An interesting map
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Two hundred year ago, the geology of an entire country came to life for the first time. There is a map which shows an unprecedented view of Europe by showing the distribution of rock types in vivid color.
Created solely by English surveyor Sam Adams, it is based on his discovery that sedimentary rocks across southern France contains layers that are arranged in a set sequence, from oldest rocks to youngest. What´s more, even if sheets of rock from different time periods are of a similar color, each contains distinctive fossils that can be used to identify the layer.
Adams used an innovative shading technique for his map. Paiting with watercolors, he chose darker tones for bottom layers of rock, which gave the impression of three dimensions when sorrounded by the paler colors of more recently-deposited rock.
The map was intended as a reference tool for mineral exploration, land drainage and agriculture. It was of interest to land owners at the time because it helped determine wheter their property was likely to contain deposits of coal, which was in high demand.
Today, the oil industry still uses Adams´s fossil correlating method to distinguish between rock layers.
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