With such diverse geology to underpin this rich data legacy, North Carolina is blessed with a remarkable array of geological resources that are of great interest today. From rare, ultra-high purity quartz in the mountainous west, to hard-rock lithium in the Piedmont, to abundant phosphate production near the coast, North Carolina hosts an impressive variety of valuable minerals. Our state also boasts numerous other important geological resources, including crushed stone/aggregate, dimension stone, sand and gravel, brick clay, feldspar, and pyrophyllite among many others. These resources are essential for economic development. At the same time, we also recognize and address vital environmental and geohazard issues through dedicated programs and projects.

All these efforts are complimented by our education and outreach program, which aims to promote the work of the NCGS and the broader value of geology through numerous public engagements, classroom and workshop activities, and the creation of geoscience educational materials. We are also excited about our new geology education and museum space, expected to open in our Central Office in Raleigh in the coming year.

Dr. Kenneth B. Taylor has dedicated three decades to advancing the understanding and management of geological issues and natural hazards in North Carolina. Reflecting on his career reveals a journey marked by significant contributions and unwavering commitment to public service.

Dr. Kenneth B. Taylor's career is a testament to his dedication and expertise. As he steps into retirement, his unwavering commitment to his organization and his passion for the geosciences will be fondly remembered. Thank you, Dr. Taylor, for your many contributions and for your service to the NC Geological Survey.

Consistent with the US Geological Survey (USGS) GeoFramework Initiative's (USGI) 2030 vision of creating an integrated, 2D and 3D digital geologic map of the U.S., the NCGS's STATEMAP (SM) fiscal year 2024 (FY24) effort was funded for five subprojects that include compilation work, new geologic mapping, and interstate collaboration in all three of the State's geologic/physiographic provinces: Blue Ridge Mountains, Piedmont, and Coastal Plain.

Staff recently attended the 6th Annual Earth MRI workshop held in Reston, VA. This workshop has become a focal point for what are termed "pre-competitive" geologic efforts to describe the "what" and "where" of critical minerals in North Carolina and the rest of the nation. Geologic mapping, as well as geophysical and geochemical reconnaissance efforts, are reported on by many states and new ideas for future projects are discussed in collaboration with numerous federal and state colleagues. Enhancements to baseline federal funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) helped to ramp up activities within this vital program area and is expected to continue through at least 2026.

The FY19 grant ($125,000) was fiscally closed in 2024 and the final technical report is nearly complete. Deliverables include the surficial geologic maps of Drake and Red Oak 7.5-minute quadrangles which are along strike from known critical mineral deposits (REE minerals, monazite, ilmenite) associated with ancient shorelines in the Fall Zone of NC as shown on Figure 1. The surficial geologic maps are based on the geomorphology of landforms interpreted from high-resolution LiDAR (2004 QL2, 20 ft digital elevation models) and stratigraphy defined from 4,270 feet of shallow core collected at 127 drill sites. Most of the cores were drilled through the entire Coastal Plain stratigraphic section, with a target depth equivalent to the Coastal Plain/bedrock contact. In this area, the basement rocks are commonly severely weathered. Areas lacking Coastal Plain cover were estimated using USDA soils maps, terrace distribution, and other data (strike, dip, fractures, in situ outcrops, etc.) collected in the Red Oak quadrangle by bedrock mappers.

Theories abound as to the origin of the Carolina Bays, but one idea being tested is that they are the resultant features from long-active hydrogen gas conduits emanating from deep-seated origins. Those potential origins could be from radiolysis (where radioactive elements slowly split water molecules over time), serpentinization (chemical reactions of water with iron-rich rocks), or direct emanations from the mantle. The processes are not well understood at present and an increasing number of scientists and explorationists are researching and drilling for geologic hydrogen across prospective areas. The Carolina Bays remain of interest in this regard with the potential for future studies where deeper and better subsurface data may help to unlock the scientific story.

The Landslides Hazards Program comprises the bulk of the workload for the Geologic Hazards & Engineering Geology Team. The Team partners with UNC-Asheville's National Environmental Modeling and Analysis Center (NEMAC) to support data delivery and visualization of accurate, useful, and current landslide hazards through a variety of web products with the goals of making it easier for various audiences to access, interact with, and understand landslide hazard data. Visit NCGS's  Landslides in Western North Carolina  website for interactive maps and program details.

