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Monthly Archives: June 2011

Have an old map of an abandoned underground coal mine?

We’d love to borrow your old map…

Maps of Old Abandoned Underground Coal Mines

Do you have maps you can loan us?

The Division of Geology and Land Survey was awarded a grant from the Office of Surface Mining, U.S. Department of the Interior, to investigate, collect and scan maps of underground coal mines.

To date, we have collected and scanned more than 40 maps at high resolution.

Staff geologists will be advancing the state’s knowledge of past mining activities by collecting and archiving historic underground mine maps from across the state to develop a geospatial web interface to serve mine maps to the public on our website.

This effort will provide a better understanding of underground mining information to support safety and infrastructure development in the state.

If you have a map you are willing to loan us, please contact the principal investigator for this grant, Cheryl Seeger, Ph.D, R.G., by calling 573-368-2100.

See our video on YouTube for additional info.  –Joe

 

Posted on Jun 29, 2011

Plato gets survey marker and Missouri red granite monument designating it as center of U.S. population

Plato is the 2010 Center of Population for the United Sates

In the foreground is a Missouri red granite pedestal containing a stainless steel disc marking Plato, Mo. as the 2010 center of the United States population. L to R: Michael Ratcliffe, Chief Geographer, U.S. Census Bureau; Joe Gillman, Geology and Land Survey Division Director and state geologist, MoDNR, Sara Parker Pauley, Director MoDNR; Dr. Robert Groves, U.S. Census Bureau Director; Juliana Blackwell, National Geodetic Survey Director (NOAA); Rick Reese, Geology and Land Survey Division, Land Survey Program, MoDNR; and Darrell Pratte, Geology and Land Survey Division, Land Survey Program Director and state land surveyor, MoDNR.

2010 Center of Population again in Missouri

Community leaders, state and federal officials, citizens and 600 students from the Plato School District joined U.S. Census Bureau Director Robert M. Groves Monday, May 10, 2011 in unveiling a Missouri red granite pedestal containing a stainless steel disc marking Plato as the 2010 center of the United States population.

The small Texas County village was congratulated by Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Sara Parker Pauley who represented Gov. Jay Nixon, at the ceremony who read the governor’s proclamation.  After reading the proclamation, Sara presented Bob Biram, Plato village board chairman, the framed proclamation.

The actual, geographic location is about three miles east of Plato on a privately owned farm. The pedestal and disc were placed inside the village of Plato so people can visit it. Located south of Ft. Leonard Wood Army base, the 2010 Census population of Plato is 109, which is an increase of 35 people from 2000. Plato is the fourth Missouri community to receive the honor.

Learn more. – Joe

Posted on Jun 29, 2011

Welcome

Division of Geology and Land Survey

Division of Geology and Land Survey, 111 Fairgrounds Road, Rolla, Mo.

Welcome to our blog.  For more than 156 years, geologists have served Missourians endeavoring to provide products for professional, technical and educational use. We continue to also provide technical analysis for many geologic investigations and issues in the state, assist citizens in interpretation and understanding of our subsurface resources, and serve as the technical assistance agency for the department. We have served the citizens of Missouri since 1853 and are proud of the expertise of our agency.

A primary responsibility of our agency is to investigate and report on the state’s geological resources. We create geologic maps of bedrock and unconsolidated materials, and develop maps that identify areas susceptible to geologic hazards. This includes areas that are collapse-prone or subject to earthquake damage and landslides.

We ascertain that new water wells are constructed to minimum standards as set by the state regulations to ensure that our groundwater resources are protected from contamination due to poor well construction.

At our McCracken Core Library and Research Center, we have more than 2.5 million feet of drill core samples cataloged and stored for the public to examine.  Drill cores are used for the study of the rock layers beneath the surface, to aid in the definition of the physical properties of aquifers, to provide data for waste disposal site studies, to assist in characterizing our mineral resources, and for educational purposes. Examination of rock core in this library saves considerable time and money and often eliminates the need for costly, new drill holes. The McCracken Core Library is one of the largest such collections in the nation and is open to the public, by appointment.

You are also welcome to visit where you will you will find educational displays in our Ed Clark Museum of Missouri Geology. These include rocks, minerals, fossils, and descriptions of the geologic history of Missouri.

However, if you are not able to stop by our Rolla headquarters, please peruse our blog and website to learn more about us and how we may assist you.  And perhaps we will meet you on a site where we spend a good deal of time outside the office working with citizens.  – Joe Gillman, state geologist and Geology and Land Survey Division director, Missouri Department of Natural Resources

Posted on Jun 29, 2011