Geospatial Dataset for the Geologic Framework and Hydrostratigraphy of the Edwards and Trinity Aquifers Within Northern Medina County, Texas at 1:24,000

The karstic Edwards and Trinity aquifers are classified as major sources of water in south-central Texas by the Texas Water Development Board, and both are classified as major aquifers by the State of Texas. The Edwards and Trinity aquifers developed because of the original depositional history of the carbonate limestone and dolomite rocks that contain them, and the primary and secondary porosity, diagenesis, fracturing, and faulting that modified the porosity, permeability, and transmissivity of each aquifer and of the geologic units separating the aquifers. Previous studies such as those by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Edwards Aquifer Authority (EAA) have mapped the geology, hydrostratigraphy, and structure in these areas at various scales. The purpose of this data release is to present the data that were collected and compiled to describe the geologic framework and hydrostratigraphy of northern Medina county, Texas in order to help water managers, water purveyors, and local residents better understand and manage water resources. The scope of the larger work and this accompanying data release is focused on the geologic framework and hydrostratigraphy of the outcrops and hydrostratigraphy of the rocks that contain the Edwards and Trinity aquifers within northern Medina county, Texas. These digital data accompany Clark and others (2024), which supersedes Scientific Investigations Map 3461.

得克萨斯州水利开发委员会（Texas Water Development Board）将喀斯特型爱德华兹（Edwards）与特里尼蒂（Trinity）含水层列为得克萨斯州中南部的主要供水水源，且二者均被得克萨斯州官方认定为主要含水层。爱德华兹与特里尼蒂含水层的形成，受控于赋存该类含水层的碳酸盐岩石灰岩与白云岩的原始沉积演化历史，以及改变各含水层及分隔含水层的地质单元孔隙度、渗透性与导水性的原生孔隙、次生孔隙、成岩作用、断裂与断层作用。此前美国地质调查局（U.S. Geological Survey, USGS）与爱德华兹含水层管理局（Edwards Aquifer Authority, EAA）等机构开展的研究，已在不同比例尺下对该区域的地质、水文地层学（hydrostratigraphy）与构造特征进行了填绘。本次数据发布旨在呈现为描述得克萨斯州梅迪纳县北部地质框架与水文地层学所收集并整理的数据集，以助力水资源管理者、供水服务商与当地居民更好地理解并管理水资源。本项大型研究及其配套数据发布的研究范围，聚焦于得克萨斯州梅迪纳县北部出露地层的地质框架与水文地层学，以及赋存爱德华兹与特里尼蒂含水层的岩石的水文地层学特征。本套数字化数据配套于Clark等人（2024）的研究成果，该成果替代了原《科学调查图件3461》（Scientific Investigations Map 3461）。