The Geohazards and Engineering Geology Team also addresses earthquake and sinkhole/subsidence inquiries, responses, and mapping. In addition, the Team supports DEQ management and the DEQ Public Information Office during landslide, earthquake, and subsidence events.

Congrats to our newest GITs - Calley Anthony (Coastal Plain Mapping and Stratigraphy program), Jeremy Jurgevich (Landslide Hazards team), and Qingxin Zhang (Piedmont Mapping team). Great work - your PG is just around the corner!

• Down the Escarpment and Across the Zone: A Transect from the Eastern Blue Ridge to the Western Piedmont; A Billion Years of Geology.
• Big Slow-movers, Debris Slides and Flows, and Mega-boulders of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, Western North Carolina.
• Paleozoic Tectonics, Pleistocene landforms, and Holocene Seismicity in the Blue Ridge: Results from Integrated Studies into the August 9,2020, Mw 5.1 Earthquake Area near Sparta, North Carolina.

Adams, M.G., Cattanach, B.L., Benton, J.R., Trantham, B.T., Lynn, A.S., 2024, Bedrock Geologic Map of the Burnsville 7.5-minute Quadrangle, Yancey and Mitchell Counties, North Carolina: North Carolina Geological Survey  Open-file Report 2024-03 , in color.

Cattanach, B., Lynn, A.S., Trantham, B., Waters-Tormey, C., Langille, J., Adams, M., Benton, J., 2024, New 1:24,000-scale geologic map compilations of the Burnsville, Micaville, and Spruce Pine 7.5-minute quadrangles, Yancey, Mitchell, Avery, an dMcDowell counties, North Carolina: Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, v. 56, no. 2,  https://doi: 10.1130/abs/2024SE-398336 .

Farrell, K.M., Occhi, M.E., Carter, M.W., and Nelson, M., 2024, Preliminary Evaluation of Along-Strike Correlations of Pliocene and Early Pleistocene Stratigraphic Units, Fall Zone Placer Region for North Carolina and Virginia: Abstract, Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs Vol 56, No. 2.

Hill, J., Wooten, R., Cattanach, B., Bauer, J., Bozdog, N., Douglas, T., Isard, S., Khashchevskaya, D., Korte, D., Kuhne, J., Owen, L., Prince, P., Scheip, C., Waters-Tormey, C., and Wegmann, K., 2024, Big slow-movers, debris slides and flows, and mega-boulders of the Blue Ridge Escarpment, western North Carolina, USA, in Merschat, A.J., and Carter, M.W., eds., Geology and Geologic Hazards of the Blue Ridge: Field Excursions for the 2024 GSA Southeastern Section Meeting, Asheville, North Carolina, USA: Geological Society of America Field Guide 67, p. 13.  https://doi.org/10.1130/2024.0067(02). 

Merschat, A., Carter, M.W., Lynn, A., Stewart, K.G., Figueiredo, P.M., Odom, W.E., McAleer, R.J., Vazquez, J., Powell, N.E., Holm-Denoma, C.S., 2024, Mesoproterozoic to Paleozoic tectonics, Pleistocene landforms, and Holocene seismicity in the Blue Ridge: Results from integrated studies of the 9 August 2020, Mw 5.1 earthquake area near Sparta, North Carolina, USA in Merchat, A. and Carter, M.W., eds., Geology and Geologic Hazards of the Blue Ridge: Field Excursions for the 2024 GSA Southeastern Section Meeting, Asheville, North Carolina, USA, Boulder, Colorado, The Geological Society of America, Filed Guide 67, p. 69-106,  https://doi.org/10.1130/2024.0067(03) 

Veach, D.M. (with contributions from: Nickerson, J.G., Gay, N.K., Farrell, K.M., Bradley, P.J., and Grimley, D.A.), 2024, Surficial Geologic Map with Top of Bedrock Structural Contours in the Raleigh 30x60 Minute Quadrangle, North Carolina: North Carolina Geological Survey  Open-file Report 2024-06 , scale 1:100,000, in color.

Dwain Veach (PG) - State Geologist, NCGS Section Chief

•  2023