Professional Documents
Culture Documents
2012
G E O L
V E Y
NESO
T
IN
1872
I C A L S
Table of Contents
Part 2: the Elements of a Geologic Atlas - how they are made, and
how they can be used ................................................................................................................................ 10
Databases .................................................................................................................................................. 10
County Well Index (CWI) ......................................................................................................................... 11
Quaternary Data Index (QDI) ................................................................................................................. 12
Geophysical Data ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Surcial Geologic Maps ............................................................................................................................ 14
Quaternary Stratigraphy, and Sand Distribution Models......................................................................... 16
Sand Distribution Models ......................................................................................................................... 17
Bedrock Topography and Depth to Bedrock Maps ................................................................................. 18
Bedrock Geology Maps ............................................................................................................................ 19
Geologic Atlas Uses .................................................................................................................................. 21
Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... 22
Kittson
Roseau
status
complete
not started
revised
revision underway
underway
Marshall
Koochiching
Pennington
Beltrami
Red Lake
Cook
Polk
Norman
Lake
St. Louis
Clearwater
Itasca
Mahnomen
Hubbard
Clay
Becker
Wilkin
Otter Tail
Cass
Crow Wing
Wadena
Douglas
Stevens
Pope
Morrison
Traverse
Big Stone
Benton
Stearns
Sherburne
Swift
Lac Qui Parle Chippewa
Yellow Medicine
Lyon
Isanti
Hennepin
McLeod
Renville
Redwood
Chisago
Anoka
Wright
Kandiyohi Meeker
Scott
Nicollet Le Sueur
Dakota
Rice
Goodhue
Wabasha
Brown
Pipestone Murray
Rock
Nobles
Cottonwood
Jackson
Martin
Washington
Ramsey
Carver
Sibley
Lincoln
Carlton
Pine
Todd
Grant
Aitkin
Faribault
Freeborn
Mower
Olmsted
Winona
Fillmore
Houston
History
The Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS) produced the
Scott County Geologic Atlas in 1982. In the nearly 30 years
since, the MGS has completed atlases for 23 more counties
and projects are under way in 11 more counties (Figure 1).
Funding has always been a limiting factor in accomplishing
this work. The Division of Ecological and Water Resources
at the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has provided
funding for many years, and the counties themselves have
2
Minnesota, not into it. Rain and snow falling directly on our
state are our main source of water, and any water that doesnt
go back into the atmosphere via evaporation or transpiration
leaves Minnesota as ground water, or by rivers.
That is good news. It means our water quality is selfdetermined. Unlike the situation in New Orleans or other
downstream localities, our water arrives in relatively good
condition as snow or rain. As it moves through the hydrologic
cycle, its quality is largely determined by land use practices
and other behaviors of Minnesotans. The quality of the
water in our major rivers as they leave our state is affected
by neighboring states that also contribute water to them, and
its composition is also affected by the earth materials that
slower infiltration
more runoff or ponding
CLAY-RICH SO
IL
SANDY SOIL
TILL
SAND
SAND
As rain arrives in Minnesota it encounters the land surfacea surface with water-bearing characteristics that vary from
place to place and even from season to season.
35
34
33
32
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
inches
Water Budgets
867
891
845 782
765
833
825
875
923 927
937
907 834
914 892
890
944
898
878 919
902
949
884
932
846
ht
vt
ng
ha
ha
nt
nts
!!
