The 1:5 M International Geological Map of Asia(IGMA5000) was printed at the Xi’an Coal Aerial Survey Map Printing Center in August 2013 and will be published in English and Chinese by Geology Publishing House. 

The IGMA5000 is the first digitized international map of Asia,covering continental geology and marine geology. The map sheet starts from the Alps in the west,including most part of Europe and eastern Africa and ends at the Mariana Trench in the east,including the Philippine Sea and a part of Western Pacific;it starts from the Arctic Ocean in the north,including a part of North Atlantic Ocean and northern end of North America and ends at the Sunda Trench, including the northern part of the Indian Ocean and northwestern Australia. With this map, readers can interpret Asian geology from the global angle and study the tectonic relationship between Asia and adjacent lands and seas.

In accordance with the international standard,IGMA5000 is compiled with the ArcGIS platform and based on Asian geology. It has a corresponding spatial database. The stratigraphic division is based on the latest International Stratigraphic Chart (2012) of the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS):the Phanerozoic formation is divided into series, the Proterozoic formation is divided into systems, and the Archean formation is divided into groups.

With the classification method recommended by the Igneous Rock Classification Committee of International Union of Geological Sciences(IUGS) (1986)and specific case in Asia,igneous rocks are classified into acid, intermediate, mafic (ultramafic),alkaline, and bimodal volcanic rocks; intrusive rocks are classified into acid,intermediate,mafic,ultramafic,and alkalineintrusive rocks.Acid intrusive rocks are further divided by lithology. 

Metamorphism of metamorphic rocks is classified into high green-schist facies,high green-schist facies-amphibolite facies,amphibolite facies,amphibolite facies-granulite facies, and granulite facies according to temperature.It is classified into blueschist facies (high pressure)and coesite-bearing eclogite facies(ultrahigh pressure) according to pressure. Structural elements like fractures are classified according to international general principles.

IGMA5000 is an international cooperation project, which was launched in 2005 after the Commission for the Geological Map of the World(CGMW)made project approval resolution in Florence Conference and completed in 2012 with the full support of China Geological Survey.It is a major cooperative project under the aegis of CGMW with the support of United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization(UNESCO) and International Union of Geological Sciences(IUGS).IGMA5000 is compiled by CGMW Sub-commission for South and East Asia in collaboration with the sub-commissions for Northern Eurasia,the Middle East and Seafloor Maps and related Asian European countries. 

Chinese geologists tookcharge of the compilation and over 100 geologists from 20 Asian European countries took part in it. The chief editor is Ren Jishun,and associate editors are Niu Baogui,Wang Jun,Jin Xiaochi, and Xie Liangzhen. 

In April 2012, Secretary General of CGMW and chief editor of IGMA5000 invited Eurasian experts around the world to review the map. Dr. Philippe Rossi, Chairman of CGMW drafted the review resolution, stating that IGMA5000 is a masterpiece of modern geological mapping. Professor J. Charvet, former Vice Chairman of IUGS,said that IGMA5000 is of milestone significance in Asian geology research.In December 2012, a review committee organized by CGS pointed out that IGMA5000 is up to international advanced level. Academician Li Tingdong, Director of the judging panel, stressedthat IGMA5000 is an important step for China to become a greater geological power. 

IGMA5000 provides a solid platform not only for research on Asian geosciences,resources and environment, but also for research on geology of China from an global perspective.IGMA5000 opens the door for China’s geosciences to the world arena.