A collaborative geological map of Arctic geology across circumpolar countries was completed in November 2008 as part of the International Polar Year. The 1:5,000,000 scale bedrock geology map and related digital data sets relate to the objectives of the Commission for the Geological Map of the World.

The project objectives were to compile details to produce a hardcopy map of the circumpolar Arctic, while also synthesizing data to form a spatial database. The archive will provide the means to create additional digital products. This effort serves as a model for subsurface spatial data collection for other parts of the globe.

The mapping effort includes contributions and data for Sweden, onshore and offshore Russia, the United States in Alaska, Canadian territories Nunavut and Northwest territories, northern Europe, and Greenland. The accompanying vector data include geological contacts, faults, active and extinct spreading ridges. Point features include impact structures, volcanoes, cinder cones and related features, diapirs and kimberlitic rocks.

You can download a free copy of the map from the Natural Resources Canada Geogratis site in MrSid, JPEG2000 and Adobe Acrobat formats.

There’s an interesting story with some background details, and good quotes from the Canadian leader of the project on Canada.com.

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