ngha
vt
ng
nts
nts
ht ha
ng !ha
ha
864
902
888
824
848
8140
823
774
891 873
812
836
805
820
878
833
870
888
856
858
901
829
858
851
869 862
873
629 732
874
949
845
881
888 842
871
673 632
883 856
841
827 812826855
891
816
740
863
810 806
813
853
856
876873
821811
846
742
816
721
823 863
849773 788
796
856
873 824
871
818
853 816815 779
848 838
721
770 693
741
694
756
809
702
848 813 781
713
836
697
788
708
814
683
687
694
824
696696
650
811 810
682 675
730
712 688
806 790
647
746
643
823798
756 754
941
797
752 791
659
802
669
906 886
823
825
886 692
732
876
811 909
845 830800
878
884
774
909
800
739
790
887
772
822 882
0
929 890 889
783
909 879 852 839
761
939
838
833
931932
904
915914
877
0
793
855
932
819 821 832
801
845
809
831
877
847
873
784 788
936
940
907 870
822835
944 943
893
798 794
918
904
921
870
752
856
939 942
950
807 839826 843
917 849 918 914
918
891
956
829
895 920
826
872
876 913
926936
875
889
884 919 943 941
926
954
881 916
894
909
893
925 919
936
852
903
955
882
901 890 926
949
952
888
812814
810
917 914
899
893 926 923
946
851
868
911
928
898
907903
835
918 953955 902 899
864
845
818
858
928
829799 904
826
966 966 935 951930 912 938 874
824
795
787 796
883 835
793
925
937 899 928
780
886
905
923 949940
876
886
890
831
943911911
894
833
940 878
792 833 931
846
862
870
812
938 940
790
803
876 808 785
927 849
847
790
857
859 873 852 906 876
862897 905
1100
nhs
862
906
895
921
Figure 12. A plot of CWI data points labeled with the elevation
of the bedrock surface. A geologist has drawn contours of the
bedrock surface elevation in a geographic information system
program.
1150
1000
713
690
793
811
893895
920
1050
834
875
868
hbt
! !
950
900
850
800
750
700
Figure 13. A plot of CWI data projected to a cross-section line. The vertical
lines represent wells and the colors represent different sediment types (clay,
sand,gravel, silt, till). The upper black line indicates the elevation of the land
surface, the bottom black line the elevation of the bedrock surface. Colored
lines between represent geologic units.
for their own use. The bulk of the records were submitted as
required by law, beginning in 1974. The database is operated
cooperatively by the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS) and
the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH). MGS adds
value to the well information by interpreting the descriptions
of the materials penetrated by the well and assigning more
formal rock and sediment names and aquifer designations
common to the geologic framework of Minnesota. This
provides a common understanding and consistency among
the many users of CWI including resource management
agencies, state and local government units, consultants,
engineers, drillers, citizens, and researchers.
Each well record that is submitted has information
about where the well is located. MGS and others have
established accurate, eld-checked locations for 235,000 of
the wells (51%) and most of these are part of a geographic
information system (GIS) le that can be used to create map
products based on the well information. Users can obtain
Geophysical Data
Geophysical data are measurements of the properties of
earth and earth materials. Often these measurements are
useful in identifying and mapping bodies of rock or sediment,
and some of these techniques can see through overlying
materials and allow us to map units that are not exposed at
the land surface. There are techniques applicable to many
kinds of earth materials, but in the County Geologic Atlas
program geophysics is most commonly applied to mapping
features of the bedrock.
Figure 16. Aeromatnetic anomaly map of Minnesota showing
variations of the ambient magnetic field as a function of bedrock
geology.
100
API-G units
Thickness (feet)
Lithology
Map symbol
Group, Formation,
Member
Composite natural
gamma log
Increasing count
#249737
Dakota Formation
LITHOLOGY KEY
Sandy dolostone
17 to 86
MESOZOIC
Lithostratigraphic
unit
Hydrostratigraphic
properties
Era
Cretaceous
(~99.6 - 93.5 m.y.)
SystemSeries
Kd
Sandstone
Very fine- to fine-grained
Fine- to medium-grained
Medium- to coarse-grained
Very coarse-grained
Shaly
#749389
Siltstone
150
Shale
Upper Cambrian
(501 - 491 m.y.)
Mazomanie
Formation
Reno and
Tomah
Members
Dolomitic
50 - 60
PALEOZOIC
70 - 80
#592508
100 - 190
Middle Cambrian
(504 - 501 m.y.)
G
G
Granitic pebbles
Worm bored
#788479
Mt. Simon
Sandstone
Vein quartz
Eau Claire
Formation
Potassium feldspar
Wonewoc
Sandstone
Glauconite
Gr
Birkmose
Member
K
K
Fond du Lac
and Solor Church
Mss
Formations
V
V
#777352
K
K
thousands of feet
MESOPROTEROZOIC
Solor Church
Formation
V
Gr
Traditionally, the geologist has been given a twodimensional sheet of paper to record everything they
know about the geologic units present in a map form.
