The Geologic Data Subcommittee (GDS) of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) is responsible for coordination of geologic data-related activities
FGDC Digital Cartographic Standard for
Geologic Map Symbolization
The standard is provided here in PDF format, which is best for viewing and plotting.
A limited number of paper copies will soon be available.
The standard also is available in
PostScript format.
An ArcGIS 10 version is available.
Questions? Please contact Dave Soller and Taryn Lindquist.
More information
DO YOU HAVE THE LATEST VERSION OF THE STANDARD?
Check here.
NOTE: If you prefer, we have
organized the symbols thematically, here.
- Entire document, including Color Chart and Pattern Chart (34 MB)
- Entire document, without Color Chart and Pattern Chart (28.2 MB)
- Title page (88 KB)
- Table of Contents (52 KB)
- Introductory text (320 KB)
- Index to symbols in Appendix A and to topics in introductory text (388 KB)
- APPENDIX A. GEOLOGIC MAP SYMBOLS, COLORS, AND PATTERNS
- Preface to Appendix A (284 KB)
[includes general information on how to use standard, information on Scientific Confidence and Locational Accuracy of Geologic Map Features, and three Tables.] - Section 1 -- Contacts, Key Beds, and Dikes (232 KB)
- Section 2 -- Faults (584 KB)
- Section 3 -- Boundaries Located by Geophysical Surveys (52 KB)
- Section 4 -- Lineaments and Joints (56 KB)
- Section 5 -- Folds (536 KB)
- Section 6 -- Bedding (96 KB)
- Section 7 -- Cleavage (88 KB)
- Section 8 -- Foliation (200 KB)
- Section 9 -- Lineation (236 KB)
- Section 10 -- Paleontological Features (76 KB)
- Section 11 -- Geophysical and Structure Contours (92 KB)
- Section 12 -- Fluvial and Alluvial Features (52 KB)
- Section 13 -- Glacial and Glaciofluvial Features (188 KB)
- Section 14 -- Periglacial Features (76 KB)
- Section 15 -- Lacustrine and Marine Features (96 KB)
- Section 16 -- Eolian Features (56 KB)
- Section 17 -- Landslide and Mass-Wasting Features (116 KB)
- Section 18 -- Volcanic Features (148 KB)
- Section 19 -- Natural Resources (460 KB)
- Section 20 -- Hazardous Waste Sites (56 KB)
- Section 21 -- Neotectonic and Earthquake-Hazard Features (104 KB)
- Section 22 -- Plate-Tectonic Features (128 KB)
- Section 23 -- Miscellaneous Uplift and Collapse Features (52 KB)
- Section 24 -- Terrestrial Impact Features (84 KB)
- Section 25 -- Planetary Geology Features (412 KB)
- Section 26 -- Geohydrologic Features (316 KB)
- Section 27 -- Weather Stations (56 KB)
- Section 28 -- Transportation Features (52 KB)
- Section 29 -- Boundaries (52 KB)
- Section 30 -- Topographic and Hydrographic Features (376 KB)
- Section 31 -- Miscellaneous Map Elements (132 KB)
- Section 32 -- Geologic Age Symbol Font ("FGDCGeoAge") (88 KB)
- Section 33 -- Suggested Ranges of Map-Unit Colors for Volcanic and Plutonic Rocks and for Stratigraphic Ages of Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks (56 KB)
- Section 34 -- State Location Maps (376 KB)
- Section 35 -- Bar Scales (324 KB)
- Section 36 -- Mean Declination Arrows (192 KB)
- Section 37 -- Lithologic Patterns (496 KB)
- Section 38 -- Explanation for Pattern Chart (108 KB)
- Section 39 -- Explanation for CMYK Color Chart (52 KB)
- CMYK Color Chart (68 KB)
- Pattern Chart (5 MB)
Go to Geologic Map Standard home page
- Preface to Appendix A (284 KB)