GIS Catalog of Significant Minnesota Minerals and Geologic Datasets

GIS data

The Minnesota DNR’s Lands and Minerals Division, the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS), and the Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI) each play distinct roles in Minnesota’s mineral economy. Under Minnesota Statute 93.001, the state provides for diversification of the mineral economy through long-term support of mineral exploration, development, production, and commercialization. Spatial data development and geoscience research are key components of that framework, including data related to Minnesota’s ferrous, nonferrous, and industrial mineral resources.

A wide range of geologic and geospatial datasets are available through Minnesota Geospatial Commons and the University of Minnesota Digital Conservancy, including downloadable data, web services, maps, and metadata. Additional resources are maintained by the Department of Natural Resources, and the Natural Resources Research Institute.

Selected resources by category:

By viewing or downloading any of the maps, reports, data, or other information provided on this website, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the disclaimer at the bottom of this page.

Base maps

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
2015 The Minnesota Geospatial Commons: The State of Minnesota's Geospatial Commons is the new repository for Minnesota spatial data (GIS). Users can download several GIS vector and raster datasets from many Minnesota governmental organizations and private organizations. The site includes links to extensive and summary level data descriptions (metadata) to support users. Air Photos, Elevation data (LiDAR), Administrative Features, Climate, Control, Environmental Quality, Facilities, Geology and Soils, Hydrography, Land Cover, Land Imagery, Ownership, Public Land Survey, Scanned Maps, Transportation BASEMAPS Minnesota Geospatial Commons Click for Web Site

Bedrock geology

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
2011 S-21 Geologic Map of Minnesota-Bedrock Geology. Download the maps and GIS data, view the layerfile in ArcGIS, or preview the map service.  Layerfile and map service sourced from MGS's Online Map Services Bedrock Geology Statewide
(1:500,000)
MGS

Maps & Data

Layerfile

Preview Service

2011 MGS Map Preview Service of County-Scale Bedrock Geology Raster Mosaic. Raster compilation of bedrock geology mapping in Minnesota. View as a layerfile in ArcGIS or preview the map service. Sourced from MGS's Online Map Services Bedrock Geology Counties
(1:100,000)
MGS

