THE CUBAN GEOLOGICAL MAPPING, A CHALLENGE FOR THE FUTURE

In order to improve and update the geological mapping of Cuba, the Cuban Geological Survey is developing a national geologic mapping program designed to use new technological advances, with the purpose of providing a platform for the scientific and economic development of the country. The first geologic map of Cuba, scale circa 1:1 000 000, was published by Manuel Fernández de Castro and Pedro Saltaraín y Legarra in 1869. Several maps (geological, hydrogeological, mineral, structural, oil and gas) of similar scale were published during the first half of the 20th century, as well as more detailed ones for different parts of Cuba. Since 1959, efforts of national institutions in cooperation with international counterparts were renewed; detailed geologic-geophysical maps were made for regions with mineral, water and hydrocarbon potential. A major landmark was the publication of the 1:250 000 geological and the 1:500 000 tectonic maps of Cuba, made possible by a consortium of the Academies of Sciences of Cuba, Bulgaria, Poland, Hungary, Rumania and the former USSR between 1969 and 1981. Base on these data, several 1:500 000 thematic (geological, tectonic, metallic and industrial minerals deposits) maps were produced. Geological mapping applying geochemical and geophysical methods began and continued until 1994, resulting in 1:50 000 geological maps of key areas of the country in cooperation with the geological surveys of USSR, Germany, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Bulgaria. Recently, geologic maps 1:100 000 and 1:1 000 000 implemented in a GIS platform by the Institute of Geology and Paleontology/Geological Survey of Cuba have been compiled. However, 1:50 000 scale cartography covers only ~40 % of Cuba, so the future task is to complete this work for 100% of Cuba’s land and marine areas. Our goal is broadening the geological knowledge and producing updated geological maps, including tectonics, geophysics, metallic and industrial minerals and active processes. The effort will benefit from modern technology, remote sensing techniques, image processing and GIS together with field and laboratory work. In this task, we will collaborate with other geological surveys worldwide in developing working strategies, methods and standards, and are open to cooperation with research institutions and government agencies worldwide.