First geological map of Lithuania drawn up 260 years ago

Professor Stanislaw Wolkowicz (Polish Institute of Geology), a great friend of the geologists of the Nature Research Centre, gave a presentation on the history of geological mapping in Poland and Lithuania at the Congress of Geological Society of Lithuania on 29 November 2024. In his opinion, the first geological map of Poland and Lithuania was drawn up in 1764 by the French geologist Jeanʼ-Etienne Guettard (1715-1786). The map was very simple – almost all of Lithuania and Poland is sand and only southern Poland has a salt belt.

Interestingly, Jean-Etienne Guettard was not only a talented geologist, but also a spy sent by King Louis XV of France to Poland and Lithuania to explore what valuable minerals could be found in this expanding united country. He was particularly interested in silver, lead and salt mines in the Cracow area.  So, the first geological map is the result of international espionage.

Geological map (Carte Mineralogique des Pologne (1764) by Jean-Etienne Guettard (1715–1786)

 

Professor Stanislaw Wolkowicz was awarded the title of Honorary Member of the Geological Society of Lithuania. Photo by  Augustas Uktveris (29.11.2024)

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