BGS Geology 250k Bedrock: UK Onshore Geological Map

Polygon data identifying landscape areas across England, Wales, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, attributed with geological names and rock type descriptions. The British Geological Survey created this dataset, which provides a generalized 1:250,000 scale view of the bedrock geology, including igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks formed from 3500 to 58 million years ago. Rock types are classified using the BGS Rock Classification Scheme, and ages are identified via the BGS Lexicon of Named Rock Units.

Use Cases

• Map regional bedrock composition based on polygon-attributed geological names and rock types.
• Analyze the distribution of igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rock classes across Great Britain.
• Study geological time periods from the Archean to the Pliocene using age identifiers linked to named rock units.
• Integrate generalized geology layers for environmental impact assessments or infrastructure planning.

Strengths

• Covers all of onshore England, Wales, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.
• Attributes rocks using the formal BGS Rock Classification Scheme and Lexicon of Named Rock Units.
• Includes rocks formed over a vast time range, from 3500 million to 58 million years ago.
• Data is available in vector format (ESRI Shapefile) linking geometry to attribute records.

Limitations

• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• The 1:250,000 scale provides a generalized view, not detailed local geology.

Provenance

Source

British Geological Survey (BGS)

Collection Method

Likely derived from geological surveys and subsequent digital data creation.

Time Range

Rocks formed from the Archean Eon (~3500 million years ago) to the Pliocene (~58 million years ago).

Freshness

Last updated 2026-05-28 14:04:24.496929; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Onshore coverage for England, Wales, Scotland, and the Isle of Man.