Carte géologique du terrain entre le lac d'Orta et celui de Lugano. Leopold von Buch. [1829]

Extract from the map

Geological cross-section

Section of the key

Carte géologique du terrain entre le lac d'Orta et celui de Lugano. Leopold Buch. [1829].

An image of the full map can be found here

Christian Leopold von Buch (1774 – 1853) was a German geologist and paleontologist. He was the first Foreign Member of the Geological Society of London.

A biography of  Christian Leopold von Buch

Posted by Bob McIntosh

Cartographic curiosity - Geological Survey of Scotland 1:10,560 Argyll Sheet 18

Geological Survey of Scotland 1:10,560 Argyll Sheet 18. 1878 [eastern half added c.1933]  The 'Clean Copy' deposited for public consultation. 

While searching the old Survey geological maps of the Beinn Mheadhoin/Strontian area for information about mineral workings, Don Cameron, a BGS geologist, came across this handwritten note which seemed to be scurrilously referring to Edward Battersby Bailey (E.B.B.) the then Director of the Geological Survey of Great Britain. Further investigation by Marcus Mulcahy of the BGS Enquiries Team in Edinburgh unearthed the original fieldslip with an admission in Bailey’s handwriting that he mapped the area in question, noting: 'I know this part may be very badly mapped. I did it myself before I knew anything at all about gneiss rocks.' This matches the writing on the 'Clean Copy' above, so its likely that Bailey made the admission before the map was copied! The field slip is shown below.

Original fieldslip: Geological Survey of Scotland 1:10,560 Argyll Sheet 18 NE by 'R.C.B.J.' i.e.   Robert Cyril Briscoe Jones with manuscript notes by  Edward Battersby Bailey.

Note on the maps: A geologist would survey the area by taking a set of Ordnance Survey maps cut up for convenience in the field. The geologist would walk over the ground drawing in the geology he sees and making notes on the field slips and collecting rock samples for identification. In the evening during field days he would 'ink in' the lines he had surveyed. Much later, back in the office a 'Clean Copy' of the map would be made with the final interpretation and deposited in the Survey Library for consultation, the map would also be used when compiling the various published maps. 

To learn about geological mapping in the early days of the Survey visit here. 

Today, the process of mapping is all digital.

Posted by Don Cameron, Marcus Mulcahy, Gill Nixon and Bob McIntosh

Der Aetna mit seiner nächsten Umgebung nach Fr. Hoffmann

Der Aetna mit seiner nächsten Umgebung nach Fr. Hoffmann  from Vulkanen-Atlas zur Naturgeschichte der Erde. [Stuttgart] [E. Schweizerbart] 1844.

Bob McIntosh

Der Aetna und die von ihm ergossenen Laven-Stroeme, Carl E. von Leonhard, 1844

Der Aetna und die von ihm ergossenen Laven-Stroeme. Leonhard, Carl  E.: Vulkanen-Atlas zur Naturgeschichte der Erde Stuttgart 1844.

An early map of Mount Etna.

Bob McIntosh

Geological map of Alderney

BGS image ID: P818145

This geological map of Alderney was made by German geologist Wather Klüpfel during the German occupation of the Channel Islands. Klüpfel (1888-1964) was stationed in the Channel Islands between 1941 and 1944 and carried out work relating to water supply, building material, mineral resources and geological structure.

Part of the Casimir/Klüpfel collection at BGS Archives

Andrew L Morrison

Geological Survey of England and Wales 1:63,360 geological map series [Old Series] Sheet 34 - map extract

Extract of the Swindon area from the Geological Survey of England and Wales 1:63,360 geological map series [Old Series] Sheet 34 [Stroud, Cirencester, Fairford, Swindon, Chippenham, Marlborough Downs.] Decr. 1857. A beautifully hand-coloured map painted with watercolours.

The map is one example from c. 2,200 maps and sections dating from 1832 and released yesterday on the British Geological Survey OpenGeoscience service.

Bob McIntosh