NEW YORK, May 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Addition of maps from prestigious journals and books dating back to 1934 brings total number of Geofacets maps to over 300,000

Elsevier, a world-leading provider of scientific, medical and technical information products and services, today announced its collaboration with The Geological Society of America (GSA), one of the largest and most prestigious societies serving geosciences professionals worldwide. The collaboration will formally launch in September through the integration of more than 60,000 geological maps from GSA's flagship journals, book series and the comprehensive Decade of North American Geology compendium into Geofacets, Elsevier's premier research tool for geoscientists working in exploration for the oil and gas and metals and mining industries.

The move will bring the total number of maps in Geofacets to over 300,000, providing a comprehensive resource for Geofacets users to investigate potential areas for exploration in more detail than ever. The GSA will be the largest 3^rd party content contributor to Geofacets' maps database to date, providing maps from its prestigious range of publications stretching back to 1934. As a result, exploration teams using Geofacets will have more confidence in their technical evaluations of geographic areas for potential energy and mineral sources. For the GSA and its 25,000 members across 103 countries, the collaboration will allow the society to expand the reach of its maps: from its established position with academic users to those in the applied sector that need its information to make the best decisions possible.

"It is an honor to work with one of the world's most influential and recognized publishers in the area of geology," said Alexander van Boetzelaer, Managing Director Corporate Markets at Elsevier. "This collaboration gives us the unique opportunity to provide Geofacets users with seamless access to even more academic maps of the highest quality. The collaboration itself reflects our ongoing commitment to provide our customers with a best-of-breed solution that makes them more competitive as they scale up exploration activities. At the same time it introduces GSA's vital content to more geoscientists in companies around the globe, helping to further the Society's cause and building stronger ties between academia and industry."

"GSA is committed to identifying and developing resources and programs that appeal to and benefit professional practice geoscientists," said Jack Hess, Executive Director of GSA. "We feel confident that GSA's collaboration with Geofacets will play a part in helping all scientists conduct assessments that will, for example, support discovery of new energy, mineral and water resources. GSA has long promoted and supported the creation and dissemination of geologic maps and their derivative products, because we believe they have immense economic and societal value. For example in developing resources, building infrastructure, mitigating hazards, and protecting the environment."

The 60,000 maps are collated from GSA's flagship journals, including the Geological Society of America Bulletin and Geology, GSA's monthly journal that has been recognized as the most-cited geology publication for the past six years. Maps are also taken from GSA's four book series and the comprehensive Decade of North American Geology compendium. The collaboration builds further on earlier Geofacets' alliances with the Geological Society of London in October 2011, SEPM/Society for Sedimentary Geology in September 2012, and the Society of Economic Geologists (SEG) in January 2013.

About Geofacets

Geofacets is an innovative research tool for geoscientists that currently offers map-based search and access to over 250,000 geological maps from Elsevier and its content partners. With all maps downloadable and over 165,000 georeferenced, it integrates with GIS and other presentation software. Developed to complement the way geoscientists work, Geofacets is used by leading companies around the world for exploration research projects such as regional studies for new ventures and greenfield exploration, land lease opportunity evaluations, prospect and play ranking, and more.

About the Geological Society of America

The Geological Society of America, founded in 1888, is a scientific society with more than 25,000 members from academia, government, and industry in more than 100 countries. Through its meetings, publications, and programs, GSA enhances the professional growth of its members and promotes the geosciences in the service of humankind. Headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, GSA encourages cooperative research among earth, life, planetary, and social scientists, fosters public dialogue on geoscience issues, and supports all levels of earth science education.

About Elsevier
Elsevier is a world-leading provider of scientific, technical and medical information products and services. The company works in partnership with the global science and health communities to publish more than 2,000 journals, including The Lancet and Cell, and close to 20,000 book titles, including major reference works from Mosby and Saunders. Elsevier's online solutions include ScienceDirect, Scopus, Reaxys, ClinicalKey and Mosby's Suite, which enhance the productivity of science and health professionals, and the SciVal suite and MEDai's Pinpoint Review, which help research and health care institutions deliver better outcomes more cost-effectively.

A global business headquartered in Amsterdam, Elsevier employs 7,000 people worldwide. The company is part of Reed Elsevier Group plc, a world leading provider of professional information solutions. The group employs more than 30,000 people, including more than 15,000 in North America. Reed Elsevier Group plc is owned equally by two parent companies, Reed Elsevier PLC and Reed Elsevier NV. Their shares are traded on the London, Amsterdam and New York Stock Exchanges using the following ticker symbols: London: REL; Amsterdam: REN; New York: RUK and ENL.

Media contact
Liz Griffioen
Elsevier
+31-20-485-2247
L.Griffioen@elsevier.com

SOURCE Elsevier