Wyoming Surficial Geology

The layer was developed by a partnership of the Wyoming
State Geological Survey and the Wyoming Water Resources
Center. It was originally created specifically for use
in the Wyoming Ground-Water Vulnerability Mapping
Project being conducted at the Wyoming Water Resources
Center, a statewide study of aquifer vulnerability to
contamination from pesticides. In that context, it was
to be used to assist in the generation of a new State
soils map, to analyze the effects of the vadose zone on
contaminant migration, to define specific Quaternary-
age aquifers, and to refine the analysis of regional
hydrogeologic settings.

The Surficial Geology Map of Wyoming can be used, in
conjunction with a bedrock geologic map, as a guide in
siting new facilities or industries in Wyoming. It can
also be used to identify and locate geologic hazards,
such as landslides and windblown deposits, or to assist
in the search for shallow ground water supplies and for
construction aggregate. The map has already been used
to assist the Wyoming Gap Analysis Project (Merrill and
others, 1997) in southwestern Wyoming, and in the
generation of Quaternary Geologic Maps of Wyoming.

This dataset represents surficial geology of Wyoming at
1:500,000-scale. The layer contains 577 separate
surficial feature (landforms) and deposit descriptions
present on the surface in the state. Compiled from
aerial photography and existing maps this layer
represents the first comprehensive surficial geology
map of Wyoming.