Layerfile

Preview Service

2010 MGS OFR-10-02 Preliminary Bedrock Geology Map of Minnesota. The contents of this report include preliminary geologic maps, bedrock topographic and depth to bedrock maps, and maps of ancillary data as pdf files, digital data files of the map elements, and those related to map compilation are also included.  Please see S-21 for final bedrock geology map. Bedrock Geology Bedrock Topography / Outcrops MGS Maps & Data
2010 C-23 Geologic Atlas of Benton County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Bedrock Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2010 C-22 Geologic Atlas of Chisago County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Bedrock Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2009 C-19 Geologic Atlas of Carlton County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Bedrock Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2007 M-176 Bedrock Geology of the Bigfork 30 x 60 Minute Quadrangle, Northeast Minnesota. Scale 1:100,000 Bedrock Geology 30 X 60 Minute (1:100,000) MGS Maps & Data
2007 C-18 Geologic Atlas of Todd County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Bedrock Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2006 M-165 Bedrock Geology of the Deer Lake Complex, Itasca County, Minnesota. Scale 1:24,000
Bedrock Geology Duluth Complex (1:24,000) MGS Maps & Data
2004 M-148 Bedrock Geology of the Ely and Basswood Lake 30 x 60 Minute Quadrangles, Northeast Minnesota. Scale 1:100,000 Bedrock Geology 30 X 60 Minute (1:100,000) MGS Maps & Data
2004 C-16 Geologic Atlas of Crow Wing County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Bedrock Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2003 M-141 Bedrock Geology of the Vermilion Lake 30 x 60 Minute Quadrangle, Northeastern Minnesota. Scale 1:100,000 Bedrock Geology 30 X 60 Minute (1:100,000) MGS Maps & Data
2003 C-15 Geologic Atlas of Pope County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Bedrock Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2001 M-114 Bedrock Geologic Map of the Eagles Nest Quadrangle, St. Louis County, Minnesota. Scale 1:24,000
Bedrock Geology Duluth Complex (1:24,000) MGS Maps & Data
2001 M-119 Geologic Map of the Duluth Complex and Related Rocks, Northeastern Minnesota. Scales 1:200,000 and 1:500,000
Bedrock Geology Duluth Complex
(1:200,000)(1:500,000)
MGS Maps & Data
2001 C-13 Geologic Atlas of Pine County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Bedrock Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2000 S-20 Geologic Map of Minnesota, Bedrock Geology. Scale 1:1,000,000
Bedrock Geology Statewide
(1:1,000,000)
MGS Map & Data
1999 M-99 Bedrock Geology of the Aitkin 30 x 60 Minute Quadrangle, East-Central Minnesota. Scale 1:100,000
Bedrock Geology 30 X 60 Minute (1:100,000) MGS Maps & Data
1999 M-100 Bedrock Geology of the Mille Lacs 30 x 60 Minute Quadrangle, East-Central Minnesota. Scale 1:100,000 Bedrock Geology 30 X 60 Minute (1:100,000) MGS Maps & Data
1999 M-092 Bedrock Geologic Map of Northwestern Minnesota. Scale 1:200,000
Bedrock Geology Northwestern MN (1:200,000) MGS Maps & Data
1999 M-091 Bedrock Geologic Map of Allen Quadrangle, St. Louis County, Minnesota. Scale 1:24,000
Bedrock Geology  Duluth Complex (1:24,000) MGS Maps & Data
1999 M-101 Bedrock Geologic Map of the Central Duluth Complex and Western Part of the Beaver Bay Complex, Lake and St. Louis Counties, Minnesota. Scale 1:100,000
Bedrock Geology Duluth Complex
(1:100,000)
MGS Maps & Data
1998 M-085 Bedrock Geologic Map of the Virginia Horn, Mesabi Iron Range, St. Louis County, Minnesota. Scale 1:48,000
Bedrock Geology  Virginia Horn (1:48,000) MGS Maps & Data
1998 M-086 Bedrock Geologic Map of the Midway area (Virginia Horn), St. Louis County, Minnesota
Bedrock Geology Virginia Horn (1:12,000) MGS Maps & Data

Exploration Drilling, Drill Core Evaluation, & Overburden Drilling

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
2017 Exploration and Engineering Drill Core Locations Stored at DNR's Drill Core Library in Hibbing, Minnesota
Drilling Data Drill Core Library DNR Data
2016 Bedrock Outcrop Samples Stored in the Drill Core Library From the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS)
Outcrop Sample Data Drill Core Library DNR and MGS Data
2010 Open-File Project 378 Koochiching County International Falls Greenstone Drill Core Assays
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Map, Data, & Presentation
2009 NRRI Drill Log Files
Geologic Drilling Examination & Logs NRRI Data
2008 Open-File Project 373 St. Louis County Vermilion Greenstone Drill Core Assays
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data & Presentation
1991 DNR Report 280 Regional Survey of Buried Glacial Drift, Saprolite and Precambrian Bedrock in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota. In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. Geologic Drilling Overburden Drilling DNR Maps, Data, & Reports
1991 DNR Report 278 Archean Drill Core Description and Assay in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota; discussion and analysis of 45 drill cores.
In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1989 DNR Report 264 1988-1989 Geodrilling Report; Hubbard, Becker, Koochiching, Beltrami & St. Louis counties.
In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1989 DNR Report 263 A Regional Geochemical Survey of Glacial Drift Drill Samples Over Archean Terrane in the Effie Area, Northern Minnesota. In September of 2012 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. Geologic Drilling Overburden Drilling DNR Maps, Data, & Reports
1989 DNR Report 255-1/265/266 1988-1989 Drill Core Repository Sampling Project: 255-1 Duluth Complex, 265 Soudan Mine, 266 Archean Greenstone; analysis of drill core from Duluth complex, Soudan mine, & greenstone terranes.
In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1988 DNR Report 252 Regional Survey of Buried Glacial Drift Geochemistry Over Archean Terrane in Northern Minnesota. In June of 2012 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. Geologic Drilling Overburden Drilling DNR Maps, Data, & Reports
1987 DNR Report 251 1985-1986 Geodrilling Report; DNR Drill Core from T46N R25W, T46N R28W, T52N R15W, T59N R12W, T56N R14W, T57N R12W
In March of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. It was published in April of 2015.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1985 DNR Report 242 1984-1985 Geodrilling Report; DNR Drill Core from T70N-71N R23W, T52N R15W, T55N R13W, T56N R18W, T57N R13W, T57N R11W, T59N R9W, T60N R10W-11W
In March of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. It was published in April of 2015.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Maps, Data, and Report

