In 2015, it is 200 years since the first large-scale geological map appeared.

The first large-scale geological map - clickable

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the event that defined modern geology: William Smith, an English geologist, in 1815 published the first large-scale geological map, on which all of England, Wales and part of Scotland was applied. His map contained ordered rock strata, separated by the fossils they contained.

It was not the very first geological map. When people learned how to mine and draw maps, it was obvious to map deposits. The ancient Egyptian papyrus “ Turin papyrus map ” reached the present time from the 12th century BCE.

And closer to our era, in 1683, Martin Lister suggested that the Royal Society of London designate soils and minerals on maps. This moment is considered the birth of geological surveys and geological maps. However, the first large-scale map was published by Mr. Smith in 1815.
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Smith was not a bored rich aristocrat or geologist by education. He supervised the construction of canals and drainage facilities. And in the process of work, he drew attention to the fact that geological formations on the earth's surface are not randomly located. They are divided into layers, going in order, and this order is maintained throughout the country. He also guessed that fossils can be used as an indicator of the age of the layers. Many books have been written about Will Smith, the most famous of which is The Map That Changed The World .

Those interested in geological maps of Russia can easily find them on the Internet — for example, a site with map scans , a site with pdf , and a site with an interactive map .