A closer and more thorough look at what’s in and under the ground in Washington state is now available online through the Washington State Geologic Information Portal, developed by the Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources.

The Washington Geologic Information Portal was recently updated with several new thematic layers. Data from published literature have been compiled over the past several years to provide the public an easy way to learn about the geology around them.

“Our research provides important information about our state’s geology and natural hazards, and it’s essential to make it as accessible as possible,” Washington State Geologist Dave Norman said.

New additions include:

•Geologic mapping at 1:24,000 scale

•Compiled reports on the chemical composition of rocks

•Over 5,000 radiometric age estimates of rocks and deposits

•Location, water chemistry, temperature, and imagery of thermal and mineral springs

•Improved and expanded subsurface database with the locations, lithologic information, and reports for thousands of geotechnical boreholes

•Revised and expanded geothermal information including resource potential and favorability, geothermal well data, and locations of open- and closed-loop geothermal systems.

For more information about the Geologic Information Portal, go to:www.dnr.wa.gov/Publications/ger_fs2_portal.pdf

To access the Geologic Information Portal, go to: www.dnr.wa.gov/geologyportal

Washington’s Geologic Survey

As the official geologic survey of the state, the Washington State Department of Natural Resources Division of Geology and Earth Sciences is responsible for monitoring, assessing, and researching geologic events and keeping the public, industry, and government informed about the nature of the land around us.