Month: January 2024

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Riley Filipowicz, Blog Post 2

William Smith was as a groundbreaking geologist despite facing challenges such as limited formal education and financial constraints. Born in 1769, his early life saw him sent to live on an uncle’s farm after his father’s death at the age of eight. Despite his modest beginnings, Smith’s obsession with collecting fossils, which he encountered during his formative years, set the stage for his future contributions to geology.

As a young man, Smith found employment as a surveyor, a role that proved pivotal in his scientific journey. His work in the coal mining industry during the throes of the Industrial Revolution exposed him to diverse geological landscapes. It was during this time that he found consistent patterns of rock layers across England. The industrial landscape, marked by coal mines and canal construction, provided Smith with the opportunity to observe and map geological structures.

His obsession and expertise with geology lead him to create incredibly important maps that would be the basis of geological maps long after his death. Starting in 1816, William Smith published “Strata Identified by Organized Fossils,” a guide that revolutionized the understanding of English geological formations. This impactful book, filled with meticulously crafted plates, presented a pioneering method for identifying different strata based on the fossils they contained. Each plate was carefully colored to approximate the distinctions between the corresponding geological layers that Smith had mapped. The guide served as a valuable tool for geologists. Smith’s innovative approach not only facilitated the identification of strata but also provided a visual narrative of the geological history of the diverse layers of the Earth’s crust.

Without William Smith’s obsession with geology, our understanding of Earth’s strata may have been far more limited. I think it would have taken even longer to find out more information about it. His innovative approach to the maps and images makes it seem like they are not from the 19th century.

https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/WilliamSmith

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Blog Post #2 – Andrew Merfeld

The map may has a straightforward layout, focusing on the geological features of England and Wales. The non-cartographic elements like titles, legends, and annotations look like they are aimed to provide clarity on rock strata, fossils, and other geological information discussed in the text. The layout might be organized to guide the viewer through the different layers and periods.

As you can see in this image, Smith used different colors as symbols of different rock layers, and their corresponding fossils found in them.

I believe that this map was way ahead of its time, and I began to question how Smith did this in the first place. Nowadays, we have instruments that allow geologists to study things deep in the ground. However, I find it hard to believe Smith has these instruments 200 years ago. Going off of that, I also find it very interesting how accurate the map of England and Wales is to today. I think that this is a timeless map when you look at it today, but that could be a different answer in 300 years depending on how the Earth can shift. I find it interesting Smith had very little resources to create a map like this, and it could still be useful in today’s society.

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Leah R.K. Post No. 2 – William Smith & The Map that Changed the World

William Smith was born in 1769 in England with a deep appreciation for geology. Contantly engaging with the world surrounding him landed him with the job of being a mineral surveyor, where he was tasked with traveling around England, Wales, and some of Scotland. He took extensive notes throughout his travels and in 1815 published ‘the map that changed the world'[1].

He had made a geological map of the areas he had traveled and surveyed, it was the largest map with such detail of its time. William Smith took great pains to construct this map, but what was its purpose and what are all of these colors supposed to represent? He constructed this map so that there was a method to determining the age of ancient fossils discovered depending on what geological strata they were found lying within. This is what the colors are meant to represent, the layers that gradually built up on top of one another naturally throughout time. In a world that believed it had begun in 4000 BC, his work indirectly caused a shift away from this popular cultural belief.

[1] S-Simon-Winchester-The-Map-that-Changed-the-World-11-26-121-162.-1.pdf (steppingintothemap.com)

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Emma Reed, Blog Post 2: William Smith (1769-1839)

William Smith was born into a time when society was guided by faith. Copies of the Bible cite the creation of the earth to 4004 BC when discussing the Book of Genesis. This forced the understanding of history and the earth’s formation at this time to be governed by this way of thought as it had to fit this mold. Winchester goes on to explain how scholars at this time understood the creation of the world in accordance with this theory. However, when Smith was born, the acceptance of this notion was beginning to change. And unbenounced to him, he would play a large role in this.

Smith would go on to make one of the most descriptive geological maps of his time. As seen below, his map makes an argument about how the United Kingdom’s geological layers formed. His maps were the cause of his profession as a surveyor, in which he identified different rock strata. He would come to differentiate between the different rock layers based on their variations in fossils, noting even the smallest of differences. In mapping Scotland, Wales, and England, Smith utilized different colors in order to mark the differences between the different ages of rocks.

