The Zodiac Cipher Symbols

I originally wrote and published this on a now defunct website run by Mike Morford back in 2014. It was reposted on Tom Voigt's message board on September 17, 2021. 

I have read some place that the Zodiac cipher symbols number around 57. The number could be a little more or a little less. You think, well, how can the number be a little more or a little less? Just count the symbols and be done with it. But I don't think that the number of symbols is as simple as that, not if, you want to know where the Zodiac obtained his inspiration for the symbols.

My count is 51 symbols:

1. 21 letters of the alphabet 
2. 30 unique symbols 

The letters of the alphabet that I treat as part of the unique 30 are: K, O, T, V, and X.

The reason I have 21 letters of the alphabet and 30 unique is because I am not counting mirrored equivalents. My thoughts are that the Zodiac had one letter/symbol and, for whatever reason, mirrored or turned them to create the appearance of another symbol.

When I first started looking at the symbols used, sometime in 2011, I put my attention on the unique symbols and began looking for where the Zodiac might have gained his inspiration. Since I came up with the idea in 2010 that the Zodiac plucked a bomb diagram right from a map covering the streets of San Francisco and, the idea in 2010 that the symbols on the Exorcist letter were not Chinese like symbols but rather pulled from a map of the bay area outlining the locations of National Parks and Monuments, it seemed a map would be a likely place to look for these symbols.

So, I pulled out a typical road atlas and found 10 of the symbols right off:

1. The empty triangle = mountain peak
2. Square (diagonally half filled in) = possible point of entry
3. Forward and backward slash = dam
4. Backwards K (which should be turned with the vertical line laying horizontally) = picnic area
5. Filled in square = historic site or monument
6. Empty square = 1. Interchanges 2. Exit numbers and 3. Ranger station
7. Upside down V = campsite
8. Filled in triangle = highest point in state/province
9. Filled in circle = city/town
10. Empty circle = neighborhood

The thing is that was only 10 symbols. Where were the rest? Well, in thinking of the National Parks and Monuments and the Mount Diablo code still unsolved, I thought about another maker of maps: The United States Geological Survey.

The USGS has a publication concerning topographic map symbols. I have two versions, one is more general and another is a bit more, specific. While a topographical map may be concerned with mountains, slopes, and oceans, it also includes other symbols found on an everyday map such as streets, buildings, streams and peaks. Here is the list of symbols I found from both USGS publications:

1. <> Greater than and less than symbol: One symbol mirrored. Relates to ice channel deposits and its publication number is FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC13.

2. + Plus symbol: Relates to multiple items:
A. A survey station FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC03.
B. A very small Tbilisi FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC25.
C. A central peak of an impact crater FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC25.
D. In a series it represents spatter rampart FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC18.
E. A sunken rock (USGS topographical map symbols chart)
F. Unmonumented (USGS topographical map symbols chart)
G. Graticule intersection (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

3. Period: In a series it is a range or town line (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

4. Hyphen: Could relate to any number of symbols in the USGS as they are part of what I consider drafting lines, hidden lines, center lines etc. They are located in most FGDC publication numeral between SEC01 and SEC39.

5. Vertical bar: Possible falls (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

6. Forward and backward slash: One symbol mirrored. Relates to dams (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

7. Circle with top or bottom half filled: One symbol mirrored. Relates to an oil show. FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC19.

8. Circle with right half filled: Relates to a condensate well. FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC19

9. Circle with left half filled: Relates to a fault plane. FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC21

10. Horizontal Theta: Used in a series and relates to a dike (5th option). FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC01. Could very well be the rotated image of the vertical theta below.

11. Vertical Theta: Relates to multiple items:
A. A drill hole for exploration of low grade ore. FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC19
B. Unused water well FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC26

12. Crosshair: Relates to a destroyed well FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC26

13. Omega: Have not found its location within the USGS yet but it is clearly spoken of in several sources as an old map symbol for caves.

14. Circle with an 8: No exact explanation. Do not believe this to be circles with 8's. Believe it to be a symbol for a fault plane FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC21. Also seen as a gauging station (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

15. Filled square: Relates to multiple items:
A. Pumping station FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC30.
B. A building (USGS topographical map symbols chart)
C. A platform (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

16. Empty square: A cemetery (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

17. Square, bottom diagonal half, left and right side filled: One symbol mirrored. Relates to a vertical mine shaft FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC19. Shown as a top diagonal half filled. Also on (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

18. Square with dot: Relates to multiple items:
A. A core FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC19.
B. Boundary monument (USGS topographical map symbols chart)
C. Land grant, homestead, mineral or other survey monument (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

19. Filled circle: Relates to multiple items:
A. An oil well FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC19.
B. An earthquake epicenter FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC21. C. A primary terrestrial impact vented FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC24.
D. Small endogenic crater FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC25.
E. Well used for domestic water supply FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC25.
F. A tank (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

20. Circle with dot: Relates to multiple items:
A. A collapsed structure or sinkhole FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC23
B. Radio tower (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

21. Empty triangle: Relates to multiple items:
A. A disposal well FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC19.
B. A hazardous waste site when turned upside down FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC20.
C. Water baiting station FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC26

22. Filled triangle: Relates to multiple items:
A. Continuous water gauging station FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC26.
B. An active hazardous waste site when turned upside down FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC20.
C. A mineral or location monument (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

23. Triangle with dot: Relates to a horizontal control point FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC03. Also (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

24. Double mirrored J with left and right dot: Can find no reference for this in the USGS. I have seen this symbol used as an indicator for a public swimming location within a park.

25. Double mirrored J with no dot or top horizontal line: Relates to a geyser FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC18

26. Upside down V: Relates to multiple items:
A. In a series they represent a coal bed FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC01.
B. A campground (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

27. Upside down T: Relates to multiple items:
A. In a series it relates to a glacially scoured basin FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC02 and sec13.
B. When shown as a T it is a rim of a volcanic crater FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC18.
C. UTM grid (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

28. X: Relates to multiple items:
A. Geophysical data collection locality FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC11.
B. Outcrop point as structural control point FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC11.
C. Inactive volcano on small scale map FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC18.
D. Prospect (pit or small open cut) FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC19.
E. Also on (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

29. Empty circle (not an O): Relates to multiple items:
A. A cinder cone FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC18.
B. A drill hole for mineral exploration FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC19.
C. An earthquake epicenter FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC21. D. A secondary terrestrial impact vented FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC24.
E. Water well FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC26.
F. Well used for stock water supply FGDC-GEOLSYM-SEC26 - Also on USGS topographical map symbols chart.
G. Oil well (USGS topographical map symbols chart)

30. K: Relates to a picnic area or roadside park (USGS topographical map symbols chart). Shown with slants pointing down.