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Survey News


2009 News

Berkeley County Earthquake Location

May 6, 2009 Earthquake in Berkeley County, SC   A magnitude 2.5 earthquake was recorded on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 at 1:07 PM approximately 2 miles from Summerville, SC.
Latest Earthquakes in the USA -Last 7 Days (USGS)

"Did you feel it?" Register your observations with the USGS

Barnwell County Earthquake Location

March 27, 2009 Earthquake in Barnwell County, SC   A magnitude 2.6 earthquake was recorded on Friday, March 27, 2009 at 12:06 PM approximately 2 miles from Williston, SC.
Latest Earthquakes in the USA -Last 7 Days (USGS)

"Did you feel it?" Register your observations with the USGS

Peak, SC Earthquake Location

March 18, 2009 2 Minor Earthquakes near Peak, SC   A magnitude 2.3 earthquake was recorded on Wednesday, March 18, 2009 at 6:00 PM and another slightly smaller magnitude 2.1 was recorded at 9:03 PM on Thursday March 19. They were both determined to be within 6 miles of Peak, SC.
Latest Earthquakes in the USA -Last 7 Days (USGS)

"Did you feel it?" Register your observations with the USGS

 

GIS Geology Layers Available for Aiken County   1:24,000 scale geology data layers are available for Aiken County, South Carolina.
Download GIS Data

 

2008 News

EQ Location ImageMagnitude 3.6 Earthquake Felt in Lowcountry COLUMBIA, S.C. (Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008, 10:00 a.m.) – The U.S. Geological Survey has confirmed that a 3.6 magnitude earthquake occurred in Dorchester County at 7:42 a.m. today. The epicenter of the earthquake was four miles south-southwest of Summerville, and was felt throughout the Tri-county area of Berkeley, Dorchester and Charleston Counties.
Read the Full SC Emergency Management Division News Release

"Did you feel it?" Register your observations with the USGS

 

Three new Geologic Quadrangle Maps (GQM) Released July 7, 2008  The Geologic Maps of the Zirconia, Pickens, and Dacusville 7.5-minute quadrangles in Greenville and Pickens Counties, South Carolina are completed and available for purchase at the Survey.  These new geologic quadrangles have detailed descriptions of map units, cross sections and photos of geologic formations in the Piedmont of the state. Each map has more than 1000 station observations and a topographic basemap. These publications are identified by GQM-39, GQM-41, GQM-42. To purchase a printed copy of any of our map publications please contact the SCGS
See Publication List

 

2007 News

Survey to host Digital Mapping Techniques Workshop in Columbia  The Workshop on Digital Mapping Techniques 2007 (DMT '07) is an invitation-only event designed to bring together scientists, cartographers, and GIS specialists, mostly at State and Federal agencies, who are using digital techniques to create and manage geologic maps.
DMT '07Announcement

US Geological Survey DMT Workshop Web-site
  

2006 News

See the Geological Survey's drilling program in action as featured on SC ETV  Members of the Geological Survey were featured in a recent segment of SC Wildlife TV.  Filmed on location in Aiken County in late August and originally aired in September on the ETV South Carolina Channel, the show highlights the Survey's Geologic Mapping Program in the Coastal Plain.  South Carolina Wildlife airs at 6:30 p.m. on the second Saturday of each month on ETV.
Link to the Video

Other DNR Videos

Digital GIS Geology Layers Available  1:24,000 Quadrangle geology data layers and Statewide general geology layers can be downloaded from our website.
Digital GIS Data

Statewide DEM Available  The SC Geological Survey has produced a Statewide 30-meter grid DEM (Digital Elevation Model). The DEM is in GRD (ESRI Grid file) format and is available for download on the web site.
Link to Statewide DEM Grid

Jones Gap Landslide  Heavy rains in the upstate produced a mass-wasting landslide at Jones Gap State Park in Greenville County the week of July 9th.  The landslide occurred west of the park office along the Middle Saluda River. Trees, rocks, boulders, and soil moved from the mountain top and closed one hiking trail. Individuals should be aware that landslides also might occur during flash flood warnings resulting from heavy rain events.
Pictures of the Damage
Jones Gap State Park link
The State Paper Article

Landslides in NC after Hurricane Ivan

The New Geology Postcard is Here The revised General Geologic Map of South Carolina is now available as a postcard. The price is $1.00 each, 5 for $3.00, 10 for $5.00. Instructions for ordering the new Postcard are on the Publication page

Bag-of-Rocks Available  The Geological Survey is now offering a "Bag-of-Rocks" to aid in the identification of rocks and minerals common to SC.  The bag will contain 10 common samples including; limestone, granite, and gneiss collected throughout the state.  An identification key accompanies the "Bag-of-Rocks". The price is $10.00.  The Rock and Mineral Kit, a more comprehensive box of 24 samples, is still available.
Purchase a "Bag-of-Rocks"

Ordering Information

 

2005 News

South Carolina Wildlife May-June 2005  The South Carolina Geological Survey was featured in the May-June 2005 issue of South Carolina Wildlife magazine.  The article, "Sailing With The Bad Creek Navy", describes recent geologic mapping in the Jocassee Gorges area.  The mapping project shows how cooperative efforts inside the DNR are advancing our knowledge of the state's natural resources.
Read the Entire Article

Two new Geologic Quadrangle Maps (GQM) Released April 13, 2005  The Geologic Map of the Sunset 7.5-minute quadrangle in Pickens County and the Geologic Map of the Eastatoe Gap 7.5-minute quadrangle in Greenville and Pickens Counties, South Carolina are completed and available for purchase at the Survey.  These new geologic quadrangles have detailed descriptions of map units, cross sections and photos of geologic formations in the Piedmont of the state. Each map has more than 1000 station observations.  Eastatoe Gap is adjacent to the Table Rock quadrangle, which is available for purchase as GQM-9.
See Publication List

A Nor'easter on February 27, 2005 damaged many beachfront houses on Edisto Beach, S.C.  The damage is a result of an active beach system interacting with stationary man-made structures.  Beaches move.  They can grow out into the ocean, retreat landward, and also move left and right at their inlets. With the construction of headwalls and groins in front of houses, the beach is not allowed to move as it needs to. The result is a steeper beach, with possible damage to man-made structures every time a storm comes in.  If the headwalls and the beachfront dunes had not been there, the storm would have taken much of the sand from the beach and washed it onto the middle of the island.  This sand movement would have raised the elevation of the center portion of the island, limiting flooding events there in the future.
See photos
Learn more about Nor'easter storms

Magnitude 2.9 Earthquake was felt in the Midlands of South Carolina on Feb. 18, 2005. 
On February 18, 2005, a magnitude 2.9 earthquake occurred near Columbia, S.C. At approximately 9:21am several people in the South Carolina Geological Survey, located at 5 Geology Road, Columbia, SC 29212, felt this event. Most of the people here felt shaking lasting two to three seconds with some computer monitors noticeably shaking along with a loud boom. Originally thought to be a blast from a local quarry or the Lake Murray dam, after a few minutes, seismographs of the event were found via the web, and the event was identified as an earthquake and not a blast.
Read the Entire Report


South Carolina Geological Survey
5 Geology Road
Columbia, SC 29212
phone 803.896.7708 -or- fax 803.896.7695

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