This may include the color and texture of the sediment, an
interpretation of the geologic process responsible for its
deposition, its relative thickness, which episode of glaciation
deposited it, and to what degree erosion has affected it. This
results in a relatively complex map, with many units, each
representing a unique combination of these attributes, and
each unit potentially present in multiple places on the map.
However, this was the only way to convey all that information
on a single map. Today we have the ability to record all that
information in a computer-based geographic information
system (GIS) and then create maps based on any one of
the attributes, or any combination of the attributes that
best serves our purpose. For example, if we were mostly
interested in seeing where sand occurs at the land surface vs.
clay, we could make a map based solely on that attribute with
just a few key strokes (Figure 18). That map would be much
simpler than the traditional geologic map, and it might be
more meaningful and easier to use for certain purposes. The
GIS also allows us to work with the combinations of geologic
information and any other data with geographic (location)
information. We could make a map to highlight where
wetlands exist over sand, or to correlate vegetation patterns
with geologic features. The traditional geologic map is still the
most comprehensive method of conveying all the attributes
of the surcial geology, and for that reason it is the style of
map printed for the atlas. However, the digital version of the
map provides the opportunity to create customized maps
better suited to particular uses.
36
Qp
Qe
340
Qcd
320
Qwh
Qnl
Elk
Qct
32
0
Qno
SHERBURNE COUNTY
AL
C
S
:0
1
E
1
1
33
Qno
Qco
+
+
Qci
320
360
++
95
Qco
36310
Qco
31
Qcs
320
320
Qno
Qct
320
Rive
r
Qcd
Qco
Qns
Qp
36
Qp
R. 29 W.
R. 28 W.
D'
SHERBURNE COUNTY
GIS compilation by R.S. Lively
Edited by Lori Robinson
MAP SYMBOLS
Superior-lobe ice
St.
ix
Cro
ine
ora
Benton County
Figure 4. The Superior lobe paused in its retreat from the St. Croix
moraine at the St. Stephen ice margin, before rapidly retreating across
Benton County.
Superior-lob
e ice
REFERENCES
St.
ine
ora
ixm
Cro
Benton County
Figure 5. Retreatal position of the Superior lobe just prior to its final
exit from Benton County.
Benton County
la
e
ak
bu
nts
ra
lL
cia
ix
Cro
m
ora
ine
obe
ice
Riding Mountain
Provenance
rg
St.
s-l
Moine
Des
Figure 2. Physical relief of the land surface in Benton County. Elevation is shown by color: red (higher
surface elevation) grading to blue (lower surface elevation). A false sun illumination at an elevation of 30
from the northwest (315) provides contrast (gray shadowing) to accent details of landforms. The map was
created using the U.S. Geological Survey's Digital Elevation Model with a 30-meter grid.
Winnipeg
Provenance
Grantsburg-sublobe ice
Rainy
Provenance
y
in
Ra
bi
Mesa
a
en
ad e
W lob
erd
in e
Bra lob
nR
Iro
ge
an
be
ri
pe
Su
!
be
lo
lo
or
!
! !
!
!
St.
Des
!
!
e ice
Duelm
channe
cia
la
G
ak
rg
bu
nts
ra
ine
ora
in
ns
co
is sits
po
-W e
Pre d
s-lob
lobe
lL
ix
Cro
Benton County
Moine
nes
Moi
ph
ase
!
St.
Cro
ix
Superior
Provenance
Des
rg
bu
nts be
Grasublo
Cooper, W.S., 1935, The history of the upper Mississippi River in late Wisconsin and postglacial time: Minnesota
Geological Survey Bulletin 26, 116 p.
Ellingson, J.B., 2002, Aggregate resources, Benton County, Minnesota: Minnesota Department of Natural
Resources, Division of Lands and Minerals Report 305, 4 pls., scale 1:100,000.
Johnson, M.D., 2000, Pleistocene geology of Polk County, Wisconsin: Wisconsin Geological and Natural
History Survey Bulletin 92, 70 p., 1 pl., sclae 1:100,000.
Johnson, M.D., Addis, K.L., Ferber, L.R., Hemstad, C.B., Meyer, G.N., and Komai, L.T., 1999, Glacial Lake
Lind, Wisconsin and Minnesota: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 111, no. 9, p. 1371-1386.
