argillic horizons (elay accumulations).

For soils with relatively low temperatures.

For soils with iron-cemented horizons.

For soils lormed in recent alluvium.

For soils high in sand.

For soils with moderately high moisture.

For soils with somewhat restreted moisture.

Examples 01 names 01 suborders are 80rolls lor eold Mollisols in North

Dakota and Psamments for sandy soils in Florida.
Examples 01 syllables used as prelixes to construct names 01 great groups

Irom names 01 suborders:

alb
cale
cry
Irag
hapi
natr
sal
trop
verm

L., albus, white

L., ca/Gis, lime
Gr.. Kryos, iey eold
L., fragilis. brittle
Gr., haplous, simple
L., natrum, sodium
L., sal, salt
Fr., tropkos, 01 the
solstiee
L., Yermes, worm

For soils with albie (pale) horizons.

For soils with calcc horizons.

For soils that are very cold.

For soils with Iragipans.

For soils with no extra leatures.

For soils with natric horizons (high in Na).

For soils with salie horizons, high in salts.

For soils that are moist and always warm.

For soils with mueh evidenee 01 launal mixing.

Examples 01 the names 01 great groups are Natriborolls lor eold Mollisols
with natric horizons high in sodium in North Dakota and Quartzipsamments lor
sandy soils high in quartz in Florida.
Examples 01 the names 01 subdivisions 01 a soil order in progressively
lower categones lor the Mohave series 01 the southwestern United States are
the lollowing: Aridisol, Argid, Haplargid, Typie Haplargid, fine-Ioamy, mixed,
thermie Typie Haplargid, and Mohave series. Aridsols constitute the great bulk
01 soils in the deserts 01 the world.

AGI DATA SHEET 37.1

for Field

of Soils

Roy W. Slmonson. Principal sources are U.S. Department 01 Agrlculture Handbooks

18 and 436.
GENERAL INFORMATION ANO SETTING
IDENTIFICATION: Name 01 soil series or broader class. as specific as leasible.

PHYSIOGRAPHY: Such as til! plain. high terrace, flood plain.

UNDERLYING MATERIALS: General nalure, such as calcareous clayey liII or residuum lrom

granile.
SLOPE: Approximale gradient.

PLANT COVER: Vegetalion al slte, such as oakhickory lorest, corn, pasture.

MOISTURE STATUS: Conditions al the time, such as wel, molst, dry.

REMARKS: Olher features such as stoniness, sallnity, ordepth 10 ground waler; nol ap
plicable or observable everywhere.
DESCRIPTlONS OF INDIVIDUAL HORIZONS
DESIGNATION: See hypothetlcal 5011 profile, Data Sheet 36.
DEPTH: cm (or nches) Irom lop 01 A horlzon and lrom surface 01 organic soll.

THICKNESS: Average, such as 15 cm, plus range, su eh as 10-20 cm.

BOUNDARY: Lower one, as lO distinclness: abrupt, clear, gradual, or diffuse; and as lo
lopography: smOOlh, wavy, irregular, or broken.
COLOR: Record colors 01 both wet and dry specimens il possible, but always lor wet condltons.
Use numberletter notations from Munsell Soll Color charts, e.g., 10YR 5/4. Record mottles
(patches 01 one color in malrix 01 anolher color) as lo abundance: lew, common, many; as
10 size: fine, medium, coarse; and as lo contras!: lainl, dislincl, prominent.

T~fa~:Uf~rc~~:~ss~'::~gS~~~~~;~iD~f~oC~:~~~~o.lhe separales sand, sil!, and clay. Sea

STRUCTURE: Describe nalural unils as lo grade (distinctness): weak, moderale, strong; as lo
size: very fine, fine, medium,
very coarse; and as to type: platy, prismatic, blocky,
granular. Wilhout peds, horizon
be either singlegrained or massive.
CONSISTENCE: Cohesion, adhesion, and resistance 01 specimens lo delormation and rupture.
When wet: nonslicky, slighlly stlcky, sticky, or very Slicky; aiso: nonplastic, slightly plastic,
plastic, or very plastic. When moist: loose, very friable, friable, firm, very lirm, or extremely
lirm. When dry: loose, soft, slighlly hard, hard, very hard, or extremely hard.
ROOTS: Numbers of observable roots: lew, common, or many; and dimensions: line, medium,
or coarse.
Numbers 01 lield-observable pores: lew, common, or many; dimensions: very fine,
medium, or coarse; and shapes: irregular, tubular, or vesicular.
REACTION: pH as measured with lield kit.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES: Other fealures il present, such as iron or carbonate concretions
(use same abundance and dimension classes as lor rOOIS), effervescence with dilute HCI,
krolovinas (filled animal burrows), cemenlalion (weakly, strongly, indurated), and stone tines.

AGI DATA SHEET 37.2

GUIDE FOR TEXTURAL CLASSIFICATION
U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservatlon Servlce
M.y 1, 1950

percent sand

Names and sizes 01 classe s 01 soi l separates or "fine earth" lorming base s lor
texture determinations
NAME
Very coar se sand
Coarse sand
Medium sand
Fine sand
Very line sand
Silt
Clay

SIZE RANGES
1.0-2.0
0.5-1 .0
025-05
0.1-0.25
0.05-0.1
0.002-0.05
0.002

mm

AGI DATA SHEET 38.1

Unified Soil
Complled by B. W. Pipkin, University 01 Southern California

NOTES:
1. Boundary Classilication: Soils possessing characleristics 01 two groups are designated by como
binations 01 group symbols. For example. GW-GC. well-graded gravel-sand mixture with clay binder
2. AII sieve sIzes on lhis charl are U.S. Slandard.
3. The lerms "silt" and "clay:' are used respectively lO dstinguish materals exhibiting lower plasticity
Irom Ihose wlth higher plastlclty. The minus no. 200 Sleve materialls sllt 1I the liqUld Ilmil and plasllclty
index plOI below Ihe "A" line on lhe plaslicily chart (next pagel. and Is clay il Ihe lquid Iimil and plaslicily
index plot aboye Ihe "A" line on Ihe chart.
4, For a complele deseriptlon 01 Ihe Unlfied Soll Classification System. see "Technical Memorandum
No. 3-3,57." prepared for Office, Chel 01 Englneers, by Waterways Equipment Slation, Vlcksburg. Mis
SJSSipPl, March 1953 (See also Data Sheet 29.)

Frs! published by GSA Engineerlng Geology Dlvislon.

AQI-OS-Mi82

II)

AGI DATA SHEET 39.1

Outline for Environmental Impact Statements

Revlsed alter O.B. Jorgenson, Las Vegas, Nevada
(Adaptad from guidelines preparad by NEPA, HUD, and James A, Roberts Associates, Ino" Sacramento,
California. Summarizad in: Burchell, R. W., and Listokn, D., 1975: The Environmentallmpact Hend
booI<, Center for Urban Policy Research, Rulgers Unlversity, New Jersey.)

NOTE: Oifferent lisIS might be prepared, but they should include the lollowing:
1.

Propased project (e.g., construction, park site, mineral exploration, or development)

A. Purpase 01 projeet
B. Status 01 project
C. Location
O. Owner5hip and legal description 01 area and site
11. Current environment 01 area and site
A. Physical leatures and processes

1, Materials (e.g., water, sol, surficial rocks)

2. Processes (e,g., erosion, mass-wastng)

3. Rate and reeurrence 01 processes
4. Topagraphy and geomorphology
B. Vegetation and biota
C. Wetlands (Iocation, shapa, and sze)
O. Social or cultural characteristics
E. Archaeological features
F. Aesthetic nature
111. Impact of the environment on:
A. The projeet and its design
B. Projeet's inhabitants
C. Project's usars
IV. Impact 01 propased project on environment
A. The natural environment
1. 15 the project controversial?
2, In what ways might t alter the patterns 01 behavior lor mammals?
lor lish? lor amphibians? lor reptiles? lor inseets?
3. In what ways might it a"er the breedin9, nesting, or leeding grounds 01 birds?
4. How might the project affect existing blota and vegetation?
5. In what ways might it change water or air?
6. How might the water table be affeeted in the area?
7. How might the stability 01 the soHs or the geology 01 the area be affeeted?
B, The cultural environment
1. WiII the projeet produce changes in traffic?

2, Will it affect the aesthetics 01 the area?

3. Will it divide or disrupt existing land uses?

4, WiII it affect current recrealional uses?

5. WilI it affeet areas 01 unique interest or beauty, including those relating to geology,
paleontology, archaeology, anthropalogy, or history?
Alternatives to the proposed action

V
A Possiblity 01 restricted or reduced development and construction

B. Use 01 alternative development or construction

C. Passibility 01 construction on another site
D. Other alternatives
VI. Anticipated adversa environmental effects, il any
A. Adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided within the proposed plan
B. Thase which could be avoided by adopting alternative actions
C. Those which could not be avoided by any alternative ac!ions

D, Thase which will be avoided by choosing the recommended action

E. Actions taken by developar to mitigale environmental damage

VII. Description 01 relationship between shortterm and long-term uses olthe environment
A Effeets during construction
B. Short-term impacts

C, Long-term impacts

VIII. Oescription 01 irreversible or irretrievable commitment 01 resources which would be made

il propasal were implemented
Name _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Oate _ _ _ _ _ _ __
Prolessional Affiliation _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __
License or Certilication
AGIQS,mj89

AGI DATA SHEET 40.1

Checklist for a Mine

John Eliot Allen, Portland (Ore.) State Universlty
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
Qualilications 01 wriler

Name 01 property, origin and purpose 01 reporl, and lima "pent on survay

Condusion

Recommendalions

Signature and certilicalion

PROPERTY
Name 01 prapeny and principal ore
Mining area or dislricl
County and state
Old name or names
OWNERSHIP AND HISTORY
Operator lessee and address
Present owner Or owners and addresses
Status 01 title: history 01 claims, how owned, stock ownership, corporate structure, etc,
Previous owners
Past mining methods
Record 01 production
LOCATION
Latitude and longitude
Magnelic declination
V. saction, section, township, range, base, and meridian

Natural landmarks

Distances 10 shipping pOints, power lines

Name 01 and distance to nearest town

Type 01 claim; map of claims (A) (Use bar scales on all maps)

GENERAL INFORMATION
Geography, topography, reliel, elevation, climate, rainlall, snowlall, lenglh 01 open season
Water: supply, right, disposal problems
Labor: supply, unionization, taxes
Literature relerences, bibliography
List 01 previous repons, maps, shipping records, assay records, etc,

Names and address 01 inlormants

Photographs of property (B)

GEOLOGY (with paniculu attention to the leatures that bear on Ihe deposit)
Map of are81 geofogy and structure (C)
(Someltmes combined with developmenl map)
General

Hand-Iens deseription 01 rack outcrops and wall racks

Percentage 01 outcrops verSus overburden

Topographic relations

Geologic age and stratigraphic position 01 rocks

Rack specimens (O)

Stratigraphic, long, and cross-sections (E)

Structures (note kind, aUitude, spacing, and relationship to ore)

Formational or intrusive contacts, unconlormities, relationships

Bedrock structures (bedding, jointing, and cleavage, etc,)

Faults and lau!t systems

Lodes

AUitude, shape and size 01 vein, lode, blanket, bed, altered zone, etc,

Kind, size, and amount 01 minerals in wall rOCk, gangues, and ore

Localzation 01 ore and possible causes

Classilication (Le.. primary, secondary, replaced; relationships)

Assay values; assay map (F), ore specimens or semples (G)

Placer, quarry, plt

~r~~ ?~;go~\~t, hillside, etc,)
Shape

Areal extent

Depth to bedrock

Thickness 01 overburden

Composition & size range 01

Presence 01 clay, boulders,

Value per yard

Distribution 01 values

GI-DS,rmHl9

AGI DATA SHEET 40.2

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT (See Data Sheet 39)

Culturalleatures which might affect operation on property (waste disposal, lish damage, air pollution,
gO\lernment reslrictions, elc.)
DEVELOPMENT WOAK (complete description, including as much as possible 01 the lollowing)
Sketch map Or mapa 01 development (H)
Number, name il any, dimensions snd elevalions 01 all surface culs, pits, trenches, portals, shaft collars
Same as aboye lar sil underground drifts, crosseuts, raises, wlnzes. and shafts
Areas 01 ground mlned out and Ihose Indicated as posslble or blocked-out ore
Location and direction 01 drill hales, and analylical work done en cores (1)
MINING AND BENEFICIATION
Deseripllon 01 mlning and milllng practica

Method 01 mining, moving, and treating ore

Costs known or estimated 01 treatment

List 01 mining equlpment

Descrptlon 01 plant

L1st 01 equipment

CondiUon 01 buildings

Klnd and amount 01 power avalable

Flow sheet and mine mapa (J)

ECONOMICS (these notes often eonlidental)

Costs 01 mning, milling, shpping, etc.
Tonnage or yardage reserves (measured, indeated, and inlerred)
Estimaled lile 01 operaton
Drawbacks to property
Aeasons lor present or poss/ble succass or la/ure
Owner's plans lar the luture
Aecommendations
A to J: Supplementary exhibts
NAME 01 examner _ _ _ _ __
DATE 01 examination:_
WORK DONE AND TIME SPENT in examlnatlon: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

AGI DATA SHEET 41.1

Investigation 01 Seismic Intensity

Robert Nason, U.S. Geological Survey

Seismlc inlenslly Is a measure 01 Ihe local dislurbance caused by the shaking 01 an earth
quake. Seismic inlensity differs Irom earthquake magnilude in Ihal Ihe strenglh 01 seismic shak
ing differs lrom place to place, whereas magnltude Is an absolute measure 01 Ihe size 01 Ihe
earthquake. Seismic-inlensily sludies indicale Ihe geographic pattern of Ihe earthquake dis
lurbance (isoseismal maps) and Ihe relalion 01 Ihe shaking lo local or regional geologic con
dilions.
The selsmlc-inlensity raling is eslimaled Irom the amount 01 dislurbance and local damage

~~=r~i~ee~~~~~~~::eai~~~J~~~e:~:~n~~~~~;~~Il:;e~~~6t~~~ ~:;~a~~~':!~:

may be misplaced as indicalors 01 slrenglh 01 shaking, particularly Ihe ground lailure effects
(Nason and Espinosa, 1977),
Inlenslly invesligations should focus on accurale descriplion 01 Ihe earthquake dislurbances
studiad, so thal accurale inlensily ralings can be assigned laler. The lollowing compllalion
lisIs mesl 01 Ihe common effecls 01 earthquake shaking,
Many seismic-inlensily scales have been construclad and usad in differenl parts 01 Ihe world,
Wood (1911) describes early intensily scales and Barosh (1969) lisIs differenl modern scales.
The 12-level Modilied Mercalli (MM) scale 01 Wood and Neumann (1931) and Richler (1958)
is widely used in Ihe Uniled Slales and is similar lo Ihe scales used elsewhere in Ihe wol1d
(excepl in Japan), Richler's (1958) version 01 Ihe MM scale is lisIad here, wilh aslerisks lo mark
criteria Iha! may be misleading as indicators 01 shaking,
References

Richler,

e,

F, 1958, Elementary seismology: W.H, Freeman Co" San Francisco, 736 p,

Wood, HO, 1911, The observalion 01 earlhquakes: Seismo!. Soc, Amer, Bull" v, 1, P 48-82
andl Neummn, F" 1931, Modified Mercall intensity scale 01 1931: Seismo!. Soc, Amar

AGI DATA SHEET 41.2

SEISMIC EFFECTS L1ST
A. Description 01 shaking
Felt by: lew, many, most, or all persoos.
Felt outdoors: sitting only, standing, moving.
Felt indoors: sitting only, standing, moving; on ground Iloor, upper Il00rs, tall buildings only.
Type 01 shaking: weak, strong; rOlling, sharp, episodic; what duration, what direction.
Dlsturbance of people

Sleepers awakened: none, lew, many, most, all; beds moved, people thrown out 01 bed.