Because of his discovery, future historians and geologist were able to make more accurate interpretations of the earths history and geology. Through his mapping, Smith realized that rock layers occurred in a structure of predictability as he mapped the different coal mines around the UK. Because of this discovery, an economic boom was seen across the United Kingdom during the Industrial Revolution. What Smith did not intend for however was the scientific impacts this research would have. The ability to understand and predict the succession of rock formations allowed the advancement of the earth’s history and geology

When comparing Smith’s 1815 map to his 1828 map, much of it appears to be similar as they follow the same coloring. However, there were some changes made. His 1828 map includes details that are clearer and depicts towns and roads in a way that allow them to be seen as less cramped. The 1828 map also has additions that were not seen in the 1815 map such as Districts of Coal. The detailing of the 1828 map shows how it was more practical than the 1815 version.

Scott, Michon. “William Smith (1769-1839).” NASA, NASA, earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/WilliamSmith. Accessed 29 Jan. 2024. 

Smith Map, www.strata-smith.com/map/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2024. 

Winchester, Simon. Simon Winchester – Stepping into the Map, steppingintothemap.com/mappinghistory/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/S-Simon-Winchester-The-Map-that-Changed-the-World-11-26-121-162.-1.pdf. Accessed 29 Jan. 2024. 

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Blog Post 2: William Smith

William Smith was a young surveyor and canal engineer who possessed an extensive understanding of England’s rock layers, or strata. He and his two friends were able to use their background knowledge of Earth’s geological systems and rock layers to determine that rocks formed various layers across England and that if they paid close enough attention they could notice them forming in a pattern.

They also noticed strange impressions in layers that today’s geologists determined to be plant and sea mollusk fossils. This gave way to Smith’s idea that they formed in patterns and that he could connect rock layers to different fossils and age them accordingly. He called this idea the principle of faunal succession, or fossil succession. With this data he was able to make a map of the layers

Above is Smith’s map created in 1820, titled A New Geological Map of England and Wales with his home town of Bath, England right in the center of the map. Below this we can also see a rendition of his 1820 map and how the layers of strata appear to line up. Smith also provided a legend to further explain some of the layers and there coloring.

A simple thing that could have been nice to add to the maps would have been a better layout of the fossils found and fossil structure. While he did do an excellent job of the map of different rock strata, I was missing a clearer understanding of the fossils.

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Levi Laib Blog Post 2

William Smith’s geological map of England and its surrounding areas was one of the most detailed and descriptive geological maps of its time. It also helped produce the later principle known today as the Faunal Succession.

William Smith’s Geological Map makes the argument of how England’s geological layers formed. Because of William Smith’s discovery, scientists were able to better understand the history of Earth’s climate, geology, and biology. As such, his maps helped show they were ahead of their time. 

According to one of the readings, people believed that the earth was created around 4004 BC. [1] However, because of the Faunal Succession principle, it became known that the earth is much older than originally anticipated. It is now suggested that the Earth must be at least 543 million years old as such that is when hard-shelled animals can be traced back to. [2] Without Smith’s work and the production of his map, this later discovery may not have been learned. 

The reason behind the making of Smith’s map was that Smith was fascinated with geology and the mapping of rock strata. As such, this is what the focus of his maps was. 

As seen in Smith’s 1828 map, titled A New Geological Map of England and Whales with Inland Navigations Exhibiting The Districts of Coal and Other Sites of Mineral Tonnage. [3] This helps show that during Smith’s time, there was an emphasis on natural resources including coal. At the time of Smith, England was going through the Industrial Revolution. 

When the “Wells” map from the modern Geology section is overlayed, it shows where in England there is the presence of different natural resources. The options are coal bed methane, conventional oil and gas, gas storage, mine gas, and unknown. Something to note is that the presence of “dots” which represent which resource is there are found in certain strata which is consistent with Smith’s 1828 map. [4] This helps show that Smith’s Map was ahead of its time as it can still be used today.

Looking at a different map, known as the “Smith Style BGS Geology” Map under modern Geology is a more current updated version of Smith’s original map with some of the borders of the strata shifted slightly. [5].

[1] Winchester, Simon. The Map That Changed the World. Chivers Press, 2001. 

[2] Scott, Michon. “William Smith (1769-1839).” NASA, NASA, 8 May 2008, earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/WilliamSmith/page1.php.

[3] “Smith 1828 Map” William Smith’s Maps – Interactive. UKOGL. Accessed January 29, 2024. http://www.strata-smith.com/map/.

[4] “Modern Geology: Wells.” William Smith’s Maps – Interactive. UKOGL. Accessed January 29, 2024. http://www.strata-smith.com/map/.

[5] “Modern Geology: Smith Style BGS Geology Map” William Smith’s Maps – Interactive. UKOGL. Accessed January 29, 2024. http://www.strata-smith.com/map/.

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Wyatt Greco Blog Post 2: Mapping Natural Resources

In his introduction to the life and works of William Smith (1769 -1839), Michon Scott offers a succinct summary of the surveyor’s contributions to science and mapping:

Michon Scott. “William Smith (1769-1839).” Earth Observatory. NASA. https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/WilliamSmith.

