1. The Precambrian record of southern Colorado: an integrated
geologic database in ArcGIS
Jamey Jones
Department of Geological Sciences, UT Austin
GIS & Water Resources Project Presentation
December, 2002

2. Objectives:
merge “old school” field geology with digital mapping
techniques
merge both large- and small-scale geologic mapping with
published geochronology and other analytical data
create an up-to-data, data-rich yet flexible map document
within ArcGIS to aid geologists working in the Precambrian
of Colorado (especially myself)

3. Why the Precambrian?
Rocks are extremely old but represent levels of exposure
not seen in recent and modern tectonic environments
(10 – 20+ km deep)
Relatively well exposed throughout the Rocky Mountains
and southwestern U.S.
Possible ancient analogs for recent and modern mountain belts

4. Data Sources:
the geologic map of Colorado in ARC/INFO format (USGS OF )
DEM coverage of southern Colorado from the National Elevation Dataset
published and unpublished geochronologic and isotopic data for southern Colorado

5. Southern Colorado
Wet Mts.
Sangre de Cristo Mts.
500m contour interval

6. Sample identification and geochronology:

7. Relating geochronology and isotopic data

8. Analysis and Output: Yg Xg Mesoproterozoic magmatism
Paleoproterozoic magmatism

9. Future directions:
expand database/coverage to entire state of Colorado and
possibly all Rocky Mountains and southwest U.S.
expand scope of data to include other radiogenic systems,
geochemical data, etc.
incorporate new and more detailed mapping into basemap
real-time digital mapping and data collection