Laboratory Manual for Introductory Geology 4e

FIGURE 8.4 The Public Land Survey System grid. Points A and B are for use in
Exercise 8.3.
R6W
R5W
R4W
R3W
R2W
R1W
R1E
R2E
R3E
R4E
R5E
R6E
A
T5N
6 miles
Base line
6 miles
Principal meridian
T4N
T3N
T2N
T1N
T1S
B
T2S
T3S
T4S
T5S
6
5
T2S R3E
4 3
2
1
Section 12, T2S R3E
SW 1/4, Section
12, T2S R3E
7
18
8
17
9
16
10
15
11
14
12
13
NW 1/4 NE 1/4
NW 1/4 NE 1/4
19
30
20
29
21
28
22
27
23
26
24
25
SW 1/4 SE 1/4
SW 1/4 SE 1/4
1/4 mile
31
32
33
34
35
36
1 mile
1/2 mile
1 mile SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of
Section 12, T2S R3E
1/4 mile
are divided further into quarter sections ½ mile on a side, and these in turn are each
divided into four squares ¼ mile on a side.
Township rows are numbered north or south of the baseline (e.g., T2S), and
ranges are numbered east or west of the principal meridian (e.g., R3E). The location
of the yellow starburst in Figure 8.4 is described in the series of blowups:
■■
T2S R3E locates it somewhere within an area of 36 square miles (inside a
6-mi 3 6-mi square).
■■
Section 12, T2S R3E locates it somewhere within an area of 1 square mile.
■■
SW ¼ of Section 12, T2S R3E locates it somewhere within an area of
¼ square mile.
■■
SW ¼ of the SW ¼ of Section 12, T2S R3E locates it within an area of
1/16th of a square mile.
In Exercise 8.3, you will practice using the Public Land Survey System.
8.3 MAP ELEMENTS
205