FGDC Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization (PostScript Implementation)

By the U.S. Geological Survey

2006

PLEASE NOTE: This now-approved "FGDC Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization (PostScript Implementation)" officially supercedes its earlier (2000) Public Review Draft version (see "Earlier Versions of the Standard" below).

In August 2006, the Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization was officially endorsed by the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC) as the national standard for the digital cartographic representation of geologic map features (FGDC Document Number FGDC-STD-013-2006). Presented herein is the PostScript Implementation of the standard, which will enable users to directly apply the symbols in the standard to geologic maps and illustrations prepared in desktop illustration and (or) publishing software.

The FGDC Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization contains descriptions, examples, cartographic specifications, and notes on usage for a wide variety of symbols that may be used on typical, general-purpose geologic maps and related products such as cross sections. The standard also can be used for different kinds of special-purpose or derivative map products and databases that may be focused on a specific geoscience topic (for example, slope stability) or class of features (for example, a fault map). The standard is scale-independent, meaning that the symbols are appropriate for use with geologic mapping compiled or published at any scale. It will be useful to anyone who either produces or uses geologic map information, whether in analog or digital form.

Please be aware that this standard is not intended to be used inflexibly or in a manner that will limit one's ability to communicate the observations and interpretations gained from geologic mapping. In certain situations, a symbol or its usage might need to be modified in order to better represent a particular feature on a geologic map or cross section. This standard allows the use of any symbol that doesn't conflict with others in the standard, provided that it is clearly explained on the map and in the database. In addition, modifying the size, color, and (or) lineweight of an existing symbol to suit the needs of a particular map or output device also is permitted, provided that the modified symbol's appearance is not too similar to another symbol on the map. Be aware, however, that reducing lineweights below .125 mm (.005 inch) may cause symbols to plot incorrectly if output at higher resolutions (1800 dpi or higher).

For guidelines on symbol usage, as well as on color design and map labeling, please refer to the standard's introductory text. Also found there are informational sections covering concepts of geologic mapping and some definitions of geologic map features, as well as sections on the newly defined concepts and terminology for the scientific confidence and locational accuracy of geologic map features.

More information on both the past development and the future maintenance of the FGDC Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization can be found at the FGDC Geologic Data Subcommittee website (http://ngmdb.usgs.gov/fgdc_gds/).

Earlier Versions of the Standard

To assist in the review of this standard during its development, a Public Review Draft standard document ("Public Review Draft – Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization") was released in May 2000. After that review, a substantial number of additions and revisions to the standard were necessitated by the public's comments. The revised standard document was submitted to the FGDC for final approval in July 2005. The final standard document was formally approved as an FGDC standard in August 2006. Please note that the now-approved standard document officially supercedes its earlier (2000) Public Review Draft version.

In addition, the earlier PostScript Implementation of the Public Review Draft of the standard (USGS Open-File Report 99-430, "Public Review Draft – Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization (PostScript Implementation)") has been updated to reflect changes in the now-approved standard, and the revised PostScript Implementation is presented herein as USGS Techniques and Methods 11-A2. This PostScript Implementation also officially supercedes its Public Review Draft version (OFR 99-430).

How to Access the PostScript Symbols in the Standard

In the FGDC Digital Cartographic Standard for Geologic Map Symbolization document, the symbols are contained in "Appendix A," which is divided by feature type into sections. Accordingly, the symbols in this PostScript Implementation of the standard also are grouped into sections. Accessible from the links below are Illustrator EPS files of each section, provided in both Illustrator 8 ("AI8") and "CS2" formats. Note: some sections containing more than one EPS file have been placed in a ZIP archive.

To help locate a symbol or group of symbols of interest, a PDF version of each section's EPS file also has been prepared. These PDF files can be downloaded or, depending on browser settings, viewed by clicking the "PDF" links below. In addition, the EPS file for an individual page in the standard can be downloaded from the PDF file of that page by following the links in the upper right-hand corner in the PDF file.

To find the location of a particular symbol in the various sections, please consult the detailed index of symbols.

Questions, comments, suggestions? Please contact Dave Soller and Taryn Lindquist.