Geophysics

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
2017 Exploration and Engineering Drill Core Locations Stored at DNR's Drill Core Library in Hibbing, Minnesota
Drilling Data Drill Core Library DNR Data
2016 Bedrock Outcrop Samples Stored in the Drill Core Library From the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS)
Outcrop Sample Data Drill Core Library DNR and MGS Data
2010 Open-File Project 378 Koochiching County International Falls Greenstone Drill Core Assays
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Map, Data, & Presentation
2009 NRRI Drill Log Files
Geologic Drilling Examination & Logs NRRI Data
2008 Open-File Project 373 St. Louis County Vermilion Greenstone Drill Core Assays
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data & Presentation
1991 DNR Report 280 Regional Survey of Buried Glacial Drift, Saprolite and Precambrian Bedrock in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota. In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. Geologic Drilling Overburden Drilling DNR Maps, Data, & Reports
1991 DNR Report 278 Archean Drill Core Description and Assay in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota; discussion and analysis of 45 drill cores.
In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1989 DNR Report 264 1988-1989 Geodrilling Report; Hubbard, Becker, Koochiching, Beltrami & St. Louis counties.
In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1989 DNR Report 263 A Regional Geochemical Survey of Glacial Drift Drill Samples Over Archean Terrane in the Effie Area, Northern Minnesota. In September of 2012 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. Geologic Drilling Overburden Drilling DNR Maps, Data, & Reports
1989 DNR Report 255-1/265/266 1988-1989 Drill Core Repository Sampling Project: 255-1 Duluth Complex, 265 Soudan Mine, 266 Archean Greenstone; analysis of drill core from Duluth complex, Soudan mine, & greenstone terranes.
In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1988 DNR Report 252 Regional Survey of Buried Glacial Drift Geochemistry Over Archean Terrane in Northern Minnesota. In June of 2012 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. Geologic Drilling Overburden Drilling DNR Maps, Data, & Reports
1987 DNR Report 251 1985-1986 Geodrilling Report; DNR Drill Core from T46N R25W, T46N R28W, T52N R15W, T59N R12W, T56N R14W, T57N R12W
In March of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. It was published in April of 2015.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1985 DNR Report 242 1984-1985 Geodrilling Report; DNR Drill Core from T70N-71N R23W, T52N R15W, T55N R13W, T56N R18W, T57N R13W, T57N R11W, T59N R9W, T60N R10W-11W
In March of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. It was published in April of 2015.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Maps, Data, and Report

