Coastal Plain Boreholes

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Frequently-anticipated questions:


What does this data set describe?

Title: Coastal Plain Boreholes
Abstract:
This data set contains locations and interpretations from 158 boreholes used to investigate subsurface stratigraphy within the lower coastal plain of South Carolina's Grand Strand region.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Coastal Plain Boreholes: Open-File Report 2005-1346, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    This is part of the following larger work.

    Baldwin, W.E., Denny, J.F., Schwab, W.C., Gayes, P.T., Morton, R.A., and Driscoll, N.W., 2005, Geologic Framework Studies of South Carolina's Long Bay from Little River Inlet to Winyah Bay, 1999-2003; geospatial data release: Open-File Report 2005-1346, U.S. Geological Survey, Coastal and Marine Geology Program, Woods Hole Science Center, Woods Hole, MA.

    Online Links:

    Other_Citation_Details: 1 DVD-ROM

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -79.361722
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -78.586960
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 33.892672
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 33.252389

  3. What does it look like?

    boreholes.jpg (JPEG)
    Image of Boreholes

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Calendar_Date: 2003
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: vector digital data

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

      This is a Vector data set. It contains the following vector data types (SDTS terminology):

      • Entity point (158)

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

      Horizontal positions are specified in geographic coordinates, that is, latitude and longitude. Latitudes are given to the nearest 0.000008. Longitudes are given to the nearest 0.000008. Latitude and longitude values are specified in Decimal degrees.

      The horizontal datum used is D_WGS_1984.
      The ellipsoid used is WGS_1984.
      The semi-major axis of the ellipsoid used is 6378137.000000.
      The flattening of the ellipsoid used is 1/298.257224.

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    boreholes
    ESRI Shapefile (Source: ESRI)

    FID
    Internal feature number. (Source: ESRI)

    Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

    Shape
    Feature geometry. (Source: ESRI)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    WELL_NO_
    Borehole identifier (Source: Interpreter)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    COLL_ELEV
    Borehole Collar elevation (in feet, relative to mean sea level) (Source: Interpreter)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    TOT_DEPTH
    Total depth of borehole in feet (Source: Interpreter)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    ELEV_BASEQ
    Elevation at base of Undifferentiated Quaternary sediments (in feet, relative to mean sea level) (Source: Interpreter)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    ELEV_QPW
    Elevation at base of the Pleistocene Waccamaw formation (in feet, relative to mean sea level) (Source: Interpreter)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    EL_TOP_TBM
    Elevation at top of the Tertiary Black Mingo Group (in feet, relative to mean sea level) (Source: Interpreter)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    ELEV_BASET
    Elevation at base of the Tertiary Black Mingo Group (in feet, relative to mean sea level) (Source: Interpreter)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    EL_TOPKPD
    Elevation at top of the Cretaceous Pee Dee formation (in feet, relative to mean sea level) (Source: Interpreter)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    ELEV_BASEK
    Elevation at base of the Cretaceous Pee Dee formation (in feet, relative to mean sea level) (Source: Interpreter)

    Coordinates defining the features.

    TYPE
    Type of Borehole (Source: Interpreter)

    Coordinates defining the features.


Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Wayne Baldwin
    United States Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2226 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    wbaldwin@usgs.gov


Why was the data set created?

In 1999, the USGS, in partnership with the South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, began a study to investigate processes affecting shoreline change along the northern coast of South Carolina, focusing on the Grand Strand region. Previous work along the U.S. Atlantic coast shows that the structure and composition of older geologic strata located seaward of the coast heavily influences the coastal behavior of areas with limited sediment supply, such as the Grand Strand. By defining this geologic framework and identifying the transport pathways and sinks of sediment, geoscientists are developing conceptual models of the present-day physical processes shaping the South Carolina coast. The primary objectives of this research effort are: 1) to provide a regional synthesis of the shallow geologic framework underlying the coastal upland, shoreface and inner continental shelf, and define its role in coastal evolution and modern beach behavior; 2) to identify and model the physical processes affecting coastal ocean circulation and sediment transport, and to define their role in shaping the modern shoreline; and 3) to identify sediment sources and transport pathways; leading to construction of a regional sediment budget.


How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 2003 (process 1 of 3)
    Sediment tailings and geophysical logs from boreholes were analyzed for biostratigraphy (i.e. shell and coral material) and lithologic character to determine the elevations of major stratigraphic boundaries. For acquisition and Analytical specifics, see Putney, T.R., Katuna, M.P., and Harris, M.S., 2003, Subsurface Stratigraphy and Geomorphology of the Grand Strand, Georgetown and Horry counties, SC: Southeastern Geology, v. 24, No. 4, May 2004, p. 217-236.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    M.P. Katuna
    College of Charleston - Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences
    Professor of Geology
    66 George St.
    Charleston, SC 29424-0001
    USA

    (843) 953-5588 (voice)
    (508) 457-2310 (FAX)
    katunam@cofc.edu

    Data sources produced in this process:
    • boreholes_new_dd.txt

    Date: 2003 (process 2 of 3)
    The shapefile was created in ArcView from the ASCII, comma-delimited files created by the interpreter.

    Person who carried out this activity:

    Wayne Baldwin
    United States Geological Survey
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2226 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    wbaldwin@usgs.gov

    Data sources used in this process:
    • boreholes_new_dd.txt

    Data sources produced in this process:

    • boreholes.shp

    Date: 2003 (process 3 of 3)
    Dataset copied.

    Data sources used in this process:

    • D:\Projects\SC\Publications\OFR\OFR_2005-1346\arcgis\onshore\boreholes

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?


How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    All attributes were checked in a consistent manner

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    Navigation was by differential GPS; positional accuracy to less than 10 m

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    All available interpretations of borehole information are included in this data set.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    No additional checks for topological consistency were performed on this data.


How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
Public domain data from the U.S. Government are freely redistributable with proper metadata and source attribution. Please recognize the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) as the source of this information.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    United States Geological Survey
    c/o Wayne Baldwin
    Geologist
    384 Woods Hole Rd.
    Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
    USA

    508-548-8700 x2226 (voice)
    508-457-2310 (FAX)
    wbaldwin@usgs.gov

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    Downloadable Data

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    Although all data have been used by the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by the USGS in the use of these data or related materials.
    Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

  5. What hardware or software do I need in order to use the data set?

    These data are available in Environmental Systems Research Institute (ESRI) shapefile format. The user must have ArcGIS® or ArcView® 3.0 or greater software to read and process the data file. In lieu of ArcView or ArcGIS, the user may utilize another GIS application package capable of importing data. A free data viewer, ArcExplorer, capable of displaying the data is available from ESRI at www.esri.com.


Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 26-Sep-2006
Metadata author:
United States Geological Survey
c/o Wayne Baldwin
Geologist
384 Woods Hole Rd.
Woods Hole, MA 02543-1598
USA

508-548-8700 x2226 (voice)
508-457-2310 (FAX)
wbaldwin@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
FGDC Content Standards for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Metadata extensions used:


Generated by mp version 2.9.2 on Tue Jan 16 15:42:17 2007