We guide and fund federal geologic mapping projects.

Explore FEDMAP

We provide matching-funds to State Geological Surveys.

Explore STATEMAP

We help support the next generation of geologic mappers.

Explore EDMAP

We manage the National Archive for the Nation's geology.

Discover the NGMDB

We help understand the geology of the Great Lakes region.

Explore GLGMC

National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program

The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) is the primary source of funds for geologic map production in the U.S. NCGMP funds geologic mapping projects through its FEDMAP, STATEMAP, and EDMAP components and the Great Lakes Geologic Mapping Coalition (GLGMC). The NCGMP also maintains the National Geologic Map Database (NGMDB) which serves as the National Archive for geologic maps.

Authorizing Legislation

The National Geologic Map Database

The NGMDB is a Trusted Digital Repository and serves as the authoritative, comprehensive National Archive for maps and reports about the Nation's geology.

Explore the NGMDB

Geologic Maps are important for:

- critical minerals

- energy resources

- geologic hazard identification
and mitigation

- water resource identification
and protection

- pollution prevention

- land-use decision-making

- engineering and infrastructure
planning

- insurance and real estate concerns

NCGMP Quick Links

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Association of American State Geologists (AASG)

News

August 28, 2025

USGS Unveils New National Geologic Map

July 23, 2025

USGS Geologic Mapping Project Supports Critical Mineral Exploration, Enhances Public Safety in the Southeast

March 13, 2025

The Geoheritage Sites of the Nation Explorer is LIVE!

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Publications

May 3, 2024

Fluviomorphic trajectories for dryland ephemeral stream channels following extreme flash floods Fluviomorphic trajectories for dryland ephemeral stream channels following extreme flash floods

Ephemeral alluvial streams pose globally significant flood hazards to human habitation in drylands, but sparse data for these regions limit understanding of the character and impacts of extreme flooding. In this study, we document decadal changes in dryland ephemeral channel patterns at two sites in the lower Colorado River Basin (southwestern United States) that were ravaged by...

Authors

Eliisa Lotsari, Kyle House, Petteri Alho, Victor Baker

National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

August 27, 2023

Near surface sediments introduce low frequency noise into gravity models Near surface sediments introduce low frequency noise into gravity models

3D geologic modeling and mapping often relies on gravity modeling to identify key geologic structures, such as basin depth, fault offset, or fault dip. Such gravity models generally assume either homogeneous or spatially uncorrelated densities within modeled rock bodies and overlying sediments, with average densities typically derived from surface and drill-hole sampling. The noise...

Authors

Geoffrey Phelps, Collin Cronkite-Ratcliff

Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

August 25, 2023

Evolution of Miocene normal and dextral faulting in the lower Colorado River region near Blythe, California, USA Evolution of Miocene normal and dextral faulting in the lower Colorado River region near Blythe, California, USA

The evolution of strain in nascent continental plate boundaries commonly involves distributed deformation and transitions between different styles of deformation as the plate boundary matures. Distributed NW-striking faults, many with km-scale right-lateral separation, are prevalent near Blythe, California, and have been variably interpreted to have accommodated either Middle Miocene NE...

Authors

Skyler Mavor, Scott Bennett, Ryan Crow, John Singleton, Victoria Langenheim, Daniel Stockli, Mark Stelten, Timothy Brickey, Paul Umhoefer, L. Beard

National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

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Science

Map of Alaska with multiple colors throughout the state representative areas of different geology.

August 14, 2025

Geologic Map of Alaska

In January 2016, the U.S. Geological Survey released the first ever digital geologic map of Alaska. This map reflects more than a century of work and provides a visual context for the abundant mineral and energy resources found throughout the state. The map also is available to use in three different formats: a professional GIS database, a public interactive version via a web browser, and an...

Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Alaska Science Center, Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)

August 14, 2025