People standing: no problem, difficulties, lall down.

Animals standing: no problem, diffculties, lall down.

People effects: nausea, d:zziness, uncertainty.

Nolses

Ground noises: none, rumbling, sharp (what drection).

Building noises: none, some, much (type 01 building).

Other noises: windows, doors, dishes, trees.

Other dlsturbances

T rees shaken, bent, branches/trunk broken.

Liquids moved, thrown Irom container.

Rnging 01 large/small bells.

Overhead wires vibrate, tighten, break.

Waves seen in ground: size, shape, direction, speed.

B. Dlsturbances In houses (type 01 building)

Small objects: unmoved, rocked, shifted, lallen; some, many.
Kitchen objects: unmoved, rocked, shifted, lallen.
Books on shelves: unmoved, shifted, lallen.
Fumiture

Light lurniture: unmoved, shifted (how much), overturned.

Heavy lurniture: unmoved, shifted (how much), overturned.

Tall objects: unmoved, shifted (how much), overturned.

Heavy appliances: unmoved, shifted (how much), broken (type).

Type 01 1I00r: carpet, wood. linoleum, cemen!.

Other

Hanging lamps: unmoved, swing, hit ceiling.

Hanging pictures: unmoved, shifted, turned, lallen.

Pendulum clocks: unchanged, stopped, started, lost time.

Water spilt: fish tanks, toilet tanks.

C. Dlsturbances In stores
Items lallen, shelves shifted.
Type 01 $lore, type 01 lloor.
Furniture atores (small, medium, large, warehouse)

Shell items: unmoved, shifted (how much), lallen (how many).

Tall items: unmoved, shifted (how much), overturned.

Heavy lurniture: unmoved, shifted (how much), overturned

Type 01 lloor: carpet, linoleum, wood, concrete.

Food stores (small, large, supermarket)

Fall 01 shell items: none, some, many, aisles blocked; wall shelves, central shelves.

Central shelves: u nmoved , shifted (how much), overturned.

Bookstores, libreries (ground lloor, upper floor)

Books: unmoved. shifted, lall (direction 01 shelves).

Shelves: unmoved. shifted, collapSed (anchored?).

AGI DATA SHEET 41.3

D. Building damage
Type: house, store, factory; one-story, multi-story; wood, brick, stone (type), concrete, adobe,
other.

Age: pre-1900, pre-1935, pre-1965, POSI-1965.

Damage: none, sorne, twisted, tilted, fallen walls, cOllapsed.

Bricklmasonry walls: uncracked, cracked, fallen (how much); parapet, upper wall below para
pet, whole wall.
Chimneys: uncracked, cracked, shifted, bricks thrown, fallen.
Foundation damage: slab, wall, pillar; concrete, briCk, wood; no damage, cracked, shfted,
(how mUCh), overturned.
Inside plasler: uncracked, cracked, fissured, fallen.

Outsde plasterfstucco: uncracked, cracked, falln.

House or slore windows: uncracked, cracked, broken.

Roof tiles: unmoved, shifted, fallen.

Air cooler: unmoved, shftedfrotated, fallen.

E. Other disturbances
Factory smokestacks: cracked, shilted, top lallen, lallen.

Heavy machinery: shifted, anchors broken, overturned.

Statues, cemetery monuments: unmoved, shiftedfrolaled, fallen; none, few, many, most, al!.

Water tanks: unmoved, shifted, fallen; water spilt; ground level, elel/ated, type of support, size.

Outdoor walls: loose stone, shaped stone, brick, concrete; undamaged, cracked, shifted, fal
len (how much).

Parked cars: unmoved, rocked, shifted, rolled.

Moving cars: shaking not noticed, lke lIat tire, hard to control.

Rallroad engineslcars (standing/moving): rolled, overturned.

F. Ground disturbance
Type of ground: rock, soil, clay/mud, wetJdry; level, sloped, cut-slope, flll, vaUey bonom.

Cracks: none, small, large (what size), ground shifted; panern, relatlon to topography.

Landslides: slight, minor, major (what size).

Rockfalls: single rock, many rocks (about how many).

River banks shifted; river bonom uplifted.

Fault cracks: primary, secondary, amount 01 offset.

Liquefaction elfeets: fountains, sand bols, land spreading.

Ground settlement: wavy surface, irregularities, grabens.

Escape of gas: flow, odor, flame.

Boulder movement in soll: deformed soj, shifted position, thrown.

Railroad tracks: straight, bent (how much), senled.

Streetslhighways: cracked, broken-up, shifted, senled.

Underground pipes: size, type; leak, broken, shifted.

Bridges: twisted, compressed, piars shifted, span fallen.

Water springs: changed flow, dried-up, muddied. temperature change.

Water wells: changed flow, muddied. sanded, collapsed.

Dust rises:lrom fractures. from ground.

G. Distant effects
Oscillation of lakes, canals, rivers.

Changes in springs, water wells.

Motion of hanging objeets.

Nausea, dizziness 01 people.

H. AHershock infonnation
Number, time, description 01 disturbance.

AGI DATA SHEET 41.4

MODIFIED MERCALLI SEISMIC INTENSITY SCALE

From Richter, 1958

1. Not lelt. Marginal and long-period effects 01 large earthquakes.

11. Felt by persons at rest, on upper Iloors, or lavorably placed.
111. Felt indoors. Hanging objects swing. Vibration like passing 01 light trucks. Duration esti
mated. May not be recognized as an earthquake.

~~a~a~~:~~ri~~~~~~es:~~~ ~i~~~1~;~~~tr~~~~n~~h0f~~:~~~~~!:ed~~~~~~~a~!~~~:

..
a
clink. Crockery clashes. Wooden walls and Irame creak.
V. Felt outdoors; direction estimated. Sleepers wakened. Liquids disturbed, some spilled.
Small unstable objects displaced or upset. Doors swing, close, open. Shuners, pictures move.
Pendulum clocks stop, start, change rate.
VI. Felt by all. Many Irightened and run outdoors. People walk unsteadily. Windows, dishes,
glassware broken. Knickknacks, books, etc., off shelves. Pictures off walls. Furniture moved
or overturned. Weak plaster and masonry D (weak masonry) cracked. Small bells ring (church,
school). Trees, bushes shaken visibly, or heard to ruslle.
VII. Difficult to stand. Noticed by drivers 01 motor cars. Hanging objects quiver. Furniture
broken. Damage to masonry D, including cracks. Weak chimneys broken at rool line. Fall 01
plaster, loose bricks, stones, tiles, cornices, unbraced parapets, and architectural ornaments.
Some cracks in masonry C (ordinary masonry). Waves on ponds; water turbid with mud. Small
slides and caving in along sand or gravel banks. Large belis ringo Concrete irrigation ditches
damaged.
VIII. Steering 01 motor cars affected. Damage to masonry C; partial collapse 01 masonry D.
Some damage to masonry B (good masonry); none to masonry A (excellent masonry). Fall
01 stucco and some masonrv walls. TwistinQ. lall 01 chimnevs. lactorv smokestacks, monuments,
towers, elevated tanks. Frame houses moved on loundations il not bolted down; loose panel
walls thrown out. Decayed piling broken off.' Branches broken Irom trees . Changes in Ilow
or temperature 01 springs and wells. Cracks in wet ground and on steep slopes .
IX. General panic. Masonry D destroyed; masonry C heavily damaged, sometimes with
complete collapse; masonry B seriously damaged. General damage to loundations. Frame
structures shifted off loundations, il not bolted. Frames racked. Serious damage to reservoirs .
.Underground pipes broken. Conspicuous cracks in ground. In alluviated areas sand and
mud ejected, earthquake lountains, sand craters.
X. Most masonry and Irame structures destroyed with their loundations. Some well-built
wooden structures and bridges destroyed . Serious damage to dams, dikes, embankments .
Large landslides. Water thrown on banks 01 canals, rivers, lakes, etc . Sand and mud shifted
horizontally on beaches and Ilat lands. Rails bent slightly.
XI. Rails bent greally. Underground pipelines completely out 01 service.
XII. Damage nearly total. Large rock masses displaced.' Lines 01 sight and level distorted.
Objects thrown into the air.
*These criteria may be misleading as a measure 01 the strength 01 shaking.

AGI DATA SHEET 42.1

Geologic Study of Earthquake Effects

- - - - _......._-
by M. G. Bonilla and E. H. Bailey, U.S. Gel":ogical Survey
This check list suggests desirable geologic observations 01 surface changes that accompany
moderate 10 large earthquakes_ Other AGI Data sheets deal with engineering and sesmological
observations pertaining lo earthquakes Ihal may or may nOI have surface eflecls_
Field study is elleclively begun by low-allitude aerial reconnaissance lor landslides and major
faulting, combined with ground invesligation 01 all known and suspecled faults near the epi
center. Places where paved roads cross laulls are particularly informative. Study lirst those
leatures that may be modilied or destroyed in a few hours or days, leaving those 01 greater
permanence untillater. Carefully search beyond the apparent ends of fault ruptures to be sure
that the lulllength 01 the laulling is mapped. and look lor subsidiary laulting outside the maln
lault zone. Queslion local residents, who are often aware 01 earthquake-related geological
phenomena. as a supplement to reconnaissance. Record and report Ihe route lollowed and
the time, so thal others know what area was examined and when. Plol data on aerial pholos
or large-scate maps, or locale relative to slable landmarks, to geographic coordinales, or lo
numbered stations on maps.
One should decide and report whether observed effecls are Ihe direcl result 01 teclonic move
men! or are secondary, as this aclion often leads 10 recording perlinen! evidence tha! o!her
01 the rock, uncon
wise would be missed. In areas of nonteclonic lailure, record Ihe
solidaled deposit, or artilicial fill, and if possible gel the deplh to
water table_
Much dala 01 geologic implication can be learned Irom Ihe displacemenl 01 canals, tunnels,
and other artificial structures. II the geologlst can work closely with an engneer the result will
be a belter mulual understanding 01 Ihe relalions between geologic processes or geologic condi
lions and specific kinds 01 structural damage.
FAUlTS
Positlon:

Map as accuralely as possible_ Show dip.

Oisplacement: Normal. reversa. righl- or left-slip. Or combinalion?

Measure slip (magnitude and dlreclion) at inlervals along laul!. II separation Is mea
sured. record enough dala so tha! slip can be calculaled. Give opinion as to whether
the series 01 measured slips probably includes the largest Ihat occurred anywhere
on the lault
Idenlify measurement locations and remeasure displacements later to detect afterslip_

Note evidence 01 compression or extension.

Is apparent displacement distoned by horizontal or vertical drag or elastic rebound?

Measure change in displacement with increase 01 distance lrom laull.

Record length. orientaton, and number of fractures wthin rupture zona.
Measure width 01 fractured or disloned zone al inlervals along (aul!.
Rock or unconsolidated
Material:
Describe.

gouge, breccia. slickensides, mylonile, other?

Effecl 01 movemant on
Topographic leatures? Older faul!?
alleration?
Relation too
Other laults 01 same age lo lorm en
or other paltern. or hors! and graben?
Cracks. pressure ridges, lurrows,
Have strong or weak rock masses
trace 01 laull?
SCARPS
Posillon:

side.

component 01 lault movement il possible.

Attltude:

Record dip 01 scarp lace ando it exposed, 01 related lault

Change in dip related lO different material cut?

Relation lo:

Topography? Other scarps? Graben al their base? Earthquake lault, other lault, or

landslide?

Origln:

Faulting, landsliding, lurching. liquelactian, compaction. other?

EI/ects on:
FISSURES

Drainage, streams, shorelines, structures, olhers?

Posltlon:

Map. II lOO numerous. record spacing, patlern. and orienlaliOn. Relation 10 steep

slopes. laulls. or landslides?

Dimensione:

Width? length?

Attitude:

Dip 01 walls? Relative movemenl 01 walls?