Geochemistry

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
2017 Exploration and Engineering Drill Core Locations Stored at DNR's Drill Core Library in Hibbing, Minnesota
Drilling Data Drill Core Library DNR Data
2016 Bedrock Outcrop Samples Stored in the Drill Core Library From the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS)
Outcrop Sample Data Drill Core Library DNR and MGS Data
2010 Open-File Project 378 Koochiching County International Falls Greenstone Drill Core Assays
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Map, Data, & Presentation
2009 NRRI Drill Log Files
Geologic Drilling Examination & Logs NRRI Data
2008 Open-File Project 373 St. Louis County Vermilion Greenstone Drill Core Assays
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data & Presentation
1991 DNR Report 280 Regional Survey of Buried Glacial Drift, Saprolite and Precambrian Bedrock in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota. In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. Geologic Drilling Overburden Drilling DNR Maps, Data, & Reports
1991 DNR Report 278 Archean Drill Core Description and Assay in Lake of the Woods County, Minnesota; discussion and analysis of 45 drill cores.
In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1989 DNR Report 264 1988-1989 Geodrilling Report; Hubbard, Becker, Koochiching, Beltrami & St. Louis counties.
In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1989 DNR Report 263 A Regional Geochemical Survey of Glacial Drift Drill Samples Over Archean Terrane in the Effie Area, Northern Minnesota. In September of 2012 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. Geologic Drilling Overburden Drilling DNR Maps, Data, & Reports
1989 DNR Report 255-1/265/266 1988-1989 Drill Core Repository Sampling Project: 255-1 Duluth Complex, 265 Soudan Mine, 266 Archean Greenstone; analysis of drill core from Duluth complex, Soudan mine, & greenstone terranes.
In January of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1988 DNR Report 252 Regional Survey of Buried Glacial Drift Geochemistry Over Archean Terrane in Northern Minnesota. In June of 2012 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. Geologic Drilling Overburden Drilling DNR Maps, Data, & Reports
1987 DNR Report 251 1985-1986 Geodrilling Report; DNR Drill Core from T46N R25W, T46N R28W, T52N R15W, T59N R12W, T56N R14W, T57N R12W
In March of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. It was published in April of 2015.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Data and Report
1985 DNR Report 242 1984-1985 Geodrilling Report; DNR Drill Core from T70N-71N R23W, T52N R15W, T55N R13W, T56N R18W, T57N R13W, T57N R11W, T59N R9W, T60N R10W-11W
In March of 2014 the original digital data for this report was reformatted for GIS applications. It was published in April of 2015.
Geologic Drilling Examination & Assay DNR Maps, Data, and Report

