The World Map and subsequent World Minerals Geoscience Database Projects have provided thematic jpg (thumbnail) and gif (full size) images of world bedrock geology shown below. The geology was compiled mainly from 1: 2 to 1: 5 million scale national and continental maps, and was generalized for the global scale. Each map was derived by querying the main geological GIS data set to produce a simplified legend and polygon framework. These maps will be published by the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) in combination with mineral deposit or bathymetric data sets as paper maps in Van der Grinten projection, and as digital data sets on CD-ROM in geographic projection. The images below are in Van der Grinten projection. The scale of these images would be approximately 1: 90,000,000 if they are enlarged to fit a page 18 inches wide and 12 inches high.

1341 X 910 (257kb) Generalized Geology of the World: Age and Predominant Rock Type Domains. This complex map was produced by systematically querying era-level age ranges and predominant rock types which occur as default records in the Generalized Geology of the World GIS data set. The legend is too large (over 100 classes) to be included here. It combines the attributes of Age Domains at the Era Level and Predominant Rock Type Domains that are displayed separately below. The published paper map will be superimposed on world bathymetry.

1341 X 910 (232kb) Generalized Geology of the World: Age Domains at the Era Level.

1341 X 910 (227kb) Generalized Geology of the World: Predominant Rock Type Domains.

1341 X 910 (212kb) Generalized Geology of the World: Mafic and/or Ultramafic Magmatic Domains. This map will form the backdrop for World Distribution of Nickel Deposits, compiled by O. R. Eckstrand and D. J. Good. A simplified poster version of part of this map is shown in the image below.

1366 X 1870 (234kb) Simplified poster version of part of the World Distribution of Nickel Deposits, compiled by O. R. Eckstrand and D. J. Good.

1341 X 910 (221kb) Generalized Geology of the World: Felsic and/or Intermediate Magmatic Domains. This map will be recoloured as a backdrop for the World Distribution of Porphyry and Porphyry-related Skarn, and Bulk-tonnage Epithermal Deposits and Occurrences, compiled by R. V. Kirkham and K. P. E. Dunne. A highly simplified poster version of part of this map is shown in the image below.

1366 X 1870 (237kb) Highly simplified poster version of part of the World Distribution of Porphyry and Porphyry-Related Skarn, and Bulk-tonnage Epithermal Deposits, compiled by R. V. Kirkham and K. P. E. Dunne.

If you wish to obtain more information about these images and their production, please contact Dr. Lesley B. Chorlton.