This third edition of the Geological Map of the World at the
scale of 1:50,000,000 (1:50 M) follows the first and second
editions published by the CGMW respectively in 1990 and
2000. It is a tentative and (very) simplified representation of the entire solid
surface of our planet and includes both continental and oceanic domains.
Two virtual globes have been created. In the present-day globe, the geological map is draped over
srtm15_plus topography data. In the reconstruction globe,
the geological map has been reconstructed back in time using GPlates.
For more information, click here.
View Present-day Geological Map of the World in 3D Globe
View the Reconstruction of Geological Map in 3D Globe
View geological map legend here.
References:
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Bouysse, Philippe and colleagues at Commission for the Geological Map of the World. 2010.
Geological map of the world: scale 1: 50 000 000
. CGMW.
The reconstructions are primarily based on this plate model:
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Seton, M., Müller R.D., Zahirovic, S., Gaina, C., Torsvik, T., Shephard, G.E., Talsma, A.,
Gurnis, M., Turner, M., and Chandler, M., 2012,
Global continental and ocean basin reconstructions since 200 Ma,
Earth Science Reviews, 113, 212–270
with modifications in the circum-Arctic region from:
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Shephard, G.E., Müller, R.D. and Seton, M., 2013,
The tectonic evolution of the Arctic since Pangea breakup:
Integrating constraints from surface geology and geophysics with mantle structure,
Earth Science Reviews, 124, 148-183, 2013.
and modifications in the Indian Ocean from:
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Gibbons, A.D., Zahirovic, S., Müller, R.D., Whittaker, J.M., Yatheesh, V., 2015,
A tectonic model reconciling evidence for the collisions between India,
Eurasia and intra-oceanic arcs of the central-eastern Tethys,
Gondwana Research, 28, 451-492.