Material:
Origln:

Rack, sand. silt. or clay? At surtace; at depth? In place?

Faulting, landsliding, lurching, liquelaction. compacton, other?

Enlarged by runoff?

Time 01 opening relative to earthquake and rainlall?

AGI DS-rmt-82

AGI DATA SHEET 42.2

~~~--~-------------------------------------

DISTORTION OF LINEAR OR PLANAR ELEMENTS

Show on map; give amount.

Horizontal or vertical?
Relalad 10 drag, elaslic rebound, or other processes?
Material:
Rock or unconsolidatad deposits? Kind? In place?
Effeets:
Mole tracks and pressure ridges; relalion lo active fault?
Uplift, submergenee, or tilting 01 shore lines? Amount?
Dverted, ponded, or distorted drainage?
Decreasad slope stability causing slides, lurbidily eurrenls?
Deformalon 01 artificial struclures?
LANDSLIOES (ineludes rOCkfalls)
Posftlon:
Show location and size on map. Show scarps, slide mass, direction 01 movement.
Relation lo earthquake fault, olher laults, older landslide?
Altllude:
Inclination and orientation 01 original slope; 01 sliding sur/aee?

Posllion:
Klnd:

Malerlal:

Movemenl:

Klnd:
Effeels:

Rock or unconsolidated deposit? Kind? Wet or dry? Springs?

Are cohesive deposits soft or stiff?
Are noncohasive deposits loosa or dan se?
Tltickness 01 slide material?
Amount?
By lalling, toppling, flowing. spreading, sliding, or combinalion?
Broken inlO lew or many parts? Did parts rotate? Time 01 movement relativa to earth
quakes?
Use classilication 01 Transportation Research Board (Varnes, 1978).
Production 01 scarps and lissures?
Diversion or damming 01 drainage? Production 01 waves in water?
Trees down or tilted? Other effects?

SUBSIOENCES

Posillon:
Show amount and areal limits on map,

Malerlal:
Unconsolidated deposit or rock? Describa in sama detall as lor landslides.

Kind:

Warp causad by tectonies, compaction, liquelaction, or olher process?

Graben? COllapsed cavern? Lateral or vertical ftow 01 underlying material?

Effeels on:

Su r/aea , !opography. drainaga, elc?

Shorelines? Water lable and springs? Artificial structures?

OISCHARGES OF WATER ANO UNCONSOLIDATEO MATERIALS

Posltlon:
Klnd:

Show on map by appropriate symbols.

Sand boil, sand mound. mud volcano, elaslie dike, spring?

Earthquake lounlains observad? Time relalive 10 earthquake?

Height, duration. and lime 01 ftow relative to slrong shaking?

Malerial:

Sand, silt, clay; water; olher?

Glva dimensions and grain sizes 01 deposits.
Source 01 matarial? Depth to source?

Relallon lo:

Area 01 subsidence? Compaction? Trace 01 laull?

Changed water levels in wells? Changed or naw springs?

MISCELLANEOUS EFFECTS
Tsunamis,
Loeation 01 sltores allectad and direction 01 wave movemen!?

Seiehes,
Height reachad? Time 01 arrival? Numbar and periodicity 01 waves?

and Local
Modilicalion 01 landlorms?

Wsves:
Transported objecls: material, size, weighl, dislanee movad?

Record changes in dlscharge, turbidlly, temperalure, etc. and relate to time 01 earth
Slraams and
Springs:
quake.
Starting time relalive to main or subsequent earthquakes?
Turbidity
Size. speed, distance travellad?

eurrents:
Malerial and topographic se\1ing al source; al site 01 deposition?

Position 01 source relative to earthquake laull or epicenler?

Traes:

Nesls enlarged by rocking? Chippad by mutual impact? Thrown Irom nest? Rollad
Irom nest? Direction 01 movement? Bouldar Irails? Give size range 01 boulders that
moved vs, those Ihal did nol.
Record location, size, and direction 01 lall or IlIt 01 traes alleeled by earthquake.

Glaciers:

Advance, relreat, or no change? Nole large avalanches onto glaciers.

Voleanie
sellvily:

Describe, il seemingly related lo Ihe earthquake.

Boulders:

Reference

Varnes. D. J .. 1978. Slope movemenl types and processes, in Sehuster, R. L., and Krizak, R. J .. eds.

Landslldes, analysis and conlrol: Nalional Research Council, Transportation Research Board Special
Reporl 176, p. 11-33.

AGI DATA SHEET 43.1

Checklist for

Effects

devise<! by Kart Steinbrugge

More complete checklists are in "Learning from Earthquakes," Oakland, California, Earthquake
Engineering Research Institute, 1977, 200p.
Earthquake time:

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ Dale: _ _ _'_ _.,_ _~_ .._ _

Type 01 structure or Inetallation: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ __

Briel description: _ _,._._ _ _ _ _ _,... _ _ _ _ . _ _ _ _ _ _ . _ __

localion: _ _ _ _ __
Date 01 inspeclion: _ _ _ _ __

(1) Observed damage

(4) Effecls al sile during shock

None

Severe

Slight

leaning

Reportad by others

Collapse

(a) Molion

Considerable

(a) Non-1ltructural elements

Plasler

Tila
Ornamentalion

O
O

Bracing

Cracked

Fallen

Foundation

Frame

Rolling

Slow
Jarring
Eslimated duration ___._ _ _ seconds.

Outside

Insida

(b) Slructural elements

Salid walls

Fas!

Cracked
Fallen

Brick

Observed

(b) Shifting, all 01 small objects, heavy objects

Yes O

No O

(5) Remarks and dlagrams: -

- -_ _

(2) Observed repair.

None
Painting

Wall damage
O
Other _ _.._ __

O
O

Plastering

(3) Ground data

(a) Ground under structure
Rock

Compact

Marshy
Other _

Soil
Loose

O
..._ _.. _

Filled, with
CUI

Sloping

Natural

Level

(b) Ground cracks

Name _ _ _ _ _

Sliding

Address

None

Few

Local

Many

General

None

Subsidence or Heaving
None

Local

General O

(e) Signs 01 loundation movemenl or rocking?

Yes O
AGIDS65

Person making inspeclion: _ _.._ _ __

Sleep
O
Olher ..._ _ _, _

No:::J

.. _ _ _ __

Pleasemai! copy lo:

Branch 01 Global Seismology
U.S, Geological Survey
Denl/er Federal Center
Denver CO 80225

AGI DATA SHEET 44.1

Major Public Sources 01 Geological Information

The lollowing lists give addresses 01 organizations in the Unted States, Canada,
and member countries 01 the International Union 01 Geological Sciences (IUGS) that
provide general and basic inlormation on geology. In addtion, in the United States,
other state agencies are con cerned with regulation or control 01 mineral industries
in the particular state nvolved, and there are offices 01 the U.S. Geological Survey
devoted to mineralleasing and management 01 public domain, and district offices
01 a specialzed nature concerned with water resources, topographic mapping, etc.
Inlormation on the location and lunction 01 these specialized agencies may be ob
tained in each state Irom the offices listed below.

U.S. STATE SURVEYS

Alabama
Geologcal Survey 01
Alabama
Box D
Tuscaloosa. Ala.

35486-9780

(205) 349-2852

Alaska
Dvsion 01 Geological
& Geophysical
Surveys
794 Universty Ave.,

Suite 200

Fairbanks, Alaska

99709

(907) 479-7625

Arizona
Geological Survey

Branch

845 N. Park Ave., Suite

100

Tucson, Ariz. 85719

(602) 621-7906

Arkansas
Geological Commission

Vardelle Parham

Geology Center

3815 W. Roosevelt

Road

Little Rock, Ark. 72204

(501) 371-1488

California
Department of

Conservation

Division 01 Mines &

Geology

1416 Ninth St., Room

1341

Sacramento, Calit.

95814

(916) 445-1923

AGI.DSjtd-89

Colorado
Geological Survey

1313 Sherman St.,

Room 715

Denver, Colo. 80203

Hawaii
Division 01 Water &
Land Development

Box 373

Honolulu. Hawaii

(303) 866-2611

96809

(808) 548-7533

Connecticut
Natural Resources
Center
Department 01 En
vironmental
Protecton
State Dllice Building

165 Capitol Ave., Room

553

Hartlord. Conn. 06106

(203) 566-3540

Delaware
Geological Survey

University 01 Delaware

Newark, Del. 19716

(302) 451-2833

Florida
Bureau 01 Geology
Department 01 Natural
Resources
903 W. Tennessee St.
Tallahassee, Fla.
32304-7795

(904) 488-4191

Georgla
Geologic Survey
Department of Natural

Resources, Room

400

19 Martn Luther King,

Jr., Orive, S.w.

Atlanta, Ga. 30334

(404) 656-3214

Idaho
Geological Survey

University 01 Idaho

Morrill Hall, Room 332

Moscow, Idaho 83843

(208) 885-7991 or

885-6195

IIlInols
State Geological

Survey

Natural Resources

Building

615 E. Peabody Orive,

Room 121

Champaign, 111. 61820

(217) 333-5111 or

333-4747

Indiana
Geological Survey
611 N. Walnut Grove
Bloomington. Ind.
47405

(812) 335-2862

lowa
Geologlcal Survey
Bureau
Department 01 Natural
Resources

123 N. Capitol SI.

lowa Cay, lowa 52242

(319) 335-1575

AGI DATA SHEET 44.2

Kansas
Geological Survey
1930 Constant Ave.,
West Campus
University 01 Kansas
Lawrence, Kan. 66046
(913) 864-3965

Mississippi
Bureau 01 Geology
Department 01 Natural
Resources
Box 5348
Jackson, Miss. 39216
(601) 354-6228

Kentucky
Geological Survey
University 01 Kentucky
228 Mining & Mineral
Resources Building
Lexington, Ky.
40506-0107
(606) 257-5500

Missouri
Department 01 Natural
Resources
Division 01 Geology &
Land Survey
111 Fairgrounds Road
Box 250
Rolla, Mo. 65401
(314) 364-1752

Louisiana
Geological Survey
Box G
Baton Rouge, La.
70893
(504) 388-5320
Maine
Geological Survey
Department 01
Conservation
State House, Station
22
Augusta, Maine 04333
(207) 289-2801
Maryland
Geological Survey
2300 SI. Paul SI.
Baltimore, Md. 21218
(301) 554-5503
Massachusetts
Executive Off ice 01 En
vironmental Affairs
100 Cambridge St.,
20th Floor
Boston, Mass. 02202
(617) 727-9800
Michigan
Geological Survey
Division
Department 01 Natural
Resources
Box 30028
Lansing, Mich. 48909
(517) 334-6923
Minnesota
Geological Survey
2642 University Ave.
St. Paul, Minn.
55114-1057
(612) 627-4780

Montana
Bureau 01 Mines &
Geology
Montana College 01
Mineral Science &
Technology
Butte, Mont. 59701
(406) 496-4180
Nebraska
Conservation & Survey
Division
Institute 01 Agriculture
& Natural Resources
113 Nebraska Hall
University 01 Nebraska
Lincoln, Neb.
68588-0517
(402) 472-3471
Nevada
Bureau 01 Mines &
Geology
University 01
Nevada-Reno
Reno, Nev. 89557-0088
(702) 784-6691
New Hampshire
Department 01 Envi ron mental Services
117 James Hall
University 01 New
Hampshire
Durham, N.H. 03824
(603) 862-3160
New Jersey
Geological Survey
Division 01 Water
Resources, CN-029
Trenton, N.J. 08625
(609) 292-1185

New Mexico
Bureau 01 Mines &
Mineral Resources
Campus Station
Socorro, N.M. 87801
(505) 835-5420
New York
State Geological
Survey
3136 Cultural Educa
tion Center
Empire State Plaza
Albany, N.Y. 12230
(518) 474-5816
North Carolina
Department 01 Natural
Resources & Com
munity Development
Division 01 Land
Resources
Box 27687
Raleigh, N.C. 27611
(919) 733-3833
North Dakota
Geological Survey
University Station
Grand Forks, N.D.
58202-8156
(701) 777-2231
Ohio
Department 01 Natural
Resources
Division 01 Geological
Survey
Fountain Square,
Building B
Columbus, Ohio 43224
(614) 265-6605
Oklahoma
Geological Survey
University 01 Oklahoma
830 Van Vleet Oval,
Room 163
Norman, Okla. 73019
(405) 325-3031
Oregon
Department 01 Geology
& Mineral Industries
910 State Office
Building
1400 S.w. Fifth Ave.
Portland, Ore.
97201-5528
(503) 229-5580

AG. DATA SHEET 44.3

Pennsylvanla
Bureau of Topographc
& Geologic Survey
Oepartment 01 En
vronmental
Resources
Box 2357
Harrisburg, Pa. 17120
(717) 787-2169

Tennessee
Oepartment 01
Conservation
Ovsion 01 Geology
Customs House, 701
Broadway
Nashvlle, Tenn.
37219-5237
(615) 742-6691

Puerto Rico
Servicio Geologico de
Puerto Rico
Oepartmento de Recur
sos Naturales
Apartado 5887
Puerta de Tierra
San Juan, Puerto Rico
00906
(809) 724-8774

Texas
Bureau of Economic
Geology
University 01 Texas at
Austin
University Slalion, Box X
Austn, Texas
78713-7508
(512) 471-1534

Rhode Island
Oepartment of Geology
Green Hall
Universily 01 Rhode
Island
Kingston, R.I. 02881
(401) 792-2265
South Carolina
Geological Survey
Harbison Forest Road
Columbia, S.C. 29210
(803) 737-9440
South Dakota
Geological Survey
Oepartment 01 Water &
Natural Resources
Science Center
Universty 01 South
Oakota
Vermillion, S.O.
57069-2390
(605) 677-5227

U.S. Virgin Islands

Caribbean Research
Institute
College of the Vlrgln
Islands
SI. Thomas, Unted
States
Virgin Islands 00801
(809) 774-9200
Utah
Geological & Mineral
Survey
606 Black Hawk Way
Salt Lake City, Utah
84108-1280
(801) 581-6831
Vermont
Oflice 01 the State
Geologst
103 S. Maln SI.
Center Building
Waterbury, VI. 05676
(802) 244-5164

Virginia
Oivision of Mineral
Resources
Box 3667
Charlottesville, Va.
22903
(804) 293-5121
Washington
Geology & Earth
Resources Oivision
Oepartmenl 01 Natural
Resources
Olympia, Wash. 98504
(206) 459-6372
West Virginia
Geological & Economic
Survey
Mont Chateau
Research Center
Box 879
Morgantown, W.va.
26507-0879
(304) 594-2331
Wlsconsin
Geological & Natural
History Survey
University of Wisconsin
3817 Mineral Point
Road
Madison, Wis. 53705
(608) 263-7384 or
262-1705
Wyoming
Geological Survey 01
Wyoming
Box 3008
Unversity Station
University 01 Wyoming
Laramie, Wyo. 82071
(307) 742-2054 or
721-3920

AGI DATA SHEET 44.4

U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Headquarters
USGS
12201 Sunrise Valley
Drive
R esto n , Va. 22092
(703) 648-4000
Alaska
USGS
4230 University Drive,
Suite 201
Anchorage, Alaska
99508-4664
(907) 271-4138

USGS
Alaska Distribution
Section
101 12th Ave., Box 12
Fairbanks, Alaska
99701
(907) 452-1951
Arizona
USGS
2255 N. Gemini Drive
Flagstaff, Ariz. 86001
(602) 527-7150
California
USGS
345 Middlefield Road
Menlo Park, Calil.
94025
(415) 329-4000
Colorado
USGS
Denver Federal Center
MS 911, Box 25046
Denver, Colo.
80225-0046
(303) 236-5438

USGS
Distribution Branch
Building 810
