The Geological Map of Brazil, 1:1 Million scale, is composed by a mosaic of 46 articulated map sheets, with dimensions of 6° longitude and 4° latitude, following the same articulation of the International Map of the World, 1:1 Million scale. These map sheets constitute a repository of digital geological information, associated to several related databases that together make up the GEOBANK System.
This System is a collection of bases of geological data organized in themes according to a relational model, built on Oracle 9IAs platform (a Web version), using standard libraries and client-server architecture, accessible for consultation and data edition through the Internet by means of selective passwords. The Geographic Information System named GIS do Brasil operates the great volume of information contained in the data bank and several geological map sheets, 1:1 Million scale.
The geological cartographic information were obtained essentially by compilation, critical analysis, integration and interpretation of the available data, in addition to fieldwork, interpretation of satellite images, sampling, as well as isotopic and geochronological analyses. GEOBANK data were obtained by restructuring and re-feeding bases which already existed at Geological Survey of Brazil – CPRM, and by organizing new bases as well.
This information represents the state of the art of the Geology of Brazil at the end of 2003, in the perspective of the Geological Survey of Brazil - CPRM, within the special consistency limits determined by the scale used. These data banks resulted in the largest geoscience project in GIS environment ever realized in Brazil.
The products presented in 41 CD-ROMs containing 46 geological map sheets, were generated using the data bank system in Oracle – GEOBANK-, which allows mathematical modeling, interactions and updates in an user-friendly environment.
The CPRM team constructed the digital cartographic bases by simplification of the preliminary version of the map sheets of International Map of the World 1:1 Million – IMW, elaborated conjunctly by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics – IBGE, the National Agency of Electric Energy – ANEEL and the Geological Survey of Brazil – CPRM.
The topic Geology comprises data and information generated in the course of field mapping and applied geologic studies in several scales undertaken by CPRM since 1970, as well as public domain bibliographic references developed by teaching and researching institutions. The Geological Map of Brazil (Bizzi et al. 2001), published by CPRM, scale 1:2,500,000, was the basis for the preliminary version of the several map sheets of 1:1 million Map. The first version presented only as PLT and PDF files (version 1.0, 2003), was then reviewed, updated and new data bases were incorporated to obtain the final product (Version GIS, 2004).
An important amount of the data used in the compilation was generated by the Basic Geological Surveying Program of Brazil (PLGB) in CPRM, which improved the accuracy of the cartographic positioning of the geological data for the scale used in this work. In several cases, when there was a lack of recent data, updated versions of geological mapping realized in the 70’s were incorporated. The updating of the old versions used data generated in Projects of Geologic-Metallogenic Integration undertaken by CPRM after 1991, and public domain data georreferenced to the new cartographic bases with accuracy in accordance with the scale of this work.
The tectonic map found attached on the left margin of the printing file of the geological map is presented in the same format of the 1:1 Million Map. This map was obtained from the Tectonic Map of Brazil, 1:5 Million scale, elaborated firstly, by generalizing and restructuring of the data available in the Tectonic Map of Brazil published by CPRM, scale of 1:2,500,000 (Bizzi et al. 2001) and secondly, by cartographic updating resulting from revising the geological maps 1:1 Million scale. These tectonic insets when adjusted to the geographical coordinates make up the Tectonic Map of Brazil, scale 1:5 million (2003 version), according to Geological Survey of Brazil conception.
The legend of the Tectonic Map shows, in colors, lithotectonic units, obtained by reclassifying lithostratigraphic units and, with bold symbol-letters, the usual identification and denomination of tectonostructural domains that compose the Tectonostructural Provinces in Brazil.
With the exception of the sedimentary basins, the most probable limits among the several tectonostructural domains are evidenced, in the map, by a thick red or black line, depending on geophysical or structural characteristics, respectively.
The ArcExibe program was created by the CPRM staff especially for this project to allow the user to execute geoprocessing tasks, to handle files with several compositions and researches, free of charge and without any additional needs. This software enables the user to modify working directories of the CDs, attach new files and data, thus creating specific projects. The only requirement is to simply copy the CD content to the hard drive.
The program ArcExibe is a set of routines developed in object Pascal, compiled in Delphi environment, which uses free libraries Map Objects LT ESRI and functions from the program Exibe of the system Geoexp.
The environment is user friendly, easy and portable enough. The user is able to read, exhibit shape files (format ESRI ArcView), as well as georeferenced images tiff, bmp and jpeg.
Copyright of all data is retained by the authors and the Geological Survey of Brazil – CPRM. It is forbidden the use of the data contained herein for commercial purpose. By purchasing a copy of the digital data of the maps, the purchaser obtains the right to use the data for internal purposes only. Copying of the data or distribution in any form to a third party, including any exploration or production partnership with the purchaser are prohibited. The purchaser may copy the data exclusively for its own use. All products based on the data are protected by the same conditions applied to the original data unless explicit written permission has been given by the authors and CPRM.
The digital data were produced following internationally accepted scientific standards. However, the Geological Survey of Brazil – CPRM shall not be held responsible for consequences arising from the purchaser’s use of data, whether such consequences are caused by defects inherent to the data or caused by the user’s handling of the data. The Geological Survey of Brazil– CPRM and the authors hold no responsibility for any damages or losses caused by the use of these CD-ROM.
CPRM-SERVIÇO GEOLÓGICO DO BRASIL. Carta Geológica do Brasil ao Milionésimo: sistema de informações geográficas-SIG [Geological Map of Brazil 1:1.000.000 scale: geographic information system-GIS]. Brasília: CPRM, 2004. 41 CD Roms. ISBN 85-7499-009-4.