Surficial Geology, Industrial Minerals, & Aggregate Resources

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
2001 C-13 Geologic Atlas of Pine County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Surficial Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2003 C-15 Geologic Atlas of Pope County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Surficial Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2004 C-16 Geologic Atlas of Crow Wing County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Surficial Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2007 C-18 Geologic Atlas of Todd County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Surficial Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2010 C-22 Geologic Atlas of Chisago County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Surficial Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2010 C-23 Geologic Atlas of Benton County, Minnesota [Part A]. Scales 1:100,00 and 1:200,000
Surficial Geology County Geologic Atlas MGS Maps & Data
2015 Compilation of Aggregate Resource Mapping Program GIS Data
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping DNR Data
1997 Geomorphology of Minnesota 1:100,000 Scale Geomorphology Data Describing a Wide Variety of Conditions Related to Surficial Geology Within a Hierarchical Classification Scheme that was Devised for Use within Minnesota.
Surficial Geology Statewide (1:100,000) DNR, UMD, MGS Data &
Metadata
1999 M-102 Primary Sources of Construction Aggregate in the Twin Cities Seven-County Metropolitan Area, Minnesota Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping MGS Maps & Data
2001 M-116 Aggregate Resource Potential of Chisago County, Minnesota Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping & Surficial Geology MGS Maps & Data
2005 M-131 Aggregate Resource Potential of Itasca County, Minnesota Industrial Minerals Aggregate  Mapping & Surficial Geology MGS Maps & Data
2004 NRRI/TR-2004/29 Regional and Local Geologic and Geochemical Controls on Industrial Clay Grades Between Granite Falls and Redwood Falls, Minnesota
Industrial Minerals Clays Kaolin NRRI Report & Data
2011 Raster compilation of surficial geology mapping in Minnesota at 1:100,000 scale. View in ArcGIS by Clicking on the Layerfile or use the MGS's Map Preview Service. Sourced from the MGS's Online Map Services
Surficial Geology County Level Surficial Geology at 1:100,000 MGS Layerfile / Preview Service
1993 Report 289/298/298-2 Dimension Stone Inventory of Northern Minnesota
Industrial Minerals Dimension Stone DNR Report & Data
1991 Report 294 Aggregate Resources and Quaternary geology of Wright County, Minnesota Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping & Surficial Geology DNR Maps, Data, & Report
1992 Report 304 Aggregate Resources and Quaternary Geology of Isanti County, Minnesota
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping DNR Maps & Data
1997 Report 306 Aggregate Resources, Eastern Clay County, Minnesota; 4 plates.
Industrial Minerals Aggregate & Surficial Geology DNR Maps & Data
1999 Report 335 Aggregate Resources and Surficial geology of Blue Earth County, Minnesota
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping & Surficial Geology DNR Maps & Data
2002 Report 340 Minnesota River Valley Mineral Resources; Compilation of Mineral Resources Digital Information for the Minnesota River Valley Corridor Industrial Minerals Mineral Resources Compilation DNR, MGS, & NRRI Maps & Data
2000 Report 343 Aggregate Resources and Surficial Geology of Nicollet County, Minnesota
Industrial Minerals Aggregate  Mapping & Surficial Geology DNR Maps & Data
2001 Report 350 Stockpile Ownership, Composition, and Use for Two Study Areas Located near Virginia and Calumet, Minnesota; 79 pages; 4 plates; 1 map; chemical asssay data. Industrial Minerals Stockpiles DNR Report, Maps, and Data
2001 Report 352 Aggregate Resources of Sherburne County, Minnesota. Digital data based on maps completed in July of 1987 and digitized in 2000. 2 plates.
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping DNR Maps & Data
2002 Report 356 Aggregate Resources and Surficial Geology of Benton County, Minnesota
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Resource Mapping & Surficial Geology DNR Maps & Data
2002 Report 357 Aggregate Resources and Surficial Geology of Dodge County, Minnesota
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping & Surficial Geology DNR Maps & Data
2003 Report 358 Inventory of Publicly Owned Stockpiles and Natural Aggregate Resources at the Former LTV Mine and Vicinity; report 20 pages; two plates; GIS datasets; photos; database; and spreadsheets. Industrial Minerals Aggregate & Stockpiles DNR Report, Maps, and Data
2003 Report 360 Aggregate Resources and Surficial Geology, LeSueur County, Minnesota; 2 plates.
Industrial Minerals Aggregate & Surficial Geology DNR Maps & Data
2012 Report 362 Aggregate Resources of Stearns County, MN: Sand and Gravel Potential and Crushed Stone Potential
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping DNR Maps & Data
2003 Report 363 Aggregate Resources and Surficial Geology of Renville County, Minnesota
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping & Surficial Geology DNR Maps & Data
2006 Report 364 Aggregate Resources and Surficial Geology of Meeker County, Minnesota Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping & Surficial Geology DNR Maps & Data
2008 Report 365 Aggregate Resources of Mille Lacs County, Minnesota
Industrial Minerals Aggregate  Mapping DNR Maps & Data
2009 Report 374 Aggregate Resources of Carlton County, Minnesota and Fond du Lac Reservation, Minnesota
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping DNR Maps & Data
2009 Report 375 Aggregate Resources of Olmsted County, Minnesota; Sand and Gravel Potential & Crushed Stone Potential; 2 plates. Industrial Minerals Aggregate DNR Maps & Data
2011 Report 380 Aggregate Resources and Silt and Clay Potential in Northern St. Louis and Lake Counties, Minnesota
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping DNR Maps, Data, & Reports
2014 Report 381 Sand and Gravel Resources of Aitkin County, MN
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping DNR Maps & Data
2011 Report 384 Aggregate Resources of Kanabec County, MN: Sand and Gravel Potential
Industrial Minerals Aggregate Mapping DNR Maps & Data
1982 S-01 Geologic Map of Minnesota, Quaternary Geology. Scale 1:500,000
Surficial Geology Statewide
(1:500,000)
MGS Map & Data

