William Smith從煤礦地層的觀察中，發展出辨識岩層並繪製地質圖的方法。
2026/10/17更新
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18世紀末，英國測量師 William Smith（1769–1839） 因工作接觸到煤礦、土地與運河工程。
他在英格蘭 Somerset 一帶調查煤礦時，經常進入礦坑、觀察開挖的地下剖面，
逐漸發現：不同地方的岩層，會以相當固定的順序重複出現。（註1）
逐漸發現：不同地方的岩層，會以相當固定的順序重複出現。（註1）
後來在 Somerset Coal Canal 的工程中，
兩條相隔約兩英里的運河支線同時開挖，Smith發現兩地露出的地層順序竟然相同。
更重要的是，他注意到：特定岩層往往含有特定種類的化石。
因此，即使相隔很遠，只要比較地層與其中的化石，就可以判斷它們是不是同一層岩石。
兩條相隔約兩英里的運河支線同時開挖，Smith發現兩地露出的地層順序竟然相同。
更重要的是，他注意到：特定岩層往往含有特定種類的化石。
因此，即使相隔很遠，只要比較地層與其中的化石，就可以判斷它們是不是同一層岩石。
（註1）
這使地質知識有很強的實用價值。
不必把整片土地全部挖開，只要觀察地表露頭、礦坑與工程剖面，
就可以推測地下岩層向哪裡延伸，也能協助尋找煤層與其他礦產。
不必把整片土地全部挖開，只要觀察地表露頭、礦坑與工程剖面，
就可以推測地下岩層向哪裡延伸，也能協助尋找煤層與其他礦產。
Smith並非第一個研究地層的人。
早在1719年，英國的 John Strachey 就已經研究 Somerset 煤田，繪製煤層與岩層的地質剖面；
礦工本身也早已累積大量辨認煤層的實務經驗。
Smith站在這些前人知識之上，把地層順序、化石與大範圍實地測量結合起來，
礦工本身也早已累積大量辨認煤層的實務經驗。
Smith站在這些前人知識之上，把地層順序、化石與大範圍實地測量結合起來，
將它發展成一套可以跨地區使用的方法。（註2）
William Smith經過多年踏查，
最後在 1815年完成《英格蘭與威爾斯地層圖》，其範圍還包括部分蘇格蘭 ，
被視為地質製圖史上的重要里程碑之一。（註3）
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註1：Stratigraphical Theories - The Geological Society of London
○ coal was mined around the High Littleton area and Smith was charged
with investigating the state of the collieries for his employer.
○ through these subterranean surveys he continued to note
and compare the regularity in the successions of strata between the different coal pits.
○ when work on the double branched Somerset Coal Canal began in July 1795,
Smith found that the stratigraphy in each excavation, although two miles apart, was the same.
○ he realised he could attribute specific fossils to particular strata,
thereby allowing him to easily identify these formations across the country.
註2：
1. Origins of Stratigraphy 1719–1801 - The Geological Society of London
○ This Guide begins with a brief introduction to the first geological work done in England,
and goes on to tell the story of events in Somerset associated with the names of two famously gifted pioneers —
John Strachey (1671–1743) and William Smith (1769–1839).
○ These two innovators transformed colliers’ lore and cabinet curiosities into scientific stratigraphy.
2. The development and evolution of the William Smith 1815 geological map - Geological Society of America
Smith did not invent the geological cross section,
for it is known that he was influenced by the pioneering work of John Strachey.”
註3：A Delineation of the Strata of England and Wales with part of Scotland - The Geological Society of London (圖片出處)
○ This famous map[Smith’s 1815 map] is
“considered to be the first geological map of a complete country ever made”.
○ The mapping is based around Smith’s discoveries that
fossils could be used as indicators to identify specific rock strata,
and that these strata appeared in a regular and predictable sequence across the country.
被視為地質製圖史上的重要里程碑之一。（註3）
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註1：Stratigraphical Theories - The Geological Society of London
○ coal was mined around the High Littleton area and Smith was charged
with investigating the state of the collieries for his employer.
○ through these subterranean surveys he continued to note
and compare the regularity in the successions of strata between the different coal pits.
○ when work on the double branched Somerset Coal Canal began in July 1795,
Smith found that the stratigraphy in each excavation, although two miles apart, was the same.
○ he realised he could attribute specific fossils to particular strata,
thereby allowing him to easily identify these formations across the country.
註2：
1. Origins of Stratigraphy 1719–1801 - The Geological Society of London
○ This Guide begins with a brief introduction to the first geological work done in England,
and goes on to tell the story of events in Somerset associated with the names of two famously gifted pioneers —
John Strachey (1671–1743) and William Smith (1769–1839).
○ These two innovators transformed colliers’ lore and cabinet curiosities into scientific stratigraphy.
2. The development and evolution of the William Smith 1815 geological map - Geological Society of America
Smith did not invent the geological cross section,
for it is known that he was influenced by the pioneering work of John Strachey.”
註3：A Delineation of the Strata of England and Wales with part of Scotland - The Geological Society of London (圖片出處)
○ This famous map[Smith’s 1815 map] is
“considered to be the first geological map of a complete country ever made”.
○ The mapping is based around Smith’s discoveries that
fossils could be used as indicators to identify specific rock strata,
and that these strata appeared in a regular and predictable sequence across the country.
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