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BGS Geology 50k version 9

The BGS Geology 50k datasets are a digital representation of the geological maps of Great Britain at 1:50 000 scale. The data is presented at 1:50 000 scale. Onshore coverage is provided for England, Scotland, Wales and the Isle of Man. Approximately 99% coverage is available and BGS is committed to completing the coverage, and ongoing updates as part of its national survey activities. BGS Geology 50k V9 dataset includes 4 geological themes: bedrock, superficial deposits, mass movement and artificial ground. An additional map component detailing Linear features is also provided. The Bedrock theme describes the main mass of solid rocks forming the earth's crust. Bedrock is present everywhere, whether exposed at surface in outcrops or concealed beneath superficial deposits or water bodies. Geological names are based on lithostratigraphic or lithodemic hierarchy. The lithostratigraphic scheme arranges rock bodies into units based on rock-type and geological time of formation. Where rock-types do not fit into the lithostratigraphic scheme, for example intrusive, deformed rocks subjected to heat and pressure resulting in new or changed rock types; then their classification is based on their rock type or lithological composition. This assesses visible features such as texture, structure, mineralogy. The Superficial theme describes the youngest geological deposits formed during the Quaternary period. They lie on top of older deposits or rocks referred to as bedrock. Superficial deposits were laid down by various natural processes and as such, the deposits are denoted by their BGS lexicon name, which classifies them based on mode of origin (lithogenesis) i.e., 'glacial deposits', 'river terrace deposits' or based on their composition i.e., 'peat'. Most are unconsolidated sediments. The Mass movement theme describes areas where deposits have moved down slope under gravity to form landslips. These landslips can affect bedrock, superficial or artificial ground. Mass movement deposits are described in the BGS Rock Classification Scheme Volume 4. However, the data also includes foundered strata, where ground has collapsed due to subsidence (this is not described in the Rock Classification Scheme). Caution should be exercised with this data; whilst mass movement events are recorded in this layer, due to the dynamic nature of occurrence significant changes may have occurred since the data was released, as such it should be viewed as a snapshot in time (the time frame being defined by the date of survey, not the date of digital map publication). The Artificial theme describes areas where the ground surface has been significantly modified by human activity. Whilst artificial ground may not be considered as part of the 'real geology' of bedrock and superficial deposits it does affect them. Due to the constantly changing nature of land use and re-use/redevelopment, caution must be exercised when using this data as it represents a snapshot in time (the time frame being defined by the date of survey, not the date of digital map publication). The Linear map layer describes linear features that are associated most closely with the bedrock theme, either as an intrinsic part of it (for example, depiction of marine bands) or affecting it (for example depiction of faults between bedrock object). However, landform elements are associated with both bedrock and superficial deposits. The linear features are organised into seven main categories i.e., Alteration Area”, “Bedrock”, “Faults”, “Fold Axis”, “Fossil Horizon”, “Landform”, and “Mineral Vein”, some having additional applicable attribution, for example a LEX-RCS code, or a fault name. All data are available in vector format (containing the geometry of each feature linked to a database record describing their attributes) as ESRI shapefiles and are available under BGS data licence.

