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Benchmark identification and geology

A surveyed reference point with a precisely established elevation, used as a datum for topographic mapping, construction, and geophysical measurements. Geological benchmarks are also used to monitor ground subsidence, uplift, and post-glacial rebound. The term is also used metaphorically for any standard of reference or comparison in scientific measurement. Field: field geology. Example: Repeated precise leveling of benchmarks across the Long Valley Caldera in California has detected over 80 cm of surface uplift since 1980, indicating ongoing magmatic inflation beneath the restless volcanic system.. Related terms: Datum, Elevation, Topographic map, Survey.

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Sources, scope & corrections

These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.

Editorial owner
GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T15:19:42.127987+00:00
Review status
Published; not independently peer-reviewed
  • USGS Thesaurus — U.S. Geological Survey. Controlled earth-science terminology used to describe USGS information resources.
  • Glossary of Geologic Terms — U.S. National Park Service. Geologic definitions prepared by the NPS Geologic Resources Inventory.

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Common questions

What does Benchmark mean in geology?
A surveyed reference point with a precisely established elevation, used as a datum for topographic mapping, construction, and geophysical measurements. Geological benchmarks are also used to monitor ground subsidence, uplift, and post-glacial rebound. The term is also used metaphorically for any standard of reference or comparison in scientific measurement.
What is an example of Benchmark?
Repeated precise leveling of benchmarks across the Long Valley Caldera in California has detected over 80 cm of surface uplift since 1980, indicating ongoing magmatic inflation beneath the restless volcanic system.
Which earth-science field uses the term Benchmark?
Benchmark is used in field geology.
Which terms are related to Benchmark?
Related terms in this reference are Datum, Elevation, Topographic map, Survey.

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