FGDC DIGITAL CARTOGRAPHIC STANDARD FOR GEOLOGIC MAP SYMBOLIZATION
*NOTE:* The PDF files accessible from the links below are suitable only for viewing and plotting (symbols in the PDF files are low resolution). To access high-resolution vector symbols, it is necessary to download the PostScript (EPS) files, either as Illustrator 8 (AI8) or CS2 files (or as ZIP archives)	FILE FORMAT
	PDF	POSTSCRIPT (EPS)
Entire standard document (and all the symbols in Appendix A), in addition to the CMYK Color Chart and Pattern Chart	PDF [10.3 MB]	n/a	n/a
Entire standard document (and all the symbols in Appendix A), but without the CMYK Color Chart and Pattern Chart	PDF [7.2 MB]	n/a	n/a
Title page	PDF [75 kb]	n/a	n/a
Table of Contents	PDF [61 kb]	n/a	n/a
Introductory text	PDF [334 kb]	n/a	n/a
Index to the symbols in Appendix A and to the topics in the introductory text	PDF [376 kb]	n/a	n/a
APPENDIX A. GEOLOGIC MAP SYMBOLS, COLORS, AND PATTERNS
Preface to Appendix A Includes general information on how to use this standard, as well as on newly defined concepts and terminology for the Scientific Confidence and Locational Accuracy of Geologic Map Features. Also includes three supplemental tables	PDF [244 kb]	AI8.ZIP [3.2 MB]	CS2.ZIP [5.6 MB]
Section 1 - Contacts, Key Beds, and Dikes 1.1 Contacts 1.2 Key Beds 1.3 Dikes 1.4 Line-Symbol Decorations and Notations for Contacts, Key Beds, and Dikes	PDF [244 kb]	AI8.ZIP [1.6 MB]	CS2.ZIP [2.5 MB]
Section 2 - Faults 2.1 Faults (Generic; Vertical, Subvertical, or High-Angle; or Unknown or Unspecified Orientation or Sense of Slip) 2.2 Normal Faults 2.3 Low-Angle Faults (Unknown or Unspecified Sense of Slip) 2.4 Reverse Faults 2.5 Rotational or Scissor Faults 2.6 Strike-Slip Faults 2.7 Oblique-Slip Faults 2.8 Thrust Faults 2.9 Overturned Thrust Faults 2.10 Detachment Faults (Sense of Slip Unspecified) 2.11 Line-Symbol Decorations and Notations for Faults 2.12 Fault Scarps 2.13 Quaternary Faulting 2.14 Shear Zones; Mylonite Zones; Fault-Breccia Zones 2.15 Small, Minor Faults	PDF [620 kb]	AI8.ZIP [4.9 MB]	CS2.ZIP [7.4 MB]
Section 3 - Boundaries Located by Geophysical Surveys 3.1 Boundaries Located by Geophysical Methods 3.2 Faults Located by Geophysical Methods 3.3 Geophysical Survey Lines and Stations	PDF [52 kb]	AI8 [844 kb]	CS2 [1 MB]
Section 4 - Lineaments and Joints 4.1 Lineaments 4.2 Joints 4.3 Small, Minor Joints	PDF [56 kb]	AI8 [1008 kb]	CS2 [1.1 MB]
Section 5 - Folds 5.1 Anticlines 5.2 Antiforms 5.3 Asymmetric, Overturned, and Inverted Anticlines 5.4 Antiformal Sheath Folds 5.5 Synclines 5.6 Synforms 5.7 Asymmetric, Overturned, and Inverted Synclines 5.8 Synformal Sheath Folds 5.9 Monoclines 5.10 Line-Symbol Decorations And Notations For Folds 5.11 Small, Minor Folds	PDF [572 kb]	AI8.ZIP [4.9 MB]	CS2.ZIP [7.5 MB]
Section 6 - Bedding	PDF [96 kb]	AI8.ZIP [696 kb]	CS2.ZIP [1 MB]
Section 7 - Cleavage	PDF [92 kb]	AI8.ZIP [612 kb]	CS2.ZIP [852 kb]
Section 8 - Foliation 8.1 Generic Foliation (Origin Not Known or Not Specified) 8.2 Primary Foliation or Layering (in Igneous Rocks) 8.3 Secondary Foliation (Caused by Metamorphism Or Tectonism)	PDF [216 kb]	AI8.ZIP [1.6 MB]	CS2.ZIP [2.4 MB]
Section 9 - Lineation	PDF [244 kb]	AI8.ZIP [2.1 MB]	CS2.ZIP [3.2 MB]