Smith discovered and studied a distinct order to the natural world, in an era when science was just beginning to question established doctrines:

Simon Winchester. The Man that Changed the World: William Smith and the Birth of Modern Geology. New York: HarperCollins, 2002. Page 23.

In this period of “hesitation” and nascent transformation, it is important to note that Smith’s mapping does not make a proposition about the age of the earth, about change over time. Faunal succession, as Michon Scott points out, allowed Smith to identify geological formations for the purpose of energy exploitation. Only later did the principle contribute to new theories about the age of earth and the development of species (Scott, “William Smith”). The groundbreaking scientific developments of Smith’s time, from ironworking to agriculture, provided a clear and practical service to the English people (Winchester, 17-21).

“Smith 1828 Map.” William Smith’s Maps – Interactive. UKOGL. Accessed January 29, 2024. http://www.strata-smith.com/map/.

As evidenced by the above heading, the purpose of Smith’s 1828 geological map was explicitly to assist his likely audience (of surveyors, miners, and businesspeople) in locating valuable minerals. Smith proposes that these natural resources exist, that they can be organized and identified in visual form. Compare Smith’s map to a modern representation of another important natural resource:

“Smith 1828 Map” and “Modern Geology: Wells.” William Smith’s Maps – Interactive. UKOGL. Accessed January 29, 2024. http://www.strata-smith.com/map/.

The above image depicts two maps superimposed onto one another. The faded background is Smith’s 1828 map, with colored sections signifying specific types of rock formations. The purple points are from a modern map identifying wells in the U.K. Both of these maps portray aspects of the natural world; indeed, both portray surface and/or subsurface observations. While these features can be mapped in them of themselves, the purpose of these two maps is to identify these features in the context of potential and/or ongoing human use. The modern map does not simply map groundwater, but wells to exploit that groundwater. Smith did not simply map geology, but he focused on the minerals which humans could exploit. Such a proposition fits well with Smith’s historical context, when science and human development went hand in hand.

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Madeline King, Blog Post 2: William Smith (1769 – 1839) – A Lasting Influence

William Smith (1769 – 1839) was an English surveyor and canal engineer who revolutionized the understanding of geology (Scott). Smith lived in a time of duel influences. English society at the time was conservative and religious (Winchester, 11). Many grew up with an understanding of the world governed by faith. This placed Earth as only a few thousand years old and confined definitions of fossils (and other evidence of the Earth being much older) to ones that fit this narrative, such as fossils being remains of current animals (Scott). However, the Enlightenment and its ideals of asking questions were also in full swing; as was the end stages of the First Industrial Revolution (Winchester, 17). The duel nature of English society at the time of Smith’s life served as the backdrop for his work in Cartography.

William Smith’s map (Scott) and its interactive counterpart (UKOGL) showing the different rock layers in regions of England, Wales, and Scotland.

Smith’s map, inspired by his work as a surveyor, identified different rock strata. Initially, Smith could not categorize certain strata but was eventually able to tell layers apart by the presence of fossils within them. Each layer had its own unique fossils. Smith mapped this discovery of England, Wales, and areas of Scotland, and used different colors to show where formations began and ended. His discovery of the difference in fossils lead to the scientific understanding of fossil succession.

John Cary’s map from Geographicus compared with its interactive counterpart (UKOGL) featuring turnpikes, cities, towns, and villages.

Smith’s map has helped geologists view and discover the world in a way that was drastically different than previous centuries. The “enlightenment” that Smith’s map brought to the world about geology highlights a major difference in the influence of Smith’s map to the other maps created around or before his time. This can be exemplified in another map present on the “William Smith’s Maps – Interactive” web page. This is the Cary Turnpike Roads (1796) map, which details major cities, towns, and villages along with the various roads that lead to them. Further research into this map shows that, unlike Smith’s map which poorly sold initially, Cary’s map was sold as a “folding map” and used by many as they traveled across this area of Europe (Geographicus). However, despite selling poorly, the influence of Smith’s map on the way the world is understood is far more extreme than that of Cary’s map. Smith’s map helped to foster a new understanding of geology and ultimately aided thinkers in conclusions about continental drift or evolution (Scott). While still useful, the Cary map did not yield scientific influence in this fashion.

Bibliography

Geographicus Rare Antique Maps. 1815 John Cary Folding Map of England and Wales.

Scott, Michon. “William Smith (1769-1839).” NASA, NASA, 8 May 2008, earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/WilliamSmith/page1.php.

“William Smith Maps.” Smith Map, UKOGL, www.strata-smith.com/map/. Accessed 29 Jan. 2024.

Winchester, Simon. The Map That Changed the World. Chivers Press, 2001. 

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