Why are some maps coloured and some not, and what do the different colours mean? If it’s a paper map you want to see, we recommend a visit to the BGS maps portal. Our map viewers page is a good place to start, or you could go straight to our BGS Geology Viewer.

We have several ways for you to look at the geology beneath you. We try to make maps at different scales and with different attributes so that as many users as possible can find the right map and information for their needs. Some users rely on our maps to work out things like resources (energy water minerals), construction conditions (excavations foundations), soils and landscapes (peatlands uplands), and hazards (flooding landslides contamination). Some of our mapping and research is dedicated to simply understanding the Earth, the processes that modify our landscape and the role geology plays in our lives. Geology maps are made for a wide range of users. Traditional survey techniques are still used, but BGS now also uses 3D modelling and visualisation to help update and improve the maps on a continuing basis. The maps convey our best interpretation of what lies beneath our feet and the evidence behind the map can be derived from decades of research, countless boreholes and sampling programmes, and digital landscape analysis. What are we doing about climate change?Ī geology map is any map that provides details about rocks, sediments, faults and a whole range of observations to do with the composition and structure of the Earth.īGS surveys geological features at 1:10 000 scale and we publish our findings digitally at this and smaller scales.Understanding carbon capture and storage.What causes the Earth’s climate to change?.NGR hydrocarbons (well samples) database.Palaeontology and biostratigraphy collections.Donations and loans of materials collections.

Engineering and Geotechnical Capability.

Integrated resource management in Eastern Africa.

Rock Volume Characterisation Laboratory Cluster.

Fluid and Rock Processes Laboratory Cluster.

Equality, diversity and inclusion at BGS.

Environmental policy and sustainability strategy.

Flat earth map on usgs