Section 10 - Paleontological Features 10.1 Fossil Locality 10.2 Fossil Symbols	PDF [76 kb]	AI8 [1 MB]	CS2 [1.2 MB]
Section 11 - Geophysical and Structure Contours	PDF [92 kb]	AI8.ZIP [656 kb]	CS2.ZIP [984 kb]
Section 12 - Fluvial and Alluvial Features	PDF [52 kb]	AI8 [660 kb]	CS2 [836 kb]
Section 13 - Glacial and Glaciofluvial Features	PDF [176 kb]	AI8.ZIP [1.1 MB]	CS2.ZIP [1.8 MB]
Section 14 - Periglacial Features	PDF [208 kb]	AI8 [596 kb]	CS2 [1000 kb]
Section 15 - Lacustrine and Marine Features	PDF [96 kb]	AI8.ZIP [464 kb]	CS2.ZIP [776 kb]
Section 16 - Eolian Features	PDF [56 kb]	AI8 [780 kb]	CS2 [960 kb]
Section 17 - Landslide and Mass-Wasting Features	PDF [148 kb]	AI8.ZIP [1 MB]	CS2.ZIP [1.5 MB]
Section 18 - Volcanic Features	PDF [148 kb]	AI8.ZIP [1 MB]	CS2.ZIP [1.6 MB]
Section 19 - Natural Resources 19.1 Veins and Mineralized Areas; Mineral Resource Areas; Metamorphic Facies Boundary 19.2 Areas of Extensively Disturbed Ground; Surface Workings; Subsurface Workings Projected to Surface 19.3 Mining and Mineral Exploration (at Surface) 19.4 Mines and Subsurface Workings 19.5 Oil and Gas Fields; Wells Drilled for Hydrocarbon Exploration or Exploitation	PDF [456 kb]	AI8.ZIP [3.2 MB]	CS2.ZIP [5.2 MB]
Section 20 - Hazardous Waste Sites	PDF [52 kb]	AI8 [664 kb]	CS2 [812 kb]
Section 21 - Neotectonic and Earthquake-Hazard Features	PDF [104 kb]	AI8.ZIP [548 kb]	CS2.ZIP [920 kb]
Section 22 - Plate-Tectonic Features	PDF [104 kb]	AI8.ZIP [660 kb]	CS2.ZIP [1 MB]
Section 23 - Miscellaneous Uplift and Collapse Features	PDF [52 kb]	AI8 [808 kb]	CS2 [1008 kb]
Section 24 - Terrestrial Impact Features	PDF [60 kb]	AI8 [984 kb]	CS2 [1.1 MB]
Section 25 - Planetary Geology Features	PDF [348 kb]	AI8.ZIP [1.9 MB]	CS2.ZIP [3.3 MB]
Section 26 - Geohydrologic Features 26.1 Water Wells 26.2 Springs 26.3 Water Gaging Stations 26.4 Quality-of-Water Sites 26.5 Geohydrologic Contours 26.6 Geohydrologic Lines 26.7 Miscellaneous Geohydrologic Features	PDF [336 kb]	AI8.ZIP [2.5 MB]	CS2.ZIP [4.2 MB]
Section 27 - Weather Stations	PDF [52 kb]	AI8 [700 kb]	CS2 [868 kb]
Section 28 - Transportation Features	PDF [52 kb]	AI8 [1 MB]	CS2 [1.2 MB]
Section 29 - Boundaries	PDF [52 kb]	AI8 [920 kb]	CS2 [992 kb]
Section 30 - Topographic and Hydrographic Features 30.1 Topographic, Bathymetric, And Glacier Contours 30.2 Drainage Features 30.3 Miscellaneous Topographic and Hydrographic Features	PDF [316 kb]	AI8.ZIP [2.2 MB]	CS2.ZIP [3.6 MB]
Section 31 - Miscellaneous Map Elements NOTE: You will need to download and install the "FGDCGeoAge" font for the EPS files to view and plot correctly: FGDCGeoAge font: (Mac [118 kb]) (Win/UNIX 182 kb])	PDF [84 kb]	AI8 [1.5 MB]	CS2 [1.7 MB]
Section 32 - Geologic Age Symbol Font ("FGDCGeoAge") NOTE: You will need to download and install the "FGDCGeoAge" font for the EPS files to view and plot correctly: FGDCGeoAge font: (Mac [118 kb]) (Win/UNIX 182 kb])	PDF [92 kb]	AI8.ZIP [552 kb]	CS2.ZIP [880 kb]