Johnson, M.D., and Hemstad, C., 1998, Glacial Lake Grantsburg: A short-lived lake recording the advance and
retreat of the Grantsburg sublobe, in Patterson, C.J., and Wright, H.E., Jr., eds., Contributions to Quaternary
studies in Minnesota: Minnesota Geological Survey Report of Investigations 49, p. 49-60.
Johnson, W.H., Hansel, S.K., Bettis, E.A., III, Karrow, P.F., Larson, G.J., Lowell, T.V., and Schneider, A.F.,
1997, Late Quaternary temporal and event classifications, Great Lakes region, North America: Quaternary
Research, v. 47, p. 1-12.
Keen, K.L., and Shane, L.C.K., 1990, A continuous record of Holocene eolian activity and vegetation change
at Lake Ann, east-central Minnesota: Geological Society of America Bulletin, v. 102, p. 1642-1657.
Knaeble, A.R., and Meyer, G.N., 2007, Quaternary stratigraphy, pl. 4 of Setterholm, D.R., project manager,
Geologic atlas of Todd County, Minnesota: Minnesota Geological Survey County Atlas C-18, pt. A, 6 pls.,
scale 1:100,000.
Marlow, L.M., Larson, P.C., and Mooers, H.D., 2005, Field trip 3, Day 2Deposits along the central and eastern
parts of the St. Louis sublobe, in Robinson, L., ed., Field trip guidebook for selected geology in Minnesota
and Wisconsin: Minnesota Geological Survey Guidebook 21, p. 51-72.
Meyer, G.N., 1998, Glacial lakes of the Stacy basin, east-central Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin, in Patterson,
C.J., and Wright, H.E., Jr., eds., Contributions to the Quaternary of Minnesota: Minnesota Geological
Survey Report of Investigations 49, p. 35-48.
2008, Surficial geology of the Mora 30 x 60 minute quadrangle, central Minnesota: Minnesota Geological
Survey Miscellaneous Map M-180, scale 1:100,000.
Meyer, G.N., and Hobbs, H.C., 1993, Quaternary geologic map of Sherburne County, Minnesota: Minnesota
Geological Survey Miscellaneous Map M-77, scale 1:100,000.
Meyer, G.N., and Knaeble, A.R., 1996, Quaternary geology, in Meyer, G.N., and Swanson, L., eds., Text
supplement to the geologic atlas, Stearns County, Minnesota: Minnesota Geological Survey County Atlas
C-10, pt. C, p. 16-39.
Meyer, G.N., Knaeble, A.R., and Ellingson, J.B., 2001, Surficial geology of the St. Cloud 30 x 60 minute quadrangle,
central Minnesota: Minnesota Geological Survey Miscellaneous Map M-115, scale 1:100,000.
Meyer, G.N., and Patterson, C.J., 1999, Surficial geology of the Anoka 30 x 60 minute quadrangle, Minnesota:
Minnesota Geological Survey Miscellaneous Map M-97, scale 1:100,000.
Minnesota Department of Transportation, 2009, Office of materials and road research (borings): St. Paul, Minn.,
<http://www.mrrapps.dot.state.mn.us/gisweb.viewer.htm>.
Mooers, H.D., 1990, Discriminating texturally similar tills in central Minnesota by graphical and multivariate
techniques: Quaternary Research, v. 34, p. 133-147.
Natural Resources Conservation Service, 2009, Web soil survey of Benton County: Washington, D.C., U.S.
Department of Agriculture, <http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/WebSoilSurvey.aspx>.
Upham, W., 1888, The geology of Benton and Sherburne Counties, Minnesota: Geological and Natural History
Survey of Minnesota Final Report, v. 2, p. 438.
Wright, H.E., Jr., 1972, Quaternary history of Minnesota, in Sims, P.K., and Morey, G.B., eds., Geology of
Minnesota: A centennial volume: Minnesota Geological Survey, p. 515-547.
Wright, H.E., Jr., Mattson, L.A., and Thomas, J.A., 1970, Geology of the Cloquet quadrangle, Carlton County,
Minnesota: Minnesota Geological Survey Geologic Map GM-3, 30 p.
Table 1. Physical characteristics of glacial deposits in the Benton County region.
