9e32312c-b027-521b-e044-0003ba9b0d98 English dataset British Geological Survey +44 115 936 3100 enquiries@bgs.ac.uk pointOfContact 2026-05-01 UK GEMINI 2.3 http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13605549 WGS 84 (EPSG::4326) BGS Seabed Sediments 250k version 3.0 2011-04-01 creation http://data.bgs.ac.uk/id/dataHolding/13605549 The BGS Seabed Sediments 250k dataset is vector data which reflects the distribution of seabed substrate types of the UK and some of its adjacent waters (the UK Exclusive Economic Zone, EEZ) at 1:250,000 scale. This comprehensive dataset provides a digital compilation of the paper maps published by BGS at the same scale, as well as additional re-interpretations from regional geological studies. The seabed is commonly covered by sediments that form a veneer or thicker superficial layer of unconsolidated material above the bedrock. These sediments are classified based on their grain size, which reflects the environment in which they were deposited. This information is important to a range of stakeholders, including marine habitat mappers, marine spatial planners and offshore industries (in particular, the dredging and aggregate industries). This dataset was primarily based on seabed grab samples of the top 0.1 m, combined with cores, dredge samples and sidescan sonar acquired during mapping surveys since the early 1970s. Variations in data density are reflected in the detail of the mapping. The sediment divisions on the map are primarily based on particle size analysis (PSA) of both surface sediment samples and the uppermost sediments taken from shallow cores. Sediments are classified according to the modified Folk triangle classification (Folk, 1954, Journal of Geology, Vol. 62, pp 344–359). The modified Folk diagram and classification used by BGS differs from that created by Folk (1954) in that the boundary between 'no gravel' and 'slightly gravelly' is changed from trace (0.05%) to 1% weight of particles coarser than -1Ø (2mm), shown below. The boundaries between sediment classifications or types are delineated using sample station particle size analyses and descriptions, seafloor topography derived from shallow geophysical and, where available, multibeam bathymetry, backscatter and side-scan sonar profiles. This dataset was produced for use at 1:250 000 scale. These data should not be relied on for local or site-specific geology. Enquiries British Geological Survey United Kingdom not available custodian Enquiries British Geological Survey United Kingdom not available distributor Enquiries British Geological Survey United Kingdom not available distributor Enquiries British Geological Survey not available originator Enquiries British Geological Survey United Kingdom not available owner Enquiries British Geological Survey United Kingdom not available pointOfContact irregular https://resources.bgs.ac.uk/images/geonetworkThumbs/9e32312c-b027-521b-e044-0003ba9b0d98.png Geology GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 publication Continental shelf Sea floor sediments Geology Maps Digital maps Marine geology Sea floor Grain size analysis Sediments BGS Thesaurus of Geosciences 2022 revision UK Location (INSPIRE) Scottish SDI MEDIN Citable Data dataCentre NERC_DDC otherRestrictions no limitations The dataset is made freely available for access, e.g. via the Internet. Either no third party data / information is contained in the dataset or BGS has secured written permission from the owner(s) of any third party data / information contained in the dataset to make the dataset freely accessible. otherRestrictions The copyright of materials derived from the British Geological Survey's work is vested in the Natural Environment Research Council [NERC]. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the prior permission of the copyright holder, via the BGS Intellectual Property Rights Manager. Use by customers of information provided by the BGS, is at the customer's own risk. In view of the disparate sources of information at BGS's disposal, including such material donated to BGS, that BGS accepts in good faith as being accurate, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the quality or accuracy of the information supplied, or to the information's suitability for any use. NERC/BGS accepts no liability whatever in respect of loss, damage, injury or other occurence however caused. Available under the Open Government Licence subject to the following acknowledgement accompanying the reproduced NERC materials "Contains NERC materials ©NERC [year]" vector 250000 English geoscientificInformation British Geological Survey Gazetteer: Geographical hierarchy from Geosaurus 1979 creation UK CONTINENTAL SHELF [id=121701] -10.5800 4.0000 48.2400 63.9000 2011 2011 ESRI Shapefile 1994 OGC GeoPackage (GPKG) Enquiries British Geological Survey United Kingdom not available distributor Enquiries British Geological Survey United Kingdom not available distributor https://www.bgs.ac.uk/datasets/seabed-sediments-250k/ WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link BGS Datasets - Seabed sediments 250k Homepage This page provides further information about the BGS Seabed Sediments 250k dataset, including a user guide, details about licensing and sample data. The Marine Hard Substrate Dataset may be downloaded from this page. information https://doi.org/10.5285/e0df9db6-09ac-4fa3-a815-1394c1988654 WWW:LINK-1.0-http--related Citation Information - Digital Object Identifier (DOI) British Geological Survey (2011): BGS Seabed Sediments 250k version 3.0. British Geological Survey. (Dataset). https://doi.org/10.5285/e0df9db6-09ac-4fa3-a815-1394c1988654 information dataset dataset INSPIRE Implementing rules laying down technical arrangements for the interoperability and harmonisation of Geology 2011 publication See the referenced specification false Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 publication See http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2010:323:0011:0102:EN:PDF false The original version of Seabed Sediments at 1:250 000 scale dataset (then known as DiGSBS250k) was digitised from the scanned version of the hard copy,1:250 000 scale offshore geological maps series. Sheets of these series were issued on a regular grid, with each map sheet covering an area of one degree of latitude by two degrees of longitude. Details of the printed map sheet names, numbers and publication dates are available from the BGS online catalogue and the printed maps are still available via the BGS Bookshop. The second version of this dataset was released in 2007 (named at the time DiGSBS250k v.2). The principal objective of this revision was to improve the positional accuracy of the data in the dataset. The third and current version of the Seabed Sediments at 1:250 000 scale dataset was released in 2011 (named as DiGRock250k v.3). This version has been updated using new PSA samples and multibeam data to directly modify the digital version.