World Lithology

Retirement Notice: This item is in [mature support] as of March 2026 and will be retired in December 2027. A replacement item has not been identified at this time. Esri recommends updating your maps and apps to phase out use of this item. The description of the chemistry, mineral composition, and physical properties of rocks is known as [lithology]. The study of lithology can yield valuable insights into the formation and productivity of soils, agricultural suitability, the movement of water, and other important properties of the environment that are influenced by underlying rock type. The data for this layer comes from the [Global Lithological map] (GLiM). Esri obtained the data in late 2013 and rasterized it at 250m resolution to produce the data in this layer. The basis for lithological types in this layer was the Level1 field value in the GLiM attribute data, which contained these potential values (see below for index of values and Lithology Classes): * Unconsolidated Sediment * Carbonate Sedimentary Rocks * Mixed Sedimentary Rocks * Siliclastic Sedimentary Rocks * Evaporites * Pyroclastic * Metamorphic Rock * Acid Plutonics * Intermediate Plutonics * Basic Plutonics * Acid Volcanics * Intermediate Volcanics * Basic Volcanics * Ice and Glaciers * Water Bodies * No Data The GLiM represents the rock types of the Earth surface with 1,235,400 polygons that were characterized by the authors as being of an average mapping scale of 1:3,750,000 and over 100 times more detailed than previous global lithological maps. The recommended citation for source data is: Hartmann, Jens; Moosdorf, Nils (2012): Global Lithological Map Database v1.0 (gridded to 0.5° spatial resolution) [dataset]. PANGAEA, [https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.788537], Supplement to: Hartmann, J; Moosdorf, N (2012): The new global lithological map database GLiM: A representation of rock properties at the Earth surface. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 13, Q12004, [https://doi.org/10.1029/2012GC004370] This layer is part of the Ecophysiographic Project and is one of the four input layers used to create the [World Ecological Land Units Map]. Dataset Summary Analysis: Restricted single source analysis. Maximum size of analysis is 16,000 x 16,000 pixels. What can you do with this layer? This layer is suitable for both visualization and analysis. It can be used in ArcGIS Online in web maps and applications and can be used in ArcGIS Desktop. Restricted single source analysis means this layer has size constraints for analysis and it is not recommended for use with other layers in multisource analysis. This layer has [query], [identify], and [export] image services available. This layer is restricted to a maximum area of 16,000 x 16,000 pixels - an area 4,000 kilometers on a side or an area approximately the size of Europe. The source data for this layer are available [here]. A service is available providing access to the data table associated with this layer. The data table services can be used by developers to quickly and efficiently query the data and to create custom applications. For more information see the [World Ecophysiographic Tables]. Value,EF Lithology Class,ELU Lithology Class 1,Unconsolidated Sediment,Unconsolidated Sediment 2,Siliciclastic Sedimentary Rock,Non-Carbonate Sedimentary Rock 3,Pyroclastics,Pyroclastics 4,Mixed Sedimentary Rock,Mixed Sedimentary Rock 5,Carbonate Sedimentary Rock,Carbonate Sedimentary Rock 6,Evaporite,Evaporite 7,Acid Volcanic,Acidic Volcanics 8,Intermediate Volcanics,Non-Acidic Volcanics 9,Basic Volcanics,Non-Acidic Volcanics 10,Acid Plutonics,Acidic Plutonics 11,Intermediate Plutonics,Non-Acidic Plutonics 12,Basic Plutonics,Non-Acidic Plutonics 13,Metamorphics,Metamorphic Rock 14,Unconsolidated Sediment,Unconsolidated Sediment 15,Ice and Glaciers,Ice and Glaciers 16,Non-defined,Non-Defined