Section 33 - Suggested Ranges of Map-Unit Colors for Volcanic and Plutonic Rocks and for Stratigraphic Ages of Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks 33.1 Suggested Range of Map-Unit Colors for Volcanic and Plutonic Rocks 33.2 Suggested Range of Map-Unit Colors for Stratigraphic Ages of Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks NOTE: You will need to download and install the "FGDCGeoAge" font for the EPS files to view and plot correctly: FGDCGeoAge font: (Mac [118 kb]) (Win/UNIX 182 kb]) Custom Color Palettes for Suggested Ranges of Map-Unit Colors for Volcanic and Plutonic Rocks and for Stratigraphic Ages of Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks: Suggested Range of Map-Unit Colors for Volcanic and Plutonic Rocks: (AI8 [1.2 MB]) (CS2 [1.5 MB]) Suggested Range of Map-Unit Colors for Stratigraphic Ages of Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks: (AI8 [1.6 MB]) (CS2 [2 MB])	PDF [56 kb]	AI8 [1 MB]	CS2 [1.3 MB]
Section 34 - State Location Maps 34.1 Individual States; District of Columbia; Guam; Puerto Rico; U.S. Virgin Islands 34.2 Conterminous States	PDF [384 kb]	AI8.ZIP [964 kb]	CS2.ZIP [1.7 MB]
Section 35 - Bar Scales	PDF [356 kb]	AI8.ZIP [2.8 MB]	CS2.ZIP [4.8 MB]
Section 36 - Mean Declination Arrows 36.1 Magnetic North, East of True North 36.2 Magnetic North, West of True North	PDF [164 kb]	AI8.ZIP [1 MB]	CS2.ZIP [1.7 MB]
Section 37 - Lithologic Patterns 37.1 Sedimentary-Rock Lithologic Patterns 37.2 Metamorphic-Rock, Igneous-Rock, and Vein-Matter Lithologic Patterns	PDF [484 kb]	AI8.ZIP [1 MB]	CS2.ZIP [1.8 MB]
Section 38 - Explanation for Pattern Chart	PDF [92 kb]	AI8 [1.6 MB]	CS2 [2.1 MB]
Section 39 - Explanation for CMYK Color Chart	PDF [52 kb]	AI8 [1.5 MB]	CS2 [1.9 MB]
CMYK Color Chart Swatch Palettes for CMYK Color Chart: Cyan and Magenta: (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.6 MB]) Cyan and Yellow: (AI8 [1.2 MB]) (CS2 [1.6 MB]) Magenta and Yellow: (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.6 MB]) 8% Cyan with Magenta and Yellow: (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.6 MB]) 13% Cyan with Magenta and Yellow: (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.6 MB]) 20% Cyan with Magenta and Yellow: (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.6 MB]) 30% Cyan with Magenta and Yellow: (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.7 MB]) 40% Cyan with Magenta and Yellow: (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.6 MB]) 50% Cyan with Magenta and Yellow: (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.6 MB]) 60% Cyan with Magenta and Yellow: (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.7 MB]) 70% Cyan with Magenta and Yellow: (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.6 MB]) 100% Cyan with Magenta and Yellow: (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.6 MB])	PDF [66 kb]	AI8 [9.5 MB]	CS2 [8.6 MB]
Pattern Chart Swatch Palettes for Pattern Chart: Surficial Patterns (Series 100): (AI8 [7.8 MB]) (CS2 [10 MB]) Sedimentary Patterns (Series 200): (AI8 [1.8 MB]) (CS2 [2.1 MB]) Igneous Patterns (Series 300): (AI8 [1.5 MB]) (CS2 [1.9 MB]) Miscellaneous and Metamorphic Patterns (Series 400): (AI8 [3.4 MB]) (CS2 [4.3 MB]) Glacial and Periglacial Patterns (Series 500): (AI8 [1.4 MB]) (CS2 [2.3 MB]) Sedimentary Lithology Patterns (Series 600): (AI8 [2.2 MB]) (CS2 [3 MB]) Metamorphic, Igneous, and Vein-Matter Lithology Patterns (Series 700): (AI8 [1.3 MB]) (CS2 [1.7 MB])	PDF [2.8 MB]	AI8 [18.6 MB]	CS2 [21.1 MB]