Simple

Date (Creation)
2025-03
Identifier
http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13608547
Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
Environmental Science Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
0115 936 3143
0115 936 3276
Point of contact
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
Environmental Science Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
0115 936 3143
0115 936 3276
Maintenance and update frequency
asNeeded As needed
GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0
  • Geology
BGS Thesaurus of Geosciences
  • Anthropogenic factor
  • Bed rock
  • Landslides
  • Surficial geology
  • UK Location (INSPIRE)
  • Citable Data
  • BGS Data Products
  • GIS
  • EGDI
  • Geological data
  • Geological maps
  • Geology
dataCentre
  • UK Location (INSPIRE)
  • EGDI
  • Citable Data
  • BGS Data Products
Keywords
  • NERC_DDC
Access constraints
otherRestrictions Other restrictions
Other constraints
license
Other constraints
Either : (i) the dataset has not been formally approved by BGS for access and use by external clients under license; and / or (ii) the dataset contains 3rd party data or information obtained by BGS under terms and conditions that must be consulted before the dataset can be provided to, or accessed by, BGS staff or external clients. Refer to the BGS staff member responsible for the creation of the dataset if further advice is required. He / she should be familiar with the composition of the dataset, particularly with regard to 3rd party IPR contained in it, and any resultant access restrictions. This staff member should revert to the IPR Section (IPR@bgs.ac.uk) for advice, should the position not be clear.
Use constraints
otherRestrictions Other restrictions
Other constraints
The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, via the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Manager. Use by customers of information provided by the BGS, is at the customer's own risk. In view of the disparate sources of information at BGS's disposal, including such material donated to BGS, that BGS accepts in good faith as being accurate, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the quality or accuracy of the information supplied, or to the information's suitability for any use. NERC/BGS accepts no liability whatever in respect of loss, damage, injury or other occurence however caused.
Other constraints
The dataset is made available to external clients under BGS Digital Data Licence terms and conditions. Revert to the IPR Section (iprdigital@bgs.ac.uk ) if further advice is required with regard to permitted usage.
Spatial representation type
vector Vector
Denominator
50000
Metadata language
EnglishEnglish
Topic category
  • Geoscientific information
Geographic identifier
GBN

Date (Revision)
2009

Geographic identifier
GREAT BRITAIN [id=139600]

Date (Creation)
1979

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Begin date
1835
End date
2025-03
Unique resource identifier
OSGB 1936 / British National Grid (EPSG::27700)
Distribution format
  • ESRI Shapefile ()

Distributor
  British Geological Survey - Enquiries
Environmental Science Centre, Nicker Hill, Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
0115 936 3143
0115 936 3276
OnLine resource
BGS Datasets - BGS Geology 50K ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )
OnLine resource
BGS Geology: onshore digital geological map of Great Britain data ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )
OnLine resource
User Guide : BGS Geology 50k v9 ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link )

British Geological Survey. 2025 User Guide : BGS Geology 50k v9 (OR/24/041)

OnLine resource
Citation Information - Digital Object Identifier (DOI) ( WWW:LINK-1.0-http--related )

British Geological Survey. (2025). BGS Geology 50k version 9. British Geological Survey. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.5285/e95aa677-e5dc-4d03-a69f-ecdfcb044d63

Hierarchy level
dataset Dataset
Other
dataset

Conformance result

Date (Publication)
2011
Explanation
See the referenced specification
Pass
No

Conformance result

Date (Publication)
2010-12-08
Explanation
See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF
Pass
No
Statement
The BGS Geology 50k dataset is a digital representation of the geology of Great Britain at 1: 50 000 scale. It is a compilation of digital tiles derived from previously published and unpublished maps, archive information and results of field mapping campaigns. The mapping, description and classification of rocks are based upon the interpretations and evidence available at the time of survey, or time of re-evaluation for modifications/correction. The data has been digitally captured from paper record, originally using Bentley MicroStation and latterly ESRI ArcGIS software. Post capture processing has occurred to combine geometry and attribution from existing BGS data resources. Quality control checks are run on individual data batches prior and subsequent to their integration into the main data mosaic. The source dataset is dynamic in nature with periodic data releases. More information in the BGS Geology 50k V9 User Guide. https://www.bgs.ac.uk/datasets/bgs-geology/
File identifier
41a7362c-1d1f-8197-e063-3050940adcc6 XML
Metadata language
EnglishEnglish
Hierarchy level
dataset Dataset
Date stamp
2025-12-11
Metadata standard name
UK GEMINI
Metadata standard version
2.3
Point of contact
  British Geological Survey
Environmental Science Centre,Keyworth , NOTTINGHAM , NOTTINGHAMSHIRE , NG12 5GG , United Kingdom
+44 115 936 3100
Dataset URI
http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13608547
 
 

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