Free geologic map symbols for AutoCAD (DWG): structure symbols, faults and folds, wells, weather stations

About the symbols

The shapes and sizes follow Appendix A of the digital cartographic standard for geologic map symbolization of the Federal Geographic Data Committee (FGDC-STD-013-2006): bedding, cleavage, foliation and lineation symbols, the fault and contact line forms, geohydrologic wells and weather stations. The fold axis marks are a common convention that the line samples adopt.

The blocks are our own drawings, not copies of the standard, and the library is not certified. Lithologic patterns, fossil pictograms, contour line styles and some specialised variants (crenulation and mylonitic foliation, many fold hinge forms) are not included, because they depend on the colours and line weights of your map. If your survey or agency prescribes its own forms, check the shapes against its publication.

Frequently asked questions

Which geologic symbols are in the library?

Bedding, cleavage, slaty cleavage and foliation in horizontal, inclined, vertical and many-observation forms; 21 kinds of lineation in inclined and horizontal form; line samples for contacts and faults in four location classes, thrust, normal and strike-slip faults and fold axes; 18 water well symbols; and 18 weather station symbols. The count above includes all of them.

How do I place a strike and dip symbol on a map?

Insert the block at the observation point, rotate it so that the strike line runs in the strike direction, and type the dip number when AutoCAD asks. The tick points to the dip side. Use the many-observations form when several symbols are close together and the centred form would overlap.

Can I use the symbols in commercial projects?

Yes. They are free to use and modify in your own projects, including commercial ones. They are provided as is, without warranty.

Are these the symbols of the FGDC standard?

They follow the shapes and millimetre sizes of its Appendix A, but they are our own drawings and are not certified. Colours and line weights of the standard are not part of the blocks, because they come from the layers of your map. Check against the standard if a deliverable must follow it exactly.

Can I change a symbol or add attributes?

Yes. Open the DWG, edit a block with BEDIT to change it or add attributes, and save. To update drawings that already contain the block, run ATTSYNC or replace the block. Make a backup first: attribute values can be lost if ATTSYNC is used carelessly.

Where do I find a ready-made set of these symbols for AutoCAD?

AutoCAD itself ships only a small set of sample blocks, so a full symbol set has to come from a library. Download the ZIP on this page and open the DWG: every symbol is a block. Insert one with INSERT (Blocks palette, Libraries tab, then pick the DWG) or drag it from DesignCenter (ADCENTER). You can also download a single symbol on its own.