Mineral resources
Geothermal resources
Geophysical mapping
Climate studies
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Scientists with the GMEG Science Center work on issues related to geologic processes, mineral and energy resource potential, and past climate, primarily in the Western United States. The science staff includes Geologists, Geophysicists, Geochemists, Biologists, and Geographic Information Systems specialists located in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.
Primary Research Direction - What we do.
Primary Research Direction - What we do.
GMEGSC focuses on Geologic Mapping, Mineral Resources and Mineral Environmental Health, Landslide Hazards, Energy Resources, Earthquake Hazards, and Land Change Science.
Innovation - How we help.
Innovation - How we help.
GMEGSC hosts the USGS Innovation Center, which sponsors work with public and private technology partners to design, test, and bring into operation a new generation of technical and engineering tools to address urgent national natural science issues.
Disciplinary Expertise - How we do it.
Disciplinary Expertise - How we do it.
GMEGSC utilizes Geologic Mapping and Tectonics, Geophysics, Economic Geology, Geochronology, Sedimentary Basin Studies and Energy Assessments, Landslide Hazards, Geomorphology, Paleoclimatology, and many more processes to complete our work!
News
Uncovering the Mysteries of the Bering Land Bridge
Uncovering the Mysteries of the Bering Land Bridge
Restoring Giants from the Ground Up: A Story of Fire, Soil, and Sequoias
Restoring Giants from the Ground Up: A Story of Fire, Soil, and Sequoias
The Threat of Coastal Flooding from Cascadia Earthquake-Driven Land Subsidence
The Threat of Coastal Flooding from Cascadia Earthquake-Driven Land Subsidence
Publications
Using subducting plate motion to constrain Cascadia slab geometry and interface strength Using subducting plate motion to constrain Cascadia slab geometry and interface strength
Subduction zones are home to multiple geohazards driven by the evolution of the regional tectonics, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides. Past evolution builds the present-day structure of the margin, while the present-day configuration of the system determines the state-of-stress in which individual hazardous events manifest. Regional simulations of subduction zones...
Enhanced geothermal systems electric-resource assessment for the Great Basin, southwestern United States Enhanced geothermal systems electric-resource assessment for the Great Basin, southwestern United States
The U.S. Geological Survey recently (2025) completed a provisional assessment of the geothermal-electric resources associated with high-temperature, low-permeability rock formations of the Great Basin, Southwestern United States. If sufficient technological advances to commercialize enhanced geothermal systems occur, then a current best provisional estimate for electric-power generation...
Cave records reveal recent origin of North America’s deepest canyon Cave records reveal recent origin of North America’s deepest canyon
We explore how and when Hells Canyon, North America’s deepest river gorge (~2,400 m deep), formed, addressing these fundamental questions first posed by W. Lindgren [The Gold Belt of the Blue Mountains of Oregon (1901)]. Existing hypotheses about the canyon’s formation and timing of incision remain speculative due to a lack of direct constraints and geomorphic analysis in the canyon...
Science
Life Cycle of Critical Minerals: A Balanced Approach to Meeting Our Nation's Resource Demands
Critical minerals are essential to the Nation’s economy and security. Demand for critical minerals is increasing, and it is essential to balance the societal need for these minerals with efforts to understand the effects of mining on other natural resources and to develop techniques to minimize these effects. The USGS Minerals Resources Life Cycle Integrated Science Team (IST) focuses on the life...
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Energy and Mineral Resources Mission Area, Contaminant Biology, Environmental Health Program, Mineral Resources Program, Toxic Substances Hydrology, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Geology of the eastern Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain along the Fall Zone, Virginia to Georgia
This USGS NCGMP Project aims to fill the void in geologic map coverage along the Fall Zone from southeastern Virginia to central Georgia, for critical mineral research, earthquake hazards, and interstate correlation. We are also forging strong cooperative ties within the NCGMP by combining resources across all three Program components by supporting Virginia Energy (Virginia Geological Survey), the...
2024 Hurricane Helene Landslide Hazards
Hurricane Helene produced widespread and damaging landslides. The USGS is mapping landslides to support our partners. This page provides information about the extent and severity of landslide impacts. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday, September 26th, 2024. The hurricane continued across the southern Appalachian Mountains producing record rainfall. This...