Denver Federal Center
Box 25286
Denver, Colo. 80225
(303) 236-5900
USGS
Books and Open-File
Reports Section
Federal Center
Box 25425
Denver, Colo. 80225
(303) 236-7476

USGS
National Earthquake In
lormation Center
MS 967, Box 25046
Denver Federal Center
Denver, Colo. 80225
(303) 236-1500
Hawaii
USGS
Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory
Box 51
Hawaii National Park,
Hawaii 96718-0051
(808) 967-7328
Massachusetts
USGS
Branch 01 Atlantic
Marine Geology
Quissett Campus
Woods Hole, Mass.
02543
(508) 548-8700
Nevada
USGS
Office of Mineral
Resources
Reno Field Office
Mackay School 01
Mines
University 01
Nevada-Reno
Reno, Nev. 89557-0047
(702) 784-5574
Puerto Rico
USGS
Marine Geology
Division
Box 5917, Puerta de
Tierra Station
San Juan, Puerto Rico
00906
(809) 729-6935
South Dakota
USGS
EROS Data Center
Sioux Falls, S.D. 57198
(605) 594-6151
Virginia
USGS
Earth Science Inlorma
tion Center
507 National Center
Reston, Va. 22092
(703) 684-5920

USGS
Hydrologic Inlormation
Unit
419 National Center
Reston, Va. 22092
(703) 648-6817
USGS
Geologic Inquiries
Group
907 National Center
Reston, Va. 22092
(703) 648-4383
Department 01 Interior
Minerals Management
Services
381 Elden SI., MS 634
Herndon, Va.
22070-4817
(703) 787-1414
Washington
USGS
Off ice 01 Mineral
Resources
Spokane Field Oflice,
Room 656
U.S. Courthouse
Spokane, Wash. 99201
(509) 353-2642

USGS
Cascades Volcano
Observatory
5400 MacArthur Blvd.
Vancouver, Wash.
98661
(206) 696-7860
Washington, D.C.
USGS
Earth Science Informa
tion Center
18th and C streets,
NW.
Washington, D.C.
20240
(202) 343-8073

USGS and Bureau 01

Mines
Minerals Inlormation
Olfice
18th and C streets,
N.w.
Washington, D.C.
20240
(202) 343-2647

AGI DATA SHEET 44.5

CANADIAN PROVINCIAL SURVEYS
Alberta
Newfoundland
Alberta Geological
Government 01 New
Survey
foundland and
Alberta Research
Labrador
Council
Department 01 Mines
and Energy
Box 8330, Postal Sta
tion F
Geological Survey
Edmonton, Alberta T6H
Branch
5X2
Box 8700
(403) 438-7555
SI. John's, New
foundland A1B 4J6
British Columbia
(709) 576-2301
Geological Survey
Northwest Territories
Branch
Geoiogy Division
Mineral Resources
Northern Affairs ProDivision
gram,INAC
Ministry 01 Energy,
Box 1500
Mines and
Yellowknife, Northwest
Petroleum
Territories X1A 2R3
Resources
Parliament Buldings
(403) 920-8212
Victoria, British Colum
Nova Scotia
bia V8V 1X4
Nova Scotia Depart
(604) 387-0688
ment 01 Mines and
Manitoba
Energy
Box 1087
Geological Services
Halilax, Nova Scotia
Branch
Mineral Resources
B3J 2X1
Division
(902) 4244161
Department 01 Energy
Ontario
and Mines
Ontario Geological
Eaton Place
Survey
535-330 Graham Ave.
Mines and Minerals
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Division
R3C 4E3
Ministry 01 Northern
(204) 945-6569
Development and
Mines
New Brunswick
Geological Surveys
77 Grenville St., West,
Branch
Room 1121
Toronto, Ontario M7A
New Brunswick Depart
ment of Natural
1W4
(416) 9651283
Resources and
Energy
Box 6000
Fredericton,
Brunswick
5H1
(506) 453-3687

Prlnce Edward Island

Energy and Minerals
Branch
Department 01 Energy
and Forestry
Box 2000
Charlottetown, Prince
Edward Island C1A
7N8
(902) 368-5010
Qubec
Exploration gologique
el minral (Mines)
Ministere de l'Energie
et des Ressources
Gouvernement du
Qubec
1620, boulevard de
'Entente
Qubec, (Qubec) G1S
4N6
(418) 643-4617
Saskatchewan
Geology and Mines
Division
Saskatchewan Energy
and Mines
Toronto Dominion Bank
Building
1914 Hamilton SI.
Regina, Saskatchewan
S4P 4V4
(306) 787-2560
Yukon Territory
Exploration and
Geological Services
Division
Indian and Northern
Affairs, Canada
200 Range Road
Whitehorse, Yukon Ter
ritory Y1A 3V1
(403) 667-3201

AGI DATA SHEET 44.6

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF CANADA
Headquarters
Continental Geo
601 Booth SI.
science and
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
Mineral Resources
OE8
Branch
(613) 996-3919
601 Booth SI., Room
213
GSC Sector
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
580 Booth St., Room
OE8
2064
(613) 995-4093
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
OE4
(613) 992-5910
Programs, Planning
and Services
Branch
580 Booth St., Room
2064
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
OE4
(613) 995-4482
Program Coordination
and Planning
Divlsion
601 Booth St., Room
212
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
OE8
(613) 995-5937
Geoscience Informa
tlon Dlvlslon
601 Booth St.. Room
263
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
OE8
(613) 995-4089
Polar Continental
Shelf Project
344 Wellington St.,
Room 6137
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
OE4
(613) 990-6987

Lithosphere and
Canadian Shield
Division
601 Booth St., Room
459
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
OE8
(613) 995-4314
Mineral Resources
Divislon
601 Booth SI., Room
665
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
OE8
(613) 9969223
Sedimentary and
Marine Geoscience
Branch
580 Booth St., Room
2054
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
OE4
(613) 9925265
Institute o, Sedimen
tary and Petroleum
Geology
3303-33rd SI. N.W.
Calgary, Alberta T2l
2A7
(403) 284-0345

Atlantic Geoscience
Centre
Bedford Institute 01
Oceanography
Box 1006
Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia B2Y 4A2
(902) 4263448
Cordilleran Division
100 W, Pender SI.
Vancouver, British Col
umbia V6B 1R8
(604) 666-0529
Paciflc Geoscience
Centre
Box 6000
9860 W. Saanich Road
Sidney, British Colum
bia V8l 4B2
(604) 356-6433
Geophyslcs and Ter
rain Sciences
Branch
601 Booth SI., Room
227
Ottawa. Ontario K1A
OE8
(613) 995-0623
Geophysics Dlvision
1 Observatory Crescent
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
OY3
(613) 995-5484
Terrain Sciences
Division
601 Booth S., Room
361
Ottawa, Ontario K1A
OE8
(613) 995-4938

AGI DATA SHEET 44.7

INTERNATIONAL GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS
Algeria
Bolivia
Direction des Mines et
Servicio Gelogico de
de la Geologie
Bolivia (GEOBOL)
Ministare de l'lndustrie
Federico Zuazo, Esq.
Lourde
Reyes Ortiz
Rue Ahmed Bey de
Casilla de Correos 2729
Constantine
La Paz
Immeuble "Le
BOLIVIA
Colysee"
Botswana
Algiers
Geologcal Survey
ALGERIA
Department
Minstry of Mineral
Angola
Resources and
DireCQao de l3erviQOs
de Geologia e Minas
Water Affairs
Caixa Postal 1260-C
Prvate Bag 14
Luanda
Lobatse
ANGOLA
BorSWANA
Argentina
Servicio Geolgico
Nacional
Secretaria de Estado
de Mineria
Avenida Santa Fe 1548
1060 Buenos Aires
ARGENTINA
Australia
Bureau 01 Mineral
Resources, Geology,
and Geophysics
P.O. Bol(. 378
Canberra City
A.C.T. 2601
AUSTRALIA
Austria
Geologische
Bundesanstalt
Rasumofskygasse 23
A-1031 Vienna
AUSTRIA
Bangladesh
Geological Survey of
Bangladesh
153 Pioneer Road
Shegunbagicha
Dhaka-l000
BANGLADESH
Belgium
Service Gologique de
Belgique

13 Rue Jenner

1040 Brussels

BELGIUM

Brazil
Rio Doce Geolgica e
Mineracao S/A
(DOCEGEO)
Companhia Vale do
Rio Doce (CVRD)
Av. Presidente Wlson
210, 11 Andar
22030 Rio de Janeiro, RJ
BRAZIL
Bulgaria
Geological InsUtute
Acad. G. Bonchev
Street, Block 24
Sofia 1113
BULGARIA
Burklna Faso
Bureau Voltaique de la
Gologie et des
Mines
B.P. 601
Ouagadougou
BURKINA FASO
Burundi
Ministare de l'Energe
el des Mines
B.P. 745

Bujumbura

BURUNDI

Cameraon
Institut de Recherches
Gologiques et
Miniares
B.P. 4110
Yaound
CAMEROON

Chile
Servicio Nacional de
Geologa y Minera
(SERNAGEOMIN)
Teatinos 120, Piso 9
Santiago
CHILE
China
Ministry 01 Geology
and Mineral
Resources
64 Fucheng Mennei
Street
Beijing 00812
CHINA
Colombia
Instituto Nacional de
Investigaciones
Geolgico Mineras
(INGEOMINAS)
Diagonal 53 no. 34-53
Apartado Areo 4865
Bogot, D.E.
COLOMBIA
Cuba
Instituto de Geologa
Academia de Ciencias
de Cuba
Ave. Van-Troi no. 17203
Rancho BoyerosApartado Postal 10
La Habana
CUBA
Cyprus
Geological Survey
Department
Ministry of Agriculture
and Natural
Resources
Nicosia
CYPRUS
Czechoslovakia
Usti'edn ustav
geologicky
Malostransk namesti 19
118 21 Praha 1-Mala
Strana

CZECHOSLOVAKIA

Denmark
Geological Survey 01
Denmark
Thoravej 8
DK-2400 Copenhagen
NV
DENMARK

AGI DATA SHEET 44.8

Ecuador
Direccin General de
Geologa y Minas
Ministerio de Recursos
Naturales y
Energticos
Carrin no. 1016 y
Pez
Quito
ECUADOR
Egypt
Geological Survey and
Mning Authorty
4 Salah Salem Road
Abbassia
Cairo
EGYPT
Finland
Geological Survey 01
Finland
Betonimiehenkuja 4
02150 Espoo
FINLAND
France
Bureau de Recherches
GOlogiques et
Miniares (BRGM)
B.P.6009
45060 Orlans Cedex
FRANCE
German Democratlc
Republic
Gesellschaft lr
Geologische
Wissenschaften d.
DDR
Invalidenslrasse 43
1040 Berlin
GERMAN
DEMOCRATIC

REPUBlIC

Germany, Federal
Republic of
Bundesanstalt lr
Geowissenschaften
und Rohstoffe (BGR)
(Geobund)
Alfred-Benlz-Haus
PosUach 510153
Stilleweg 2
3000 Hannover 51
FEDERAL REPUBlIC
OF GERMANY

Ghana
Geologcal Survey 01
Ghana
P.O. Box M 80
Accra
GHANA
Greece
Institute 01 Geological
and Mning
Research (IGMR)
70 Mesogton Street
GR-115 27 Athens
GREECE
Greenland
Gr~nlands Geologiske
Unders~gelser

Ostervoldgade 10, Tr.

KL
DK-1350 Copenhagen
K
DENMARK
Guatemala
Divisin de Geologa
Avenida las Amricas
5-76, Zona 13
Guatemala, C.A.
GUATEMALA
Guyana
Geology and Mines
Commission
68 Brickdam
Georgetown
GUYANA
Hungary
Kzponti Fldlani
Hivatal [Central 01
lice 01 Geology[
H-10ll Budapest, 1.
Iskola u. 19-27
HUNGARY
Iceland
Divison 01 Geology
and Geography
Museum 01 Natural
History
Laugavegi 105 and
Hverfisgta 116
P.o. Box 5320
105 Reykjavik
ICELAND

India
Geological Survey 01
India
27 Jawaharlal Nehru
Road
Calculta 700016
INDIA
Indonesia
Directorate General lor
Geological and
Mineral Resources
Department 01 Mines
and Energy RI
JI. Jen. Gatot Soebroto
!<av 49
Jakarta Selatan
INDONESIA
Iran
Geological and Mineral
Survey 01 Iran
Ministry 01 Industry and
Mines
P.O. Box 1964
Tehran
IRAN
Iraq
State Establishment lor
Geological Survey
and Mineral
Investigation
Ministry 01 Industry and
Military
I ndustrialzation
P.O. Box 2330 and
2730
Baghdad
IRAQ
Ireland
Geological Survey 01
Ireland
Beggard Bush
Haddington Road
Dublin 4
IRELAND
Israel
Geological Survey of
Israel
30 Malkhei Israel
Streel
Jerusalem 95501
ISRAEL

AGI DATA SHEET 44.9

Italy
Comtato Nazonale per
le Scienze
Geologiche e
Mineraria
Consiglio Nazionala
dalla Ricarche
Piazzala Aldo Moro 7
00185 Roma
ITALY
Ivory Coast
Direction da la
Geologe
Ministere das Mines
B.P V 28
Abidjan
IVORY COAST
Jamaica
Geological Survey
Division
Ministry 01 Mining and
Natural Resourcas
Hope Gardens
Kingston 6
JAMAICA
Japan
Gaological Survay 01
Japan, Ministry 01
Intarnational Trade
and
Industry (MITI)
1-1-3 Higashi, Tsukuba
Ibaraki 305
JAPAN
Kenya
Gaological Survay 01
Kanya
Mines and Geological
Dapartment
Ministry 01 Natural
Resourcas
Madini Housa,
Machakos Road
P.O Box 30009
Nairobi
KENYA
Korea, North
Gaologyand
Gaography
Rasearch Institute
Academy 01 Sciances
Mammoon-dong, Cen
tral District
P'yongyang
NORTH KOREA

Korea, South
Natonal Geography
Institute
Ministry 01
Construction
111, Wonchon-dong,
Kwonso-ku
Suwon City, Kyonggido
SOUTH KOREA
Libya
Geological Rasaarch
and Mning
Dapartmant
Industrial Rasaarch
Canter
PO Box 3633
Tripoli
LlBYA
Luxembourg
Servica Geologique
Ponts et Chausseas
43. Bd. G.D.-Charlotta
Luxembourg
LUXEMBOURG
Madagascar
Direction das Mines at
de la Gaologie
B.P.280
101 Antananarivo
MADAGASCAR
Malawi
Geological Survey

Dapartment

Ministry 01 Natural

Resources
P.O Box 27, Liwonde
Road
Zomba
MALAWI
Malaysla
Gaological Survey
Department
Bangunan Ukor, 2d
Floor
Jalan Gurnay
Kuala Lumpur
MALAYSIA
Mexico
Instituto de Gologia
Universidad Nacional
Autnoma da Mex
ico (UNAM)
Cuidad Universitaria
Mxico 20, D.F.
MEXICO

Morocco
Minstere de l'Energe
et des Mines
Diraction da la
Geologa
Quartiar Administratif
Rabat
MOROCCO
Namibia (Southwest
Africa)
Geological Survay
P.O. Box 2168
Windhoek
NAMIBIA
Nepal
Departmant 01 Minas
and Gaology
Ministry 01 Industry
Lainchaur
Kathmandu
NEPAL
Netherlands, The
Rijks Gaologische
Dianst
Spaarna 17, P.B. Box 157
2000 AD Haarlam
THE NETHERLANDS
New Zealand
Naw Zaaland
Gaological Survey
Dapartment of Scien
tifc and Industrial
Rasaarch
P.O. Box 30-368
Lowar Hutt
NEW ZEALAND
Niger
Diraction des Minas et
da la Geologia
Ministre das Minas et
de I'Hydraulique
BIP. 257
Niamay
NIGER
Nigeria
Geological Survay
Department 01
Nigeria
Ministry 01 Minas and
Powar
PM.B.2007
Kaduna South, Kaduna
Stata
NIGERIA

AGI DATA SHEET 44.10

Norway
Norges Geologiske
UnderS0kelse
Leiv Erikssons Vei 39
P,B,300
7001 Trondheim
NORWAY
Pakistan
Geological Survey of
Pakistan (GSP)
Sariab Road
Po. Box 15
Quetta
PAKISTAN
Panama
Direccin General de
Recursos Minerales
Ministerio de Comercio
e Industria (MICI)
Apartado Postal 8515
Panam 5. Repblica
de Panam
PANAMA
Papua New Guinea
Geological Survey
Division
of Minerals and
Box
Port Moresby
PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Paraguay
Direccin de Desarrollo
de Recursos
Minerales
Ministerio de Obras
Pblicas y
Comunicaciones
Calle Olivil y Alberdi
Asuncin
PARAGUAY
Peru
Inshtuto Geolgico
Minero y Metalrgico
(INGEMMET)
Pablo Bermudez 211
Apartado 889
Lima
PERU

Philippines, The
Mines and Geo
sciences Bureau
2nd Floor, J, Fer
nandez Building
Petrolab compound.
North Avenue
1100 Quezon City
THE PHILlPPINES

Somalia
Geological Survey
Department
