It may be freezing and snowing in many areas of the country, but this is prime field season in Arizona. AZGS mappers are working on 5 new geological quadrangles [right, in dark purple] as part of the STATEMAP component of the National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program managed by the USGS.
The quads were selected by our external State Mapping Advisory Committee. The map at right shows all the 1:24K and 1:12K scale geologic maps produced by AZGS since 1978.
This years maps include Dolan Spring in the northwest, Chino Valley North near Prescott, and three quads adjacent to the proposed Rosemont copper mine south of Tucson - Helvetia, Springwater Canyon, and Empire Ranch.
A driving factor in the choice of all these areas is to provide geologic insights and constraints on groundwater resources.
This round of mapping is scheduled to be complete by mid-September, with public release of the quads a few months after that.