PROVENANCE
TILL TEXTURE
Grantsburg-sublobe ice
TILL COLOR
Oxidized
Unoxidized
PEBBLE TYPE
Carbonate
Gray-green rock
Red felsite
Gray shale
RIDING MOUNTAIN
WINNIPEG
RAINY
SUPERIOR
Sandy loam to
sandy clay loam
Loam to
sandy loam
Loam to
loamy sand
Light olive-brown
Gray to dark gray
Light olive-brown
Gray to dark gray
Yellow-brown
Gray to brown-gray
Brown to red-brown
Gray to red-gray
Common
Uncommon to common
Rare to uncommon
Uncommon to common
Common to abundant
Uncommon to common
Absent to uncommon
Absent to rare
Uncommon
Uncommon to common
Rare to uncommon
Absent
Rare to uncommon
Common to abundant
Uncommon to common
Absent
contaminants.
Qns
Qnd
Qnl
Qcs
Qci
Qcd
Qcf
Michigan
Subepisode
Wisconsin
Episode
QUATERNARY
Qct
PALEOPROTEROZOIC
and NEOARCHEAN
Qwl
Qwr
Qp
Qcd
Qcs
320
Qco
GLENDORADO
S
E
IL
M
5
Figure 1. The map units from the 1:100,000 surficial geology map are combined into three simplified units in
this figure: green is less permeable diamicton (glacial till) and bedded silt and clay; yellow is more permeable,
bedded sand to gravel; and purple is bedrock. Water bodies are white.
Qci
S
R
T
E
M
O
IL
K
8
Qcs
Qct Qco
Qp
25
Qcd
32031
94 W.
3
2
3
330
Qp
Qp
Qci
36
0
32Qci
32
R. 30 W.
0
0
Donovan
Lake
0
32
33
Qcs
Qnw
32
0
310
Qnd
0
Qwr
ST. GEORGE
32
320
310
St. Cloud
31
Qcd
95
Qno
Qct
Qct
Qp
36
330
Qcs
31
300
ST
CO EA
UN RN
TY S
36
Qct
330
Qco
340
32
33
0
320
320
0
32
ny
Sto
Qco
31
0
Qno
ek
Qnw
Cre
32
Qf
10
33
0
330
Qcs
23
MINDEN
Qct
Qct
Qct
33
330
320
330
32
Qwl
Qns
33
0
Sauk
Rapids
33
34
+ + ok
+
ro
BQco
cis
Fran
340
320
340
Qcs
31
+ +Qa
Qnw
The surficial geology map of Benton County shows the earth material expected
to be encountered below the topsoil, generally about 3 feet (1 meter) below the
land surface. This map was modified from recently published maps (Meyer and
others, 2001; Ellingson, 2002; Meyer, 2008) on the basis of an expanded water
well data base compiled for this study (Plate 1, Data-Base Map); 18 shallow auger
holes and 5 deeper rotary-sonic core holes carried out for this study; examination
of new exposures (mostly in gravel pits); bridge boring records from the Benton
County Highway Department and from the Minnesota Department of Transportation
(2009); and evaluation of the updated soil survey (Natural Resources Conservation
Service, 2009). In Figure 1, the surficial sediments are grouped into more permeable
(bedded sand to gravel) and less permeable (bedded silt to clay and diamicton)
units. The topographic expression created by glacial sculpturing and subsequent
meltwater and wind erosion and deposition is displayed on the Digital Elevation
Model (Fig. 2).
C'
Qns
Qns
330
0
34
Qno
Qco
INTRODUCTION
St.
Qci
Qnl
r
Rive
15
T. 36 N.
LOCATION DIAGRAM
Qci
33
0
33w
ayhe
0
34
Hudson
Episode
Qp
Qco
Qp
31
Qe
Qwh
T. 37 N.
340
350
Qp
SAUK
RAPIDS
Sartell
Qct
34
0
36
31
36
Qa
Qe
Qns
Qcd
Qns
Ql
Qwl
Qwr
Qct
Qco
Foley
Qp
Qf
MAYWOOD
Qco
Qcd
32
Qct
Qcs
350
Qns
0
34
Qco
Oak
Park
Qcs
GILMANTON
Qco
330
MAYHEW
340
LAKE
31
33
Qe
Qp
New Ulm
formation
Cromwell
Formation
340
Qp
360
0
34
36
Br
ook
Qcs
Qp
350
350
Qe
Qco
350
Qp
Qp
er
West Campus
formation
es
320
WATAB
Qcf
Es
Qa
23
Qcs
340
Qwl
Riv
350
Mayhew
Lake
34
360
34
Qwr
360
Qcd
340
Qwh
T. 37 N.
Bailey
ek
4545' N.