Mesabi Iron Range geology

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
2005 M-163 Bedrock Geology of the Mesabi Iron Range, Minnesota. Scale 1:100,000
Bedrock Geology Iron Range
(1:100,000)
MGS Maps & Data
2005 M-164 Surficial Geology of the Mesabi Iron Range, Minnesota Surficial Geology Iron Range
(1:100,000)
MGS Maps & Data
2005 M-158 Bedrock Geology Database, Bedrock Topography, and Depth to Bedrock Maps of the Eastern Half of the Mesabi Iron Range, Northern Minnesota. Scale 1:100,000
Bedrock Geology Iron Range
(1:100,000)
MGS Maps & Data
2002 M-126 Bedrock Topographic and Depth to Bedrock Maps of the Western Half of the Mesabi Iron Range, Northern Minnesota. Scale 1:100,000
Bedrock Geology Iron Range
(1:100,000)
MGS Maps & Data

Soils data

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
2014 SSURGO Data Downloader: ArcGIS Web Map Application to Access and Dowload SSURGO Soil Data
Soils NRCS Soil Survey - SSURGO NRCS Web Map Application and Data

State Minerals Leasing and State Peat Leasing

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
Current The State of Minnesota issues mineral leases on state-owned and state-administered fee mineral interests. The lease types include iron ore, taconite, industrial mineral, non-ferrous, and miscellaneous. These layers are of active or historic State mineral leases, administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, mapped to the PLS forty and government lot.
State Mineral Leasing Active and Historic State Mineral Leases DNR Data
2016 Areas Ever Offered for State Metallic Mineral Leases (May 26, 2016) are areas of the State that have been offered for non-ferrous, metallic mineral lease sale, mapped to the PLS forty/government lot. Areas to offer are initially identified to the section level. Subsequent research and review is done to identify the specific areas that will be offered for lease.
State Mineral Leasing State Mineral Leases Ever Offered DNR Data
2011 State Mineral Management Corridor also called the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) Mineral Management Corridor Boundary.  The MN DNR has established procedures whereby certain state lands in the proximity to the BWCAW are not offered for mineral leasing.
State Mineral Leasing Mineral Management Corridor DNR Data
Current The State of Minnesota issues peat leases on state-owned and state-administered fee surface interests. These layers are of active or historic State peat leases, administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, mapped to the PLS forty and government lot.
State Peat Leasing Active and Historic State Peat Leases DNR Data

DNR Mineral Potential Project Boundaries

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
2016 DNR Mineral Potential Projects Boundaries: GIS shapfile showing boundaries of DNR published and open-file mineral projects since 1976. The shapefile's attributes include a URL to hyperlink to the DNR project webpages to download digital data where available.
DNR Mineral Potential Projects Boundaries Index of Projects DNR Data

DNR Mineral Exploration Collections: Minnesota Mineral Resources Database

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
2024 The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources maintains and shares scientific and economic information from mineral exploration projects. The MMRD offers search and retrieval of historical and contemporary documents including exploration reports, economic analyses, geophysical maps, geospatial data, drill logs, and assays. Web map and library search interfaces are offered.
DNR Mineral Exploration Collections MMRD DNR Web Site

Well Information (County Well Index)

Date Spatial Name Theme Subject Agency Link
2015 Minnesota County Well Index Web Application, County Well Index (CWI) Online is a web-based version of the CWI data system developed by the Minnesota Geological Survey (MGS) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for the storage, retrieval, and editing of water-well information. The CWI database contains basic information, such as location, depth, and static water level, for wells drilled in Minnesota. The database contains construction and geological information from the well record (well log) for many wells. CWI Online also provides mapping of wells onto aerial photos, allowing users to visually identify well locations.
Drilling Data Water Wells & Other Borings MGS, DOH Web App