Ministry of Minerals
and Water
Resources
P.O. Box 744
Mogadishu
SOMALlA

Poland
Centralny Urzad
Geologii
ul. Jasna 6
00-013 Warszawa
POLAND

South Africa
Geological Survey
280 Pretoria Street
Silverton
0184
(Private Bag Xl12,
Pretoria, 0001)
SOUTH AFRICA

Portugal
ServiGos Geolgicos
de Portugal
Rua da Academia das
Ciencias, 19-2
1200 Lisboa
PORTUGAL
Romana
Ministerul Geologiei
Str. Mendeleev no, 36-38
Bucharest
ROMANIA
Saudi Arabia
Ministry of Petroleum
and Mineral
Resources
Directorate General of
Mineral Resources
P,O. Box 2880
Jeddah
SAUDI ARABIA
Senegal
Direction des Mines et
de la Gologie
Ministre du
Developpement
Industriel
Route de Ouakam
B,P, 1238
Dakar
SENEGAL
Sierra Leone
Geological Survey
Division
Ministry of Lands,
Mines, and Labor
New England,
Freetown
SIERRA LEONE

Soviet Union
Department of
Geology,
Geophysics, and
Geochemistry
Akademiya Nauk USSR
117901 GSP-I Moscow
V-71
Leninskiy Prospekt 14
SOVIET UNION
Spain
Servicio Geolgico
Ministerio de Obras
Pblicas y
Urbanismo
Avenida de Portugal, 81
28071 Madrid
SPAIN
Srl Lanka
Geological Survey
De:>artment
48 Sri Jinaratna Road
Colombo 2
SRI LANKA
Sudan
Geological and Mineral
Resources
Ministry of Energy and
Mining
Geological Survey
Department
p.o, Box 410
Khartoum
SUDAN

AGI DATA SHEET 44.11

Suriname
Geologisch Mi
jnbouwkundige
Dienst
Kleine Waterstraat 2-6
Paramaribo
SURINAME
Swaziland
Geological Survey and
Mines Department
P.O. Box 9
Mbabane
SWAZILAND
Sweden
Sveriges Geologiska
Undersokning (SGU)
[Geological Survey
01 Sweden)
Box 670
S-751 28 Uppsala
SWEDEN
Switzerland
Geologisches Institut
Eidgenissische
Technische
Hochschule
ETH-Zentrum
8092 Zrich
SWITZERLAND
Syria
General Establishment
01 Geology and
Mineral Resources
Ministry 01 Petroleum
P.O. Box 7645
Khatib Street, Adawi
Damascus
SYRIA
Tanzanla
Geology
Ministry 01 Minerals
P.O. Box 903
Dodoma
TANZANIA
Thailand
Geological Survey
Division
Department 01 Mineral
Resources
Rama VI Road
Bangkok 10600
THAILAND

Togo
Direction Gnrale des
Mines, de la
Gologie et du
Bureau National de
Recherches
Minieres
B.P. 356
Lom
TOGO
Tunlsla
Office National des
Mines
Dpartement de
Gologie
95 Avenue Mohamed V
Tunis
TUNISIA
lUrkey
Maden Tetkik ve Arama
Enstitusu [Mineral
Research and Ex
ploration Institute)
Eskisehir Yolu
Ustu-Ankara
TURKEY
Uganda
Geological Survey and
Mines Department
P.o. Box 9
Entebbe
UGANDA
United Kingdom
British Geological
Survey
Nicker HiII
Keyworth
Nottingham NG12 5GG
UNITED KINGDOM
Uruguay
Instituto Geolgico del
Uruguay
Hervidero 2853
Montevideo
URUGUAY
Venezuela
Direccin de Geologa
Direccin General Sec
torial de Minas y
Geologia
Ministerio de Energa y
Minas
Torre Oeste, Piso 4
Parque Central
Caracas
VENEZUELA

Yugoslavia
Institut za geoloska,
geofcicka i rudarska
istrazivanja nuklear
nih i drugih
mineralnih sirovina
(GEOINSTITUT) [In
stitute lor
Geological,
Geophysical and
Mining Exploration
01 Nuclear and other
Mineral Resources]
12, Rovinjska
11000 Belgrade
YUGOSLAVIA
Zaire
Service Gologique du
Zaire
Ministry 01 Mines and
Energy
B.P. 898
44 Avenue des
Huileries
Kinshasa
ZAIRE
Zambla
Geological Survey
Department
Ministry of Mines
P.O. Box 50135
Lusaka
ZAMBIA
Zimbabwe
Department 01
Geological Survey
Ministry 01 Mines
P.O. Box 8039,
Causeway
Harare
ZIMBABWE
Taiwan
InsUtute 01 Geology
National Taiwan
Unversity
1 Roosevelt Road,
Secton 4
Taipei
TAIWAN

AGI DATA SHEET 44.12

References
Directory of Geoscience Departments, 1989. American Geological Institute, Alexan
dria, Virginia. 384 p. Updated annually.

Directory 01 geoscience organizations: Geotimes, October 1989, p. 16-25. American

Geological Institute, Alexandria, Virginia. Updated annually. Each issue includes a
column on new geologic maps.
Episodes, quarterly publication 01 the International Union 01 Geological Sciences
(IUGS). Address inquiries to Editor, P.o. Box 919, Herndon, Virginia 22070. Episodes
lists IUGS member countries and publishes a column on geologic maps available
lrom other countries.

Guide to Obtaining USGS Inlormation, Kurt Dodd et al., compilers: U.S. Geol. Surv.
Circo 900, 34 p., 1989.

AGI DATA SHEET 45.1

State and Provincial Geological Maps

STATE GEOLOGICAL MAPS

Date

Seale

Alabama

Geologic Map 01 Alabama

1988

250,000

Alaska

1, Geologic Map 01 Alaska

2, Surlicial Geology 01 Alaska

1980
1964

2,500.000
1,584,000

Arizona

Geologic Map 01 Arizona

1988

1.000.000

Arkansa$

Geologic Map 01 Arkansas

1976

500.000

California

Geologc Map 01 Calilornia

1977

750.000

Colorado

GeolOgic Map 01 Colorado

1980

500,000

Connectlcut

1, Bedrock Geological Map 01 Connecticut

2, Glacial Geologic Map 01 Connecticut

1985
1929

125,000
125,000

State

Title

Delaware

Generalized Geologic Map 01 Delaware

1976

576.000

Florida

Geolog',c and Physiographic Maps 01 Florida

1982

500,000

Georgla

Geologic Map 01 Georgia

1976

500,000

Idaho

Geologic Map 01 Idaho

1978

500,000

IIIlnols

1. Geologic Map 01 IlIinois

2. Quaternary Deposits 01 IlInois

1967
1979

Indiana

1, Bedrock Geologic Map 01 Indiana

2, Glacial Geology 01 Indiana (Atlas, map 10)

1987
1958

500,000
1,000,000

1, Geological Map 01 lowa

2, 'Quaternary Map'-Surficial

1969
1969

500,000
1,900,800

Kansas

Geologic Map 01 Kansas

1964

500,000

Kentucky

Geologic Map 01 Kentucky

1981

250,000

Louisiana

Geologic Map 01 Louisiana

1984

500,000

Maine

1, Bedrock Geologic Map 01 Maine

2, Surficial Geologic Map 01 Maine

Maryland

Geologic Map al Maryland

1968

250,000

Massachusetts

Bedrock Geologic Map 01 Massachusetts

1983

250.000

Michlgan

1, Bedrock Geology 01 Michigan

lowa

500,000
500,000

2, Quaternary Geology 01 Michigan

1987
1982

Mlnnesota

1, Geologic Map 01 Minnesota

2, Quaternary Geology Map

1970
1982

Mlsslsslppl

Geologic Map 01 Mississippi

1969

500,000

Mlssouri

Geologic Map 01 Missouri

1979

500,000

Montana

Geologic Map 01 Montana

1955

500,000

AGI,DS"td,S9

1,000,000
500,000

Sheets

AGI DATA SHEET 45.2

State

Date

Scale

Nebraska

Geologic Bedrock Map 01 Nebraska

Title

1986

1,000,000

Nevada

Geologic Map 01 Nevada

1978

500,000

New Hampshire

l. Bedrock Geology 01 New Hampshire

2. Surlicial Geology 01 New Hampshire

New Jersey

Geologlc Map 01 New Jersey

250,000
250,000

1950

250,000

1965
1978

New Mexico
New York

1, Geologic Map 01 New York, Series 15

1970

250,000

Norlh Carolina

Geologic Map 01 North Carolina

1985

500,000

Norlh Dakota

Geologic Map 01 North Dakota

1980

500,000

Ohlo

1, Geologic Map 01 Ohio

2, Glacial Map 01 Ohio

500,000

500,000

Oklahoma

1. Geologic Map 01 Oklahoma

2. Geologc Atlas 01 Oklahoma
OGS (HA 19) covers all bu! panhandle

500,000

250,000

Oregon

Sheets

1,

2,

Map, Oregon,
Map, Ore90n,
Meridan)

1961
1977

Pennsylvana

Geologic Map 01 Pennsylvania

1980

Rhode Istand

Bedrock Geologic Map 01 Rhoda Island

1971

125,000

Soulh Carolina

1,

1965

250,000

1936

500,000

Soulh Dakota

Geologic Map 01 South Dakota

1951

500,000

Tennessee

Geologic Map 01 Tennessee

1966

250,000

Texas

1, Geologic Map 01 Texas

2. Geologic Atlas 01 Texas

Ulah

Geologic Map 01 Utah

Vermont

1, Centennial Geologic Map 01 Vermont

2, Surlieial Geologic Map 01 Vermont

2,

& Tertiary

250,000

4
38

1937
1965-1988
1981

500,000

Virginia

Geologie Map 01 Virginia

1963

500,000

Washlnglon

1, Geologic Map 01 Washington

2. Geologic Map (sou!hwesl quadrant)
(Three Other Sheets in Preparatlon)

1961
1987

500,000

250,000

Wesl Virginia

Geologic Map 01 West Virginia

1986

250,000

Wyomlng

Geologie Map 01 Wyomlng

1986

500,000

Puerto Rico

Provisional Geologie Map 01 Puerlo Rico &

Adjacent Islands, USGS Map 1392

1964

240,000

Wlsconsln

NOTE: For other general slate maps, sea Data Sheet 45.4,

AGI DATA SHEET 45.3

PROVINCIAL GEOLOGICAL MAPS
Province

Title

Dale

Scale

1972

167,200

Br!sh Columbia Geologc Highway Map

1983

1,250,000

1. Geologcal Map 01 Man!oba

2. Mineral Deposils Map 01 Manitoba
3. Surlcial Geological Map 01 Manloba

1979
1980
1981

New Bruoswlck

Geological Map 01 New Brunswick

1979

500,000

Newloundland

1. Geological Map 01 Newloundland

2. Geologeal Map 01 Labrador

1983
1972

1,000,000
1,000,000

1963

3,000,000

Alberla

Geologcal Map 01 Alberta

Brlllsh Columbia
Maolloba

Nor1hwest Terrltorles Geology, Yukon Territory and

Northwesl Terrlores
Nova Seotia

1. Geologeal Map 01 Nova Scotia

2. Teclonie Map 01 Nova Scolia

Oolarlo

l. Wesl-Cenlral
2. Northeast
3. Northwest
4. Southern
S. Eas!-Central
Explana!ory Notes and Sheets

Prlnce Edward Island Surticial Deposi!s 01 Prinee Edward

Island

500,000
500,000
1975
1971
1971
1979
1979
1979
1973

126,720
1,013,760

Qubec

La carte gologique du Qubee

1969

Saskatchewan

Geologieal Map 01 Saskalehewan

1980

1,000,000

Yukon Terrilory

1. Geology, Yukon Terrilory and

Northwesl Terrilories
Macmillan River

1963

3,000,000

1980

1,000,000

NOTE: Many other knds 01 state and

geolhermal resources, mineral
provincial survey for nformation.

Sheets

maps (Iopographle, geophysieal, salelli!e image,

available. Contactlhe pertinen! lederal, state or
and 46

AG' DATA SHEET 45.4

STATE GEOLOGICAL HIGHWAY MAPS
Tltle
Colorado

Dale

Scale

1985

1,000,000

Kansas

1988

1.000,000

New Mexlco

1982

1,000,000

North Dakota

1977

1.000,000

Ulah

1975

1.000,000

Wyoming

1986

1,000,000

Sheels

Texas (see AAPG entry)

PROVINCIAL GEOLOGICAL HIGHWAY MAPS

Alberta

1975

Brltlsh Columbia

1.800,000
1,250,000

New Brunswick

1985

Nova Scotia

1980

640,000

Ontarlo (southern)

1978

800,000

Ontarlo (northern)

1986

1.000,000

638,000

AAPG GEOLOGICAL HIGHWAY MAPS

map
Northeastern Reglon

1976

Mid-Atlantlc Region

1970

Southeastern Region

1975

Great Lakes Region

1978

Northern Plalns Region

1984

Mid-Contlnent Reglon

1986

Texas

1973

Northern Rocky Mountain Reglon

1972

Southern Rocky Mountain Reglon

1967

Paclllc Northwest Region

1973

Paclflc Southwest Region

1968

Alaska-Hawail

1974

AGI DATA SHEET 46.1

Map and Aerial Photograph Coverage of the United States

Complled by David D. Glnsburg, Central Mlchlgan Universlty
MAPS
TOPOGRAPHIC MAP SERIES

U.S. (Irom International Map 01 the

World Series)
1: 1,000,000

S t a t e l : 500,000

U.S. 1 x
quadrangles
1: 250,000
U.S. intermediate scale quadrangles
1: 100,000
County series
1: 100,000 and 1: 50,000
15 minute quadrangles
1: 62,500 and 1: 63,360
7 1/2 minute quadrangles
1: 24,000, 1: 25,000, and 1: 20,000
U.S. Geological Survey, Distribution Branch, P.O. Box 25286, Denver Federal
Center, Denver, Colo. 80225.
Soil Surveys

1: 20,000 or 1: 15,840

U.S. Oepartment 01 Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service, Cartographic Oivision,

501 Felix SI., FWFC Building 23, Ft. Worth, Texas 76115.
National Forest Maps
U.S. Forest Service, Office 01 Inlormation, P.O. Box 96090, Washington, D.C.
20090-6090.
CHARTS

Nautical charts

1: 10,000 to 1: 600,000

National Ocean Service, Distribution Branch N/CG33, National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration, Riverdale, Md. 20852.
World

1: 1,000,000 to 1: 22,000,000

Defense Mapping Agency HTC, Public Affairs, 6500 Brooks Lane, Washington,
D.C.20315-0030.
PHOTOS AND IMAGERY

Aerial photographs

Landsat 1, 2, and 3, and Skylab 2, 3, and 4 imagery

Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, Aerial Photography Field

Office, P.O. Box 30010, Salt Lake City, Utah 84125.
Landsat and other satellite imagery
Earth Resources Observation Systems, EROS Data Center, User Services Unit,
U.S. Geological Survey, Sioux Falls, S.O. 57198.

AGI DATA SHEET 46.2

Some data lor the agencies listed below are held and reproduced by the EROS

Data Center.

Air Force (USAF)

Army (USA)
Bureau 01 Indian Attairs (BIA)
Bureau 01 Land Management (BLM)
Bureau 01 Reclamation (BaR)
Corps 01 Engineers (CaE)

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

National Aeronautics and Space

Administration (NASA)

Navy (USN)

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS)

Requests lor inlormation or reproduction

MAPS or contacting any 01 the following
Information Centers:

Reston-ESIC
507 National Center
Reston, Va. 22092
(703) 860-6045
Washington, D.C.-ESIC
Department 01 the Interior
Building
18th and C streets, N.W.
Room 2650
Washington, D.C. 20240
(202) 343-8073
Anchorage-ESIC
4230 University Drive
Room 101
Anchorage, Alaska
99508-4664
(907) 561-5555
Los Angeles-ESIC
Federal Building
Room 7638
300 N. Los Angeles SI.
Los Angeles, Calif.
90012
(213) 894-2850

be lilled by calling 1-800-USA

Geological Survey Earth Science

Menlo Park-ESIC
Building 3, MS 532
345 Middlelield Road
Menlo Park, Cali!. 94025
(415) 329-4309
San Francisco-ESIC
504 Custom House
Battery SI.
Francisco, CaUI.
94111
(415) 556-5627
Denver-ESIC
169 Federal Building
1961 Stout SI.
Denver, Colo. 80294
(303) 844-4169
Lakewood-ESIC
Box 25046
Federal Center, MS 504
Denver, Colo. 802250046
(303) 236-5829

Stennis Space Center

ESIC

Building 3101

Stennis Space Center

Miss. 39529
(601) 688-3544
Rolla-ESIC
1400lndependence
Road, MS 231
Rolla, Mo. 65401
(314) 341-0851
Sal! Lake City-ESIC
8105 Federal Building
125 S. State SI.
Sal! Lake City, Utah
84138
(801) 524-5652
Spokane-ESIC
678 U.S. Courthouse
W. 920 Riverside Ave.
Spokane, Wash. 99201
