Data Discovery

The Illinois Natural Resources Geospatial Data Clearinghouse (Illinois Clearinghouse) is an established node of the National Spatial Data Infrastructure Clearinghouse Network. Hosted by the Illinois State Geological Survey since July 1, 1997, the Illinois Clearinghouse has become the de facto starting point for the GIS and remote sensing user communities in Illinois.

Dataset about Oil and Gas Permits

The need for improved geologic information is ever increasing as environmental and land-use issues continue to grow, with particular relevance to water resources. In northeast Illinois, bedrock aquifers are under regional stress and Lake Michigan sources are nearly fully allocated. Thus, McHenry County has responded with proactive water-resources planning. In cooperation with the County, the ISGS is in the final stages of completing a county-wide 3-D geologic model of the glacial deposits, which include the shallow sand and gravel aquifers.

The Survey has an extensive well database.

Multiple categories of GIS data (Geology)

ISGS maps are published in a variety of series, differentiated primarily by level of review. Those map series that are available online are described below. Additional maps, not part of the online map series, may be available in other ISGS Publications.

These data were compiled by the ISGS for known underground and surface coal mines as well as underground industrial mines. For more information including links to coal mine maps and informational directories, coal resource maps, and coal logs please see the County Coal Map Series.

In two field seasons (2008-2009), the ISGS and McHenry County collected 31 continuous lithologic cores to bedrock (17 wireline-mud rotary, 14 rotosonic), which included downhole geophysical logs at each location (gamma ray and electrical resistivity). The ISGS also collected approximately 90 km of 2D geophysical profiles (seismic (51 km) and electrical resistivity (39 km)). The geophysical datasets help geologists further decipher the character of glacial sediments below land surface. These field data have been the key datasets for regional and local geologic interpretation in the County.

Illinois oil and gas resources map

The ISGS Geologic Mapping Program Gamma-Ray Logs Database uses an interactive map to allow users to view individual logs and standardized borehole location information for 19 counties in Illinois. A few logs collected from county boundaries in Wisconsin are also included in the database.

Coal resource shapefiles of the Colchester, Danville, Davis, Dekoven, Herrin, Jamestown, Seelyville, and Springfield Coals in Illinois

Interactive Map of wells and related data of Illinois.The ISGS is an official repository for records of wells drilled in the state of Illinois in our Geoscience Information Stewardship Section. Paper records are archived for over 700,000 wells. Some of these records go back as far as the late 1800s. Water and related well data can be accessed for private water wells, engineering borings, and stratigraphic borings. Many of the paper records have been converted to digital and are searchable within the ILWATER Interactive Map.

Downloadable GIS Data, Statewide Coal Maps, Coal Quality Maps, Coal Quadrangle Maps, County Coal Data, Coal Industry Map

The ISGS is an official repository for records of wells drilled in the state of Illinois. Paper records are archived for over 700,000 wells. Some of these records go back as far as the late 1800s.

The Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS) manages one of the largest collections of geologic samples in the United States. The collections are housed in the Geological Samples Library (GSL), located in the Natural Resources Studies Annex on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Geological Samples Library is the legislatively mandated repository for drill-hole samples in Illinois (State Law 225 ILCS 730/2), including cores drilled for mineral exploration and geologic investigations.

Another primary data source that is often abundant in McHenry County is the historical water well record dataset. The quality of water well records is a common concern when using these data for geologic interpretation, and various approaches are used by geologists to assess the value of those records.