May 10th marked the 150th anniversary of the publication of Japan’s first large-scale geological map, “A Brief Geological Map of Ezo (Hokkaido),” in 1876 (Meiji 9). The map, at a scale of 1:2,000,000, covers Hokkaido and includes estimated coal reserves, reflecting the Meiji government’s emphasis on resource development. Geological maps represent the relationships between geological strata and rocks on topographic maps. Experts emphasize that “geological maps and related materials come in a wide variety of types, and various types of information are now available online. With the advent of AI (artificial intelligence), new applications will likely expand.”
150 Years of Japanese Geological Maps: A Look Back at the Original Map Reflecting the Times
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