(509) 353-2524

See also Thompson, M., 1988. Maps for America, 3rd ed. U.S. Geological Survey,
Reston. Virginia. Makower. J., 1986. The Map Catalog: Every Kind of Map and
Chart on Earth and Even Sorne Above It. Vintage Books and Modern Library
(Random House), New York.

AGI DATA SHEET 47.1

Bibllographies, Indexes, and Abstracts

Complled by David D. Glnsburg, Central Michigan Unlversity

Most 01 these bibliographies, indexes, and abstracts are also accessible

online lor computerized searching, although in some cases the online database
may nclude only the last lew years. Mos! notable s the GeoRel database, pro
duced by the Amercan Geologcal Institute and available onlne through three
worldwide search servces: DIALOG, Maxwell Online, and STN. In Canada, the
GeoRef database s also available through CAN/OLE.
The GeoRel database neludes records Irom the full fles 01 the Bibliography
of North American Geology (1785-1970), the B/bl/ography and Index of Geology
Exclusive 01 North Amer/ca (1933-1968), the Bib/iography and /ndex of Geology
(1969-), as well as other sources. Consult your libraran lor further information.
Abstracts of North American Ge%gy. U.S. Geological Survey, 1966-1971. For
merly Geological Abstracts (1953-1958) and GeoScienee Abstracts (1959

1966).
Annotated Bibliography of Economic Geology. Economc Geology Publishng Co.,

1928-1965.
Applied Seienee and Teehnology Index. H.W. Wilson CO., 1958-. Monthly wth
annual cumulations.
Aquatie Se/enees and Fisheries Abstraets, Part 2: Ocean Technology, Polieyand
Non-living Resources. Cambridge Scentific Abstracts, 1971-. Monlhly.
Astronomy and Astrophysics Abstraets. Sprnger-Verlag, 1969-. Semiannually.
Bibliography and Index of Geology. Geological Socety 01 Amerca and American
Geologicallnstitute, 1969-1978. American Geologicallnsttute, 1979-. Month
Iy with annual cumulations.
Bibliography and Index of Geology Exclusive 01 North Ameriea. Geological Soci
ety of America, 1933-1968. Contnued by Bibliography and /ndex of Ge%gy.
Bibliography and /ndex of Mieropa/eontology. Amercan Museum 01 Natural Histo
ry, 1972-. Monthly wth annual ndexes.
Bibliography of North American Ge%gy. U.S. Geological Survey, 1732-1970.
Issued in the U.S. Ge%gica/ Survey Bul/etin series. See below for publca
tion details. Continued by Bibliography and Index of Ge%gy.

Publcaton details 01 Bibliography of North American Geology

1732-1891
1785-1918
1919-1928

1929-1939

1940-1949

1950-1959

1960

1961

1962

1963

1964

1965

1966

1967

1968

1969

1970

AGJ-OS-rvd89

Catalog and Index 01 Contributions to

North American Geology
Geologic Literature on North Amerca
Part 1: Bibliography
Part 11: Index

127

746
747
823
937
1049 (2 vols.)
1195 (4 vols.)
1196
1197
1232
1233
1234
1235
1266
1267
1268
1269
1370

1896
1923
1924
1931
1944
1957
1965
1964
1965
1966
1968
1966
1969
1970
1970
1971
1972
1973

AGI DATA SHEET 47.2

Bbliography ol Theses in Geology. American Geological Institute and Geological

Socety 01 America, 1958-1970 (1964 in GeoScience Abstracts)
Biological Abstracts. BioSciences Inlormation Service, 1926-. Semimonthly with
semiannual indexes.
81010gical Abstracts/RRM (Reports, Revews, Meetings). BioSciences Information
Service, 1980-. Semimonthly with semiannual indexes. Formerly BioRe
search Index, 1965-1979.
Catalogue ol Scientifc Publications, 1800-1900. Continued by International Cata
logue ol Scientific Literature, 1901-1914; Part G-Mineralog1. Part H-Geolo
gy, Part K-Paleontology. Royal Society 01 London.
Chemical Abstracts. American Chemical Society, 1907-. Weekly with semiannual
indexes. Section on Mineralogical and Geologlcal Chemistry is biweekly.
Chemcal Abstracts, Col/ective Indexes. American Chemical Society, 1907-1956,
decennial; 1957-, quinquennial.
Conference Papers Index. Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, 1973-. Bimonthly. For
merly Current Programs.
Current Physics Index. American Institute of Physics, 1975-. Ouarterly with annual
indexes.
Dissertaton Abstracts Internatonal, Section B: The Sc/ences and Engineering.
University Microfilms International, 1938-. Monthly.
Energy Abstracts. Engineering Index, 1974-. Monthly.
Energy Index. Environment Information Center, 1973-. Annually.
Energy Information Abstracts. Environment Inlormation Center, 1976-. Monthly.
Energy Research Abstracts. U.S. Department of Energy, 1976-. Semimonthly.
General Science Index. HW. Wilson CO., 1978-. Monthly with annual cumulations.
Geographical Abstracts. A-Landforms and Quaternary; B-Climatology and
Hydrology; C-Economic Geography; D-Social and Historlcal Geography;
E-Sedimentology; F-Regional and Community Planning; G-Remote Sens
ing, Photogrammetry, and Cartography. GeoAbstracts (Norwich, England).
1960-. Bimonthly. Formerly GeoAbstracts.
Geological Abstracts. Four parts: Economic Geolog1. Paleontology and Stratigra
phy, Sedimentary Geology, 1986-; Geophysics and Tectonics, 1977-.
GeoAbstracts (Norwich, England). Bimonthly. Formerly Geophyscal Abstracts.
Geophysical Abstracts. U.S. Geological Survey, 1929-1971.

Geotitles. Geosystems (London). 1969-. Monthly. Formerly Geotitles Weekly.

Government Reports Announcements and Index. National Technical Information

Service, 1946-. Semimonthly. Under various tiUes, 1946-1975.

Index to Scientific and Technical Proceedings. Institute lor Scientific Information,
1978-. Monthly with semiannual cumulations.
Index to Scientfic Reviews. Institute lor Scientilic Inlormation. 1974-. Semiannu
ally with annual cumulations.
Meteorological and Geoastrophysical Abstracts. American Meteorological Society,
1950-. Monthly. Formerly Meteorological Abstracts and Bblography.
Mineralogical Abstracts. Mineralogical Society, 1920-. Ouarterly with annual index
es. Before 1959 issued as supplement to Mineralogical Magazine.
Oceanic Abstracts. Cambridge Scientfic Abstracts, 1964-. Bimonthly. Formerly
Oceanic Index, Oceanc Citation Journal with Abstracts, and Oceanic
Abstracts with Indexes.
Petroleum Abstracts. University 01 Tulsa, 1961-. Monthly.

AGI DATA SHEET 47.3

Physies Abstraets. Institute of Electrical Engineers, 1903-. Semimonthly. Formerly
Seienee Abstraets: Seetion A.
Pol/ution Abstraets. Cambridge Scientific Abstracts, 1970-. Monthly.
Publieations of the U.S. Geologeal Survey. U.S. Geological Survey, 1879-. Annual
Iy. Supplemented by New Publieations of the U.S. Geologieal Survey. Monthly.
Scenee Citation Index. Institute far Scientific Informatian, 1964-. Bimonthly with
annual cumulatians.
Seleeted Water Resourees Abstraets. U.S. Department 01 Interior, Water
Resources Scientific Information Center, 1968-. Monthly.

Notes
Sorne professional journals, e.g., Eeonomie Geologyand Gems and Gemology,
have abstracts 01 current articles of interes!.

See also Ward. D.C.; Wheeler, M.w.; and Bier, RA Geologie Referenee Sourees,

Scarecraw Press, 1981.

AGI DATA SHEET 48.1

of
Ths data sheet has been compiled to help those who now and Ihen vsl unlamliar libra res
manly to browse, It should not be consdered a substitute lor any library's card calalog or lor
drectons one might get trom, for example, a reference libraran, In most libraries, perodlcals
are elassifed under Library 01 Congress or Dewey Decimal systems. In some libraries, perodi
cals are incorporated in the book collection; in others, they are housed separately,
The tollowing lists give many 01 the more appropriate designations in the 1) Library 01 Con
gress Classilicaton, 2) Dewey Decimal system, and 3) U,S, Superntendent 01 Documenls
Classificaton, Attenton is also directed lo Data Sheet 47. "Bblographes, Indexes, and
Abstracts,"
1) LIBRARV OF CONGRESS CLASSIFICATION:
G 1000-3100 Aliases

3190-9980 Maps-generally housed separately

GB Physcal Geography

400-649
Geomorphology

651-2998
Hydrology

651-2400
Ground and surlaee waters

2401-2598 Glaciers

5000-5030 Natural disasters

GC Oeeanography

83-87.6
Submarine lopography

377-399
Marine sediments

1000-1023 Marine resources

O
Science

OA Mathematies

76-76,8
Computer seience

OS Astronomy

275-343
Geodesy

981-991
Cosmology

OC Physics

170-197
Atome physies

310.15-319 Thermodynamics

350-467
Opties

450-467
Spectroscopy

770-798
Nuclear physies

794.95-798 Radioactivity

Geophysies

801-809
Geomagnetism

811-849
851-999
Meteorology, Clmatology

OD Chemistry

450-731
Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

901-999
Crystallography

OE GEOlOGY

1-350
351-399.2
420-499
500-625
515-551
640-699
701-996.5
OH
OK
Ol
S

General geology

Mineralogy (including meteorites and lektites)

Petrology

Dynamic and structural geology

515-516
Geochemistry

521-545
Volcanoes and earthquakes

Stratigraphy

Paleonlology (including paleobolany)

761-899
Paleozoology

Natural history (general), Bology (general)

Botany

Zoology

Agriculture

591-599
Soils

AGI DATA SHEET 48.2

TA Engineering, general and civil
705-710.5
Engineering geology and soil mechanics

TC Hydraulic engineering

TO Environmental technology and sanitary engineering

201-205
Water supply

420-427
Water pollution

TE Highway engineering

200-205
Materials lor roadmaking

TG Bridge engineering

TK Electrical engneering, electroncs, nuclear engineering

TN Mining engineering and metallurgy

263-271
Prospecting (including geophysical and oil)

400-580
Ore deposits

600-799
Metallurgy

799.5-948
Nonmetallic minerals

950-997
Building and ornamental stones

TP Chemical Technology

315-360
Fuel

690-692
Petroleum refining and products

751-762
Gas

785-869
Clay industries

2) DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM:

500 Pure Sciences
600 Technology (applied sciences)
510 Mathematics
620 Engineering
630 Agriculture
520 Astronomy and alled sciences
530 Physics
650 Business
540 Chemstry and alled sciences
660 Chemical technology
550 EARTH SCIENCES
680 Assembled and final products.
560 PALEONTOLOGY
570 Anthropology and biological sciences
580 Botanical sciences
590 Zoological sciences
3) SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS CLASSIFICATION:
19.3
Bulletins 01 USGS
19.4
Circulars 01 USGS
19.13 Water Supply Papers
19.16 USGS Prolessional Papers
19.43 Geophysical Abstracts
19.61 USGS Journal 01 Research
22.37 Minerals Yearbook (U.S. Bureau 01 Mines)
In some libraries, government documents (United Nations. U .S., State, and loreign) are incor
porated in the collections under their appropriate classilication category; in other librares, all
or some 01 these publications may be housed in separate collections using different classifica
tion systems. For example, severallbraries classify their lederal government publcatons under
the Superintendent 01 Oocuments Classificaton scheme. That overall classilicaton is based
on ssuing agencies and Includes publications 01 the U.s. Geological Survey and the
U.S. BlireauoT MineS.

AGI DATA SHEET 49.1

SI UNIT PREFIXES

Preflx'

Symbol

Multlplication factor

exa

1 000 000 000 000 000 000

10'B

peta

1 000 000 000 000 000

10'5
10'2

1 000 000 000 000

1000000000

109

mega

1000000

la

tera
giga

kilo
hecto
deka

1000

10 3

100

102

10

10

deci

0.1

10"

centi

0.01

10.2

da

0,001

10 3

micro

0.000001

10'6

0.000000001

10'9

milli

nano
pico'

lemlo
atto

0.000 000 000 001

10,,2

0.000 000 000 000 001

10,,5

0,000 000 000 000 000 001

10"8

Source: National Bureau 01 Slandards Specal Publication 330.

1

3
4

The firsl syllable 01 each prefix is accenled when pronounced.

Pronounced as jig' a.

Pronounced as nan'oh (an as in animal).

Pronounced as peak' oh.-

AGI,OS-jtd-89

AGI DATA SHEET 50.1

Electromagnetic Spectrum
The electromagnetic spectrum
lhal includes visible light is on !he
color.

righl. The expanded portio n 01 the spectrum

ranges of wavelengths are indicated for each

10 '
Newlon's seven
colors
(W~velength

lmlS)

.g
;
lOS

INFRARED

1::.

o,
c:

6500

7000

Q.l

~
ro
SHORT
RADIO WAVES

7500

10.0

BROADCAST BANO

LONG RADIO WAVES

AG!DS,rvd-89

lO
'

AGI DATA SHEET 51.1

Measurement
ENGLISH TO METRIC
Known

(symbol)

Multiplier

Product

inches

(in or ")

2.54 x lO"

inches
feet

(in or ")
(ft or ')
(flor')

25.4
30.48
0.3048
0.9144
1.6093

micron
(Il)
[; 10,000 Angstrom units (A)
millimeters
(mm)
centimeters
(cm)
meters
(m)
(m)
meters
klomelers
(km)

1.85

kilometers

(km)

6.4516
0.8361
2.5900

square
square
square
square

(cm 2)
(m 2)
(m 2)
(km 2)

(~cL

0.405

hectares

(i0 3 )
(yd 3 )
(mi3 )
(ql)

16.3871
002832
0.7646
4.1884
0.9463

(cm 3 )
(m 3)
(m 3)
(km 3)
(1)

(gal)

3.7854

cubic cenlimelers
cubic melers
eubie melers
cubic kilomelers
liters
('" 1000 cm')
liters
cubic meters
metrc tons

(m3)
(MT)

lilers

(1)

cubic melers

(m 3 )

(g)

fee!
yards
miles (s!a!u!e)
nau!ical miles

(yd)
(m)
(nmi)
(in 2)

square inches
square leet

(112)
(yd 2)
square yards
(mi 2)
square miles
(1 square mile=640 acres)

cubic ioches
cubic feel
eubc yards
cubic miles
quarts (U.S. liquid)
liquid)
Imperial gal)

(ft3)

0.0929

(bbl)
barreis
0.159
0.137
(bbl)
barreis 32API
(For o!her den sities, see table on nex! page.)
(bbl)
barreis
158.9828
(petroleum - 1 bbl =42 gal)
acre-feet
(acre-ft)
1233.5019
X 105 gal)
ounees (avdp.)
ounces (avdp.)
1 troy oz.",0.083 lb)
pounds (avdp.)
short lons
(2000 lb)
long lons
(2240 lb)

