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Published online 31 July 2008 | Nature | doi:10.1038/news.2008.1001
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Mother Earth gets undressed
A database of geological maps of the world has been made freely available.
The first digital geological map that spans the globe has been unveiled by a collaboration of Earth and computer scientists called OneGeology.
The team, covering about 100 organizations in more than 70 nations, has integrated national and regional geological maps from across the world.
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First let me say that this is really a very good job. I always check 'google earth (the software downloaded by Google, representing the globe)' for some maps, and I have seen this mid-ocean ridge near Africa. There are many other BIG features clearly visible beneath the blue sea on 'Google earth' and it seems those also may appear on this map too (like the ridge near Africa). Would not it be interesting if some geologists compare these two big maps of globe? Does anybody know if there is a report on the possible history for the origin of these features on the globe? I am not geologist but it would be nice to know.
Our home Earth pictured in that way resembles a beautiful marble, like one that I had when a child. Not a recognizable blue sphere, also beautiful, but a colored and a little milky beauty.