Pennsylvania

Summary

Federal investments through STATEMAP, Earth MRI, and NGGDPP are delivering measurable benefits to Pennsylvania:

  • Linking the Broad Top coalfield to the main bituminous coal field through new subsurface analysis.
  • Supporting acid mine drainage (AMD) remediation efforts in Bedford County by mapping mine-to-coal interval connections.
  • Advancing a multistate critical minerals corridor initiative through high-resolution aerial geophysics.
  • Preserving core collections that continue to fuel cutting-edge science on mass extinctions and basin hydrography.

STATEMAP

  • Broad Top region (south-central PA):
    • Detailed analysis of a 1984 reference drill core allowed correlation of the Broad Top coalfield with the main bituminous coal field.
    • Mapping results directly support AMD remediation in Bedford County by enabling treatment designs tailored to coal intervals.

Earth MRI

  • Appalachian Geophysical Transect:
    • Pennsylvania contributed to a high-resolution multistate aerial survey (PA–WV–MD–VA) targeting a critical minerals corridor.
    • Data (pending release) will underpin resource assessments and cross-state collaborations.
  • Gettysburg quadrangle (south-central PA):
    • New geologic map (2025) fills a regional coverage gap, supporting mineral resource evaluation, groundwater studies, and hazard mitigation.

NGGDPP/Core Library Success Story

  • Rock Sample Library (Presque Isle, Erie, PA):
    • Houses the EGSP-3 core, originally collected during DOE’s Eastern Gas Shale Project (1970s–80s).
    • Discovery of the Point Gratiot Bed (Upper Kellwasser Event marker) in this core:
      • Confirms bed’s presence in western PA, 40 miles/65 km west of Dunkirk, NY.
      • Nearly doubles its known geographic extent in the northern Appalachian Basin.
      • Links NY outcrops with subsurface cores in Ohio, expanding basin-wide understanding.
    • Core access enabled high-resolution geochemical analysis (centimeter-scale), advancing knowledge of ocean conditions during one of Earth’s largest mass extinctions.
  • Long-term impact: Demonstrates enduring value of preserved cores, initially collected for energy assessments but now driving research in stratigraphy, sedimentology, and extinction science.

Impact for Pennsylvania:

  • Supports AMD cleanup, reducing costs for townships and protecting water resources.
  • Positions Pennsylvania in the critical minerals corridor with direct relevance to energy security.
  • Preserves cores that enable world-class geoscience discoveries, extending their value decades beyond collection.
  • Enhances hazard planning and resource management across coalfields, aquifers, and infrastructure projects.