Switzerland gets a new tectonic map
Keystone-SDA
Switzerland has a new tectonic map at a scale of 1:500,000. The TK500 contains updates to the geometry, distribution and nomenclature of the tectonic units of Switzerland and its neighboring areas.
+ Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox
Tectonic units comprise rocks with a similar geodynamic evolutionary history, as the Federal Office of Topography Swisstopo announced on Wednesday.
The fourth edition of the map is based on the 2005 version and contains various geological maps. For the first time, it contains an English explanation that includes a summarised description of the 187 tectonic units depicted, Swisstopo wrote. It also addresses the nomenclature and interpretation of these units.
The digital version of the map also provides access to around 200 sub-units, which enable a deeper understanding of the Swiss subsurface, it added. In addition, the colours have been revised to better highlight the connections between the crystalline bases and the sedimentary layers deposited above them.
Translated from German by DeepL/mga
This news story has been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team. At SWI swissinfo.ch we select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools such as DeepL to translate it into English. Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles.
If you want to know more about how we work, have a look here, if you want to learn more about how we use technology, click here, and if you have feedback on this news story please write to english@swissinfo.ch.
