New geological map of Idaho available; includes substantial input by ISU geoscientists

The new geological map of Idaho, which was created extensive input from Idaho State University, is available locally for purchase at the Idaho Museum of Natural History gift shop.

This is the first geologic map of Idaho in 35 years, and is a perfect wall poster. A booklet of explanatory information accompanies the map and includes an index of the map’s many sources, which can be consulted for more detailed geologic information.

The map has been compiled from nearly 100 sources, including work from Idaho State University, the U.S. Geological Survey, Idaho Geological Survey and the University of Idaho.

"This map updates our understanding of Idaho geology," said Idaho State University geosciences Professor Paul K. Link. "It is a map that is of poster size, can hang on walls in schools and classrooms and brings Idaho geology and makes it accessible to the general public. It is also a very pretty, good-looking map."

 "Anybody who dealing with natural history or geological hazards, from rivers to earthquakes, needs to refer to this map," Link said. “It contains the most recent information on a lot of these issues.”

The map, its graphic cross sections of the Earth's crust and accompanying booklet on rock layers and layering represent 12 years of compilation and editing by Link, former ISU graduate student Sean P. Long (now at the University of Nevada, Reno), several ISU Geology masters students, plus Reed Lewis and Loudon Stanford of the Idaho Geological Survey.

The new map has its roots in ISU's Idaho Digital Atlas project, which was funded by an Idaho State Board of Education Technology Incentive Grant and a National Science Foundation grant.

The map is available locally for $20 at the Idaho Museum of Natural History gift shop, which is open Wednesday through Friday from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The store and museum will be closed from Dec. 24 through Jan. 1.

The map is also available from the Idaho Geological Survey in Moscow (208-885-7991, or idahogeology.org).

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