Mapping of lineaments in Finland at the scale of 1:500 000

Lineaments, linear structures on the surface of the Earth, often represent the surface expressions of brittle structures, e.g., fault zones and fracture zones or ductile shear zones. In addition, they may also represent other geological features such as lithological contacts, tectonic boundaries and Quaternary structures, or potentially a superposition of any of these. Lineament mapping is usually the first step in the structural assessment of a crystalline bedrock setting, and the lineaments can further be used as basis for scientific research to more accurately determine the location of the previously mentioned various geological features. In this study, a multi-source lineament mapping was performed within a Geographic Information System (GIS) for the whole of Finland, based on light detecting and ranging (LiDAR), aerogeophysical and bathymetric raster data. Our approach was to produce three separate lineament datasets (topographic, magnetic and electromagnetic) and then integrate them into a single integrated lineament dataset in which lineaments from the separate source datasets are combined. The present work provides a new lineament database for Finland, which is more flexible for statistical analysis than prior interpretations and contains unique identifiers, along with crucial metadata for each interpreted lineament, to enable consistent references to the data and to allow tracking of the source of each lineament. The lineament database enhances the capability to produce more accurate geological maps for various geological purposes in Finland.