Colorado Map of Potential Evaporite Dissolution and Evaporite Karst Subsidence Hazards

Large areas of Colorado are underlain by Mesozoic and/or Paleozoic evaporite deposits. The purpose of Colorado Geological Survey’s (CGS) Colorado Map of Potential Evaporite Dissolution and Evaporite Karst Subsidence Hazards is to describe the geologic conditions where near-surface evaporite rocks occur in Colorado and the general description and hazard potential of ground subsidence that can occur from rock dissolution in evaporite terrain.

This on-line publication includes a statewide map in Adobe PDF format at a plate size of 54" by 42" size (1:500,000 scale), an illustrated 28-page map discussion report in Adobe .pdf format, and GIS digital data prepared as ESRI shapefiles (.shp).

The data in this publication includes those areas of Colorado underlain by near-surface evaporite bedrock and point locations of sinkholes and subsidence features where they have been discerned.  This mapping project was funded by the CGS Critical Geologic Hazards Program. Funding for this program comes from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources Severance Tax Operational Funds, from severance taxes paid on the production of natural gas, oil, coal, and metals in Colorado.