ek
Cre
2010
T. 38 N.
36
Qco
Cree
Cre
er
Suck
340
er
Riv
310
Qf
Qa
35
340
B'
Qct
360
33
0
Qwl
36
Qcs
350
36
360
360
Qp
34
er
Qcs
31
Qcf
Elk
370
31
Riv
++
Rum
+ +++
er
pi
350
Lake
Ql
370
350
35
0
31
Qp
Qco
Co
lln
310
ip
iss
iss
9415' W.
Qe
Ql
Rock
Qa
36
Qe
By
Gary N. Meyer
360
is
St. Franc
Little
380
370
25
35
Qp 0
Qf
GRANITE
Qcs LEDGE
Qcd
Qct
Qcs
31
Qct
370
350
Qwl
Qci
390
Mayhe
Qe
Qp
ALBERTA
380
380
SURFICIAL GEOLOGY
A'
36
0
370
GRAHAM
Qcf
Rice
4545' N.
0
38
370
350
NS
AR
STE NTY
U
CO
Qwr
ge
le
Zu
W
es
Qp
LANGOLA
370
39
31
31
Qct
Qp
Riv
er
0
33
Qa
T. 38 N.
h
nc
Qwl
38
380
Qcd
MORRISON COUNTY
Qp
Qci
390
390
360
Creek
340
R. 28 W.
390
390
Bra
UN
TY
Bu
Qa
10
320
Cre
ek
R. 29 W.
370
CO
Hill
r
nke
Ro
ck
Qwh
Cre
390
ek
Little
Qe
Qe
370
350
0
34
Qci
Qe
Pla
tte
O
RR
IS
Riv
er
330
Qa
340
94 W.
R. 30 W.
Qcf
Qcd
38
0
R. 31 W.
Qp
Cre
ek
9415' W.
R. 32 W.
Qp
Qwh
Qnl
Qns
Qno
Qnd
Qnw
Qco
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Robert Kozel and Gerald Hovde of the Benton County Highway Department
arranged permission for drilling in county road right-of-ways and gave access to
county bridge boring records. Thanks are extended to Gary Johnson-Cheeseman,
Gordon Jurek, Ronald Larson, Michael Schneider, and Allan Wollak, landowners
who allowed rotary-sonic drilling on their property, and to all gravel pit operators
and landowners who gave permission to examine exposures on their property.
Qcf
Qci
QUATERNARY
Qe
Qf
Ql
Qa
Qp
Qct
Qcd
Qcs
Every reasonable effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the factual data on which this map
interpretation is based; however, the Minnesota Geological Survey does not warrant or guarantee that
there are no errors. Users may wish to verify critical information; sources include both the references listed
here and information on le at the ofces of the Minnesota Geological Survey in St. Paul. In addition, effort
has been made to ensure that the interpretation conforms to sound geologic and cartographic principles.
No claim is made that the interpretation shown is rigorously correct, however, and it should not be used to
guide engineering-scale decisions without site-specic verication.
Figure 19. This partial cross-section is a geologists interpretation of the distribution of materials in the glacial sediment of Benton
county. The wells used to guide the interpretation are shown. Note that there are areas where sufficient data are not available and the
material is called Quaternary undifferentiated.
16
Figures 20 and 21. These are two of eight maps used to depict the distribution of sand at different stratigraphic intervals in Blue Earth
County. At the same geographic location there may be an aquifer at one stratigraphic interval, and not at the other. The color indicates
aerial distribution and depth from the land surface and the color contour lines indicate thickness of the sand bodies
Summary
This tour of the basement of our earthly house has
described some of its most important systems and how they
must be maintained to support us. The geology of our state
controls where water can be stored, where it can move, and
how readily the quality and quantity of water can be affected
by our activities. Water is the most essential natural resource
and the County Geologic Atlases provide information that is
fundamental to effective management of that resource. They
compile and present factual observations that will be useful
forever, and interpretations that may be improved upon when
more information and technology are available.
22