Enhancing Kentucky Geological Survey Geologic Sample and Data Discoverability

Kentucky Critical Mineral Data Preservation Project with Special Regards to the South-Central Kentucky Mineral District The Kentucky Geological Survey maintains a collection of ca. 5,000 digital files that contain various geological and mining information invaluable for critical mineral assessment in Kentucky. The goal of this project is to georeference and vector digitize critical mineral prospect areas and drill hole field maps pertinent to the South-Central Kentucky Mineral District. KGS legacy data Over 1,000 cubic feet of publications, field notes, project data, geologic samples, and related material will be identified, cataloged, organized, and assessed for storage. Catalogs and salvaged data will be made available online through the KGS website to bolster the public access to many KGS collections. The major deliverables are well-organized and newly publicly available collection items including Kentucky project reports, field notes, data, and samples available for online and in-person viewing. This deliverable will benefit KGS staff, undergraduate and graduate students, and scientists in Kentucky interested in various areas of Kentucky geology and available geologic samples. Oil and gas well data and samples Approximately 171 cubic feet of oil and gas documents and 250 sets of well cuttings will be identified and processed for public access. This deliverable will make data required to interpret geologic structure, fracturing, and stratigraphic trends readily available to researchers, benefiting mineral exploration and hydrocarbon studies. Improved KGS web services KGS staff will work to update KGS web services to better display collection item relations. This work will increase the discoverability of many KGS data collections and sample catalogs through the KGS website and benefit geoscientists interested in Kentucky data. Expanded analytical specialties New analytical equipment will be obtained to provide more services to EARL patrons interested in using our geologic samples collections for research and educational purposes. Infrastructure improvements Several spaces within EARL will be remodeled to improve efficiency, capacity, the work environment, and stakeholder services. These changes will improve the preservation of our archived collections, provide more lab space for our stakeholders, and improve the overall use of the facility.