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


Will the Standard be maintained and revised?

On behalf of the FGDC, the USGS will maintain this Federal standard. The responsibility for coordinating Federal geologic mapping information is stipulated by Office of Management and Budget Circular A-16. The Geologic Mapping Act of 1992 (and subsequent reauthorizations) stipulates a requirement for standards development under the auspices of the National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB). Under this authority, the NGMDB will function on behalf of the USGS as coordinator of this maintenance activity (see http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/info/standards/). Maintenance will be conducted in cooperation primarily with the Association of American State Geologists (AASG), which is the USGS's partner in the Geologic Mapping Act.

Following the FGDC public review, a Map Symbol Committee was formed to provide technical advice to the preparers of this standard. The Committee membership comes from the NGMDB, the USGS scientific staff and Publications Groups, the AASG, and the academic community. The NGMDB will continue to rely on the Committee to assist in maintaining the Standard. The Committee will, as needed, review comments and suggestions for revisions, additions, and deletions to the standard. A log of revisions to each section of the Standard is maintained.

Can I contribute or ask questions?

We intend this to be a "living standard" -- that is, we recognize that an existing symbol's usage may need to be modified, or a new symbol or set of symbols created, to more fully express local geologic conditions or to keep pace with evolving geologic mapping concepts and practices. Accordingly, such new or modified symbols, if found to be of wide applicability, will be incorporated into this standard through planned, periodic revisions.

You are invited to submit comments and suggestions for updates or other improvements to this standard, by email to: mapsymbol@usgs.gov.



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