~~~~_(~mb~

centimeters
melers
meters
kilomelers

(oz)

28.3495

grams

(lb)

0.4536
09072

kilograms

___ ~Jh~~L _

(1)

(kg)
(Mg)
tons)

10160

megagrams

(Mg)

(e)

0.2000

grams

\lJ]

(ft 3/s)

0.02832

cubic melers per secood

(m 3Is)

cubic leel per second

(IP/s)

283161

cubic leet per minute

('" 7.48 gallmn)
galloos per minute

(ft 3/min)

0.47195

cubic decimelers per

(dm3 /s)
secood (= liters per second)
Iilers per second
(lis)

0.06309
0.00184

lilers per second

liters per second

(gallmio)
(bblld)
bbl=42 gal)

AGIOSrvdS9

(lis)
(115)

AGI DATA SHEET 51.2

(lb-flin 2)
(=PSI)

per square neh

6.8948 }

kilapaseal (kPa)
(1 Pascal = Lt'-leWll:ln
m2

alm'Jsphere
(atm)
(=14.6960 PSI=1.01325 bars)

101.325

bar
_(= 14.5038 PSI = 0.9869 al_n:'L_
TEMPERATURE
--------

100.0

temperature. degrees
Fahrenhet

temperature. degrees
5/9 (alter
Celsius
subtracting 32)
5/9 (alter
temperature Kelvn
adding 459.67)
add 273.15 temperature Kelvn

temperature, degrees
Fahrenheit
temperature, degrees
Celsus

28

(OC)

0.887
0.876

30
32
34

0.140
0.139
0.137

0.865

0.135

0.855
0.845
0.835
0.825

36
38
40
42

(K)
(K)

0.134
0.132
0.130

0.816
0.129
Note: Appraximate figures 60F.
*Interpolate linearly lor intermedate API's.

Additonal conversons may be faund, lar example, in the annual editions 01 the Handbook
ol Chemistry and Physics and on Data Sheets 53 and 54.

II

1"I
If i i"III,ltlll
I
I 1 I
cm

inches

,
4

I
5

I
7

AGI DATA SHEET 51.3

ME1RIC 10 ENGLlSH
~ (~~~~'L Multiplier

Known

LENGTH
micron
(.)
(= 10,000 Angstrm unts)
millimeters
(mm)
centimeters
(cm)
(m)
meters
(m)
meters
(km)
kilometers
kilometers
,(km)
square
square
square
square

centme!ers
meters
meters
kilometers

hectares
VOLUME
cubic cenlimelers
cubic melers
cubic melers
cubic kilomelers
lilers
1000 cm 3 )
lilers
lilers

Product

(symb~)

3.9370
x 10- 5

inches

(in or ")

0,03937
0,0328
3,2808
1,0936
0,6214

inches
fee!
feet
yards
miles (s!atute)
nautical miles

0.54

(km')

0,1550
10,7639
1.1960
0.3861

(hal

2.471

(cm 3 )
(m 3 )

0.06102
35,3146
1.3079
0.2399
1,0567

(cm')
(m 2 )
(m Z)

(m 3 l
(km 3 )
(1)
ti)

0.2642

(1)

0,006290

cubic
cubic
cubic
cubic

inches
feel
yards
miles

cubic melers

acre-feel

0.0008107

(= 4~'!5~0
(g)
(g)
(kg)

megagrams
(= melrie lons)
megagrams

(Mg)

50000
0.03527
2.2046
1.1023

(Mg)

0.9842

cubie melers per seeond

(m 3 /s)

35.3107

euble decimelers per

(dm 3 /s)
seeond (lilers per second)
lilers per seeond
(l/s)
liters per seeond
(lis)
lilers per second
(115)

0.03532
2.1188
15.8503
543.478

(in 3 )

quarts
(U,S.liquid)
gallons
(U,S. liquid)
barreis
(1 bbl =42 gal)
barreis
barreis

MASS
grams
grams
kilograms

(flor')
(yd)
(mi)
(nmi)

square nches
(n')
square fee!
(It')
square yards
(yd Z)
(mi 2 )
square miles
(1 square mile = 640 acres)
acres
(ac!.

