From outcrops to maps : the birth of geological maps of the Maltese Islands in the 19th century – Part 1

Abstract

From the 1750s onwards, scholars and mining surveyors across Europe began to study the physical makeup of the Earth's surface in a systematic manner, with detailed comparisons and descriptions not only of the land itself, but also of the semi-precious metals and commercial minerals lying underneath the earth's surface. These studies were driven by the onset of the Industrial Revolution in the early 18th century, which led to an increase in the economic importance of mining in Europe and encouraged the vital possession of accurate knowledge about rock formations, ores and their geographic distribution. [Excerpt from the Introduction]