Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Welcome to the Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center (GGGSC) located in Lakewood, Colorado on the Denver Federal Center. At GGGSC, we apply expertise in geology, geophysics, and geochemistry to interdisciplinary efforts in support of the USGS mission to address the Nation’s important earth science issues, with an emphasis on mineral resources.

Laboratories

Old JEOL Scanning Electron Microscope.

Our center has several laboratories, ranging from geophysics to geochemistry to spectroscopy to scanning electron microscopes.

Center Laboratories

Science Branches

Our strong science portfolio integrates regional and economic geology with a broad range of geophysical, geochemical, analytical expertise. Our center has four scientific branches:

Explore Our Science

News

link

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law helps fund new USGS facility at Colorado School of Mines, focused on energy and minerals research

link

MEDIA ADVISORY: Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Brain, Director Applegate to Attend Groundbreaking for USGS Energy and Minerals Research Facility

link

New online tool serves USGS geochronology data in state-of-the-art way

View All

Publications

Geology of the Mount Rogers area, revisited: Evidence of Neoproterozoic continental rifting, glaciation, and the opening and closing of the Iapetus Ocean, Blue Ridge, VA–NC–TN

Recent field and geochronological studies in eight 7.5-minute quadrangles near Mount Rogers in Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee recognize (1) important stratigraphic and structural relationships for the Neoproterozoic Mount Rogers and Konnarock Formations, and the northeast end of the Mountain City window; (2) the separation of Mesoproterozoic rocks of the Blue Ridge into three age groups; a
Authors
Arthur J. Merschat, Ryan J. McAleer, Christopher Holm-Denoma, C. Scott Southworth
By
Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center

Stable isotope constraints on the source of ore fluids for the Hicks Dome REE+Y-HFSE-fluorspar deposit

Hicks Dome is comprised of coarse crystalline Mississippi Valley Type deposits at shallow levels and an enigmatic, fine-grained fluorite, rare earth elements, Y, high field strength elements, Be, and Ba rich deposit at deeper levels. Phyllosilicates from a lamprophyre dike and a breccia from two Hicks Dome drill cores were sampled to resolve the fluid history of the entire deposit using light stab
Authors
Julia A. McIntosh, Craig A. Johnson, Allen K. Andersen, Albert H. Hofstra
By
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Can the mining industry meet global demand for critical minerals?

No abstract available.
Authors
Jeffrey L. Mauk, Jonathan Andrew Funk, Nick Karl
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
View All

Science

link
mine pit lake

Porphyry Copper Systems of the Boulder batholith, Montana

The project seeks to better understand the mineral systems of the Boulder batholith and surrounding region in Montana using new airborne geophysical data in conjunction with geologic mapping.
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
link

Porphyry Copper Systems of the Boulder batholith, Montana

The project seeks to better understand the mineral systems of the Boulder batholith and surrounding region in Montana using new airborne geophysical data in conjunction with geologic mapping.
Learn More
link
mine symbol map for USA and Puerto Rico

USMIN Mineral Deposit Database

Our objective is to develop a national-scale, geospatial database that is the authoritative source of the most important mines, mineral deposits, and mineral districts of the United States.
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
link

USMIN Mineral Deposit Database

Our objective is to develop a national-scale, geospatial database that is the authoritative source of the most important mines, mineral deposits, and mineral districts of the United States.
Learn More
link
Image shows a map and key of the United States with mineral locations marked with colored shapes

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI)

The USGS, in combination with Geoscience Australia and the Geological Survey of Canada, formed the Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI) in 2019 to combine expertise and collaboratively conduct research on critical mineral resources.
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
link

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI)

The USGS, in combination with Geoscience Australia and the Geological Survey of Canada, formed the Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (CMMI) in 2019 to combine expertise and collaboratively conduct research on critical mineral resources.
Learn More
View All