6.29
cubic meters
(m 3 l
(MT)
728
metric tons 32API
(For other densities, sea table on nex! page.)
(m 3 )

(in or a)
(It or ')

(tt')
(yd 3 )
(mi')
(ql)
(gal)
(bbl)
(bbl)
(bbl)
(acre-tt)

ft3

= 3.259 x 105 gal)

carals (gems)
ounees (avdp,)
pounds (avdp,)
short lons
(2000 lb)
long lons
(2240 lb)

(e)
(oz)
(lb)

eubie feel per second

(=448,83 gal/min)
eubic feel per seeond

(ff3/s)
(fP/s)

(ff3/min)
eubie feel per minute
gallons per minute
(gal/min)
(bbl/d)
day
1 bbl =<t2j:1~~. ___

AGI DATA SHEET 51 A

PRESSURE
kilopascal (kPa)
(1 Pascal = 1 NewlcJn

m2

= kg

m/sec 2)

pound
nch

: ::::69

14.6960 PSI)

0.01

bar
(",~:~g38 PSI)

m'
(OC)

temperature, degrees
Celsius
temperature Kelvin

9/5 (then
add 32)
9/5 (then

(K)

(atm)

atmosphere
(=

subtract

_~

temperature, degrees
Fahrenhet
temperature. degrees
Fahrenheit

45967
temperature Kelvin

(K)

subtract

273.15

(OC)

temperature, degrees
Celsius

THERMAL GRADIENT

28
30
32
34
36
38
40
42

0.887
0.876
0.865
0.855
0.845
0.835
0.825
0.816

7.10
7.19
7.28
7.37
7.46
7.55
7.64
7.73

Note: Approximate figures 60F.

*Interpolate linearly for intarmediate API's.
Additional conversions may be found. for example. in the annual editions of tha Handbook
af Chemistry and Physics and on Data Sheets 53 and 54.

cm

I
f"IItllllJ
1i l ' I iI11'I, 1 I
j1

Inches

I
2

1
1
3

AGI DATA SHEET 52.1

Gemological Weights and Measures

J.I. Koivula and R.C. Kammerling, Gemologlcallnstltule of America

TABLE OF WEIGHTS ANO MEASLlRES

1Cara! (e!)
1 Cara!
1 Cara!
1 Pearl Grain
1 Poinl

115 gram (g)

100 'points"
4 pearl gralos
- 0.25 (114) caral
~ 0.01 (11100) earal

CARAT WEIGHT
25 POlOts
50 POinls

0.25 (114) earat

0.50 (112) caral

lO CONVERr

Carats to Grams Carals x 0.2

lROY WEIGHT
0.0020833 ounees (al t)
= 1 pennyweighl (dwl)
= 1 ounee (al \.)
1 pound (lb t)
0.622857 paunds avoirdupols
109714 ounees avoirdupois

1 Grain (grl
24 Grams (gr)
20 Pennyweights
12 Ounees (Iray"!)
1 Paund (Iray) (1.)
1Ounee (Iray"!)
TO CONVERT
Pennywelgtlt lO Grams
Ounees (l.) to Grams:
Grams lO Pennyweighls
Grams 10 Ounees (1.)

x 1.5552
x 31.1 035
x 0.6430
x 0.0322

Grams

0.0648 grams (g)

1.5552 grams
31.1035 grams
373.2417 grams

Pennywelghl
Ounees (1)
Grams
Grams

~
=

Grams
Grams
Pennyweighls
Ounees (1)

GOLO CONTENT ANO NOTATION

OEFINITIONS
Karala9]jyslem A syslem 01 measuremenl based an 24 karals = fine (pure) gald.
1karat 1/24 fine gold by weight.
European System A system 01 measuremenl basad on a !rachon 011,000, i.e., the
number 01 grams 01 gold 10 1kilogram, ar 1,000 grams, 01 alloy
KARAT

PARTS GOlO

PERCENTAGE GOLO

NORMAL EUROPEAN STAMPING

9 kl
10 kl
12k1
14 kl
18 kl
22 kt
24 kt

9124
10124
12/24
14/24
18/24
22/24
24124

37.50%
41.67%
50.00%
58.33%
75.00%
91.67%
9999%

375
41 B
500
583 or 585
750
917
999 (or99999)

AGIOS-rvd-89

AGI DATA SHEET 52,2

OIAMONO WEIGHT ESTIMATION FORMULAS

(AII measuremenlS lO be lO mllllmelers)
ROUNO 8RILLlANT: Average Olameler 2 , Oeplh, .0051

.~~)
~.J.

BRILLlANT: Average Olameler 2 , Oeplh '.0062

Nole: Add lenglh and wldlh. dlilde sum by 2 lO determine 'A.erage O,amele"
01 an oval slone

ff'9"

H'!A1 SHAPE BRILLlANT Lenglh, Wldlh ,Oeplh, .0059

TheadluslmenllaclOf used In Ihe lollowing lormulas IS basedon Ihelenglh lo ,wldlh

rallo ollhe dlamond For e,ample. a slone wllh a lenglh 01 9.00 mllllmelers and
a Wldlh 01 6.00 mrlllmelers would have a lenglhlo ,wldlh rallO 011.50:1
M,uslmenl
Lenglh lo-Wldlh
~
_ _R_all_o_
EMERAlO CUT Lenglh,Wldlh,Oeplh,
.008
1.00:1.00
.0092
1.50:1.00
.010
2.00:1.00
.0106
2.50:1.00
MAROUISE CUT Lenglh, Wldlh x Oeplh ,
.00565
1.50:1.00
.0058
2.00:1.00
.00585
2.50:1.00
.00595
3.00:1.00
PEAR SHAPE
Lenglh, Wldlh ,Oeplh x
.00615
1.25:1.00
.0060
1.50:1.00
f?tt,
.0059
1.66:1.00
~f
.00575
2.00:1.00

O
O

Alllormulas are based on slones wllh medlum 9lfdles. Adlusl welghl as lollows lor
sloneswllhlhlcker glfdles
Sllgh\ly Thlck
add 2%
Thlcklo E,lremelylhlck
add4101O'Io
A10% correcllon 1$ rare

COLOREO STONE WEIGHT FORMULAE

I Round Faceled Slones
Olameler 2, deplh xS.G. x.0018 - caral welghl
2 Oval Faceled Slones: (Average lenglh &wldlh lo oblaln
dlameler)
Olameler 1 xdeplh 'S G. ' .0020 - caral welghl
3 Emerald Cul Faceled Slones
Lenglh xwldlh xdeplh , S G x .0025 - caral welghl
(Add 515%lor bulge laclor)
4 Reclangular Faceled Slones
lenglh xWldlhx deplh xS.G '.0026 - caral welghl
5 Square Faceled Slones
lenglh xwldlh ,deplh x S. G. '.0023 - caral welghl
6 Navelle or Boal 'shaped Slones
Lenglh xwldlh , deplh xS.G '.0016 - caral welghl
7 PearshapedorTeardropshapedSlones
lenglh xWldlh ,deplh xSG '.00175 - caralwelghl
8Cabochons
Lenglh ,wldlh,deplh xS.G x.0026 - caral welghl
(.002911 ver, lIal or shallow domed)

Volume

7.4805 U.S. gallons .

0.13368 cubic ft
0.16046 cubic ft
0.035315 cubic ft

1 cubic It
1 U.S. gallon
1 imperial gallon
11iter
1 cubic ft
1 cubic meler
1 acreft

= 43,560 cubic ft

1 cubic mile
1 cts<lay

=
3.3792 million acreft
= 86,400 cubic ft

0.028317 cubic meler

35.315 cubic ti

6.2321. Imperial gallons

0.83271 imperial gallon

1.2009 U.S. gallons

0.26417 U.S. gallon

0.000022957 acreft

0.00081071 acreft

1,233.5 cubic meters

1 cubic fl per second lor 24 hr
-----------~--~~

28.317 Illers
3.7854 Ilters
4.5437 lilers
0.22009 imperial gallon

CT :J:
'<
e C.

'<

in O;
c;

5
&>

!!!. ::::1
(fJ <
e C'/)
; l

~ O
lE ::::1

a o

Volume Conversion Faclors

!l!

!.

::o 1

I
~

!!.

:::1

~
e

(ti

::1:

Weight

1 cublc ft 01 Iresh water

1 cubic ft 01 sea water
1 cublc meter 01 Iresh waler

m
62.4 lb
64.1 lb
1000 kg

,.

Rales 01 Flow
1 cubic ft per sec
1 cublc ft per min

448.83 U.S. gallons per min

7.4805 U.S. gallons per mln

1 U.S. gallon per min

0.002228 cubic ft per sec

U.S. gallo n per day

.000093 cubic ft per min

= 646,317 U.S. 9allons per day

.029317 cu meter per sec

.00047195 cu meter per sec

10,772 U.S. gallons per day

1440 U.S. gallons per day =

.000063090 CU meter per sec

0.13368 cubic ft per min

.0006944 U.S. gallon per min
723.97 acre-ft per year

365.~~;1t,i~~;J!e~~r day

.014276 cu meter per sec

Rale Conversion Factors

Acre1t per day

Cu ft per sec (els)
Gal per min (gpm)
Mil gal per day (mgd)
Acreft per day
Inehes per day per sq mi
Cu meters per sec

448.63
0.0022280
1.5472
.50417
26.889
35.314

694.44
226.29
12,069
15,850

0.64632
.0014400
.32585
17.379
22.834

1.9635
.0044192
3.0689
53.333
70.045

Inches per day

per sq mi

0.037190
.00008286
.057542

.01850

1.3134

Mlner's Inch is arate 01 discharge tha! has been lixed by statute in most 01 the western states:

North Oako!a, Sou!h Oakota)

Cu meters
per sec

~
O

(J)

:::c
m
~

!!lN

AGI DATA SHEET 54.1

Tables
by Judilh L. Pluenneke
Conversion Table tor Common Energy Unls
1 joule (work)
= 10 million ergs (work)
= 0.74 foot-pounds (work)
= 3.74 x 10- 7 horsepower hours (work)
= 1 watt seeond (eleelreal energy)
=6 x 10'8 electron voUs
1 large Calore
=1000 small calores (heat)
(heat)
=3.968 Brtsh Ihermal units (Btu, heat)
= 4168 joules (work)
= 3090 foot-pounds (work)
= 0.00116 klowatt hours (electrical energy)
1 kilowatt hour
(kWh, electrical)
= 2.656 mllion lootpounds (work)

= 1.341 horsepower hours (work)

= 860 large Calores (heal)

=3413 Blu (heat)

Conversion Table tor Power Unlts

1 horsepower= 746 watts = 0.746 klowatts= 550 foot-pounds per second.

i ~:~~ag~gr'i~4~e~t~e~~~~eco~d61~'~~~;e~~~r<:a~oi~~ ~if~;:~~.nd.

Energy Conversion Factors

Ene!(jy ::ontent olF-':J~':>_

Anthracite coal, short ton
Bituminous coal, short ton
Average coal, short Ion
Automolive gasoline, gallon
Aviation gasoline, gallon
Jet fuel kerosene type, gallon
Jet luel naphtha type, gallon
Kerosene, gallon
Oesel oil, gallon
Dislillate luel oil (#2), gallon
Distillate fuel oil (#2), barrel
Residual
oil, gallo n
Residual
ol, barrel
Natural gas, standard eubic loot (SCF)
liqufied petroleum gas, SCF
(Ineluding propane and butane)
ElectriCily, Btu 01 fuel eonsumed al power
planl per kWh delivered to consumer
(assume 10,536 Blu/kWh slalion heat
rale lor all stations 9% lne loss as
reported lor 1971 by Edison Eleelrie
Institule)
Steam, Btu 01 luel consumed al boiler
plant per pound of steam delivered
consumer (assume 1000 Blullb 01
generated, 82% boiler efficiency,
12% lne loss)

Crude Oit
Equv.
Barreis
4.38
4.24
0.0216
0.0216
0.0234
0.0219
0.0234
0.0239
0.0239
1.004
0.0258
1.084
0.000178

0.0020

0.000196

British Thermal
Unit~JI)tuL
25,400,000
24,580,000
24,020,000
125,000
125.000
135,000
127,000
135,000
138,700
138,700
5,825,000
149,700
6,287,000
1,031
2,522

Kilowatt-Hours
.~~kV\'hl
7440.0
7240.0
7040.0
36.6
36.6
39.5
37.2
39.5

43.9
1,843.0
0.302

11,600

3.40

1,390

0.407

1 kWh

= 3.600xl006 joules (J) = 859.9 kilocalories (kcal) = 3412 Btu

1 horsepower-hour (hp-hr) =0.746 kWh
=2545 Btu
1J
=2.778xl0- 7 kWh
9A78xl0- 4 Blu
.2388 cal
= 2,931xl0- 4 kWh
1 Blu
= ,2520 kcal
= 1.055xl03 J

AG1-OS,rvd-.82

AGI DATA SHEET 54.2

FUEL ANO COMMON MEASURES-BTU's
,5,800,000
Crude Oil-Barrel (bbl) , , , ' , ,
",,, .. ,,,,, .. ,,.,, 1,032
Natural Gas-Cubic Foot (ft')
. 24,000,000 lo 28,000,000
Coal- Ton" , , " "" " " " , '
Electrcity-Kilowatt Hour (kWh) ,
.3,412
Two trillion Btu's per year are approximately equal to 1,000 barreis per day 01 crude oil.
APPROXIMATE CALORIFIC EQUIVALENTS OF OIL
One million lons 01 011 equals approximatelyHeal Units:

41 Million million Blu

415 million therms

10,500 Teracalories

Salid Fuels:
1.5 million tons of coal

4,9 million lons of lignite

3,3 million lons of peat

Nalural Gas (1 cu. ft. equals 1,000 Btu, 1 CU. meter equals 4,200 kcal):
2.5 thousand mllion cubic meters

88,3 thousand million cubic leel

242 million cubic feetlday for ayear

Electricity (1 kWh equals 3,412 Btu, 1 kWh equals 860 kcal):

12 thousand million kWh

Reference
Energy Aeference Handbook, Second Edilion, Government Institutes, Inc" 1977