Images

This image shows a street map within McHenry County, Illinois (above). The red line indicates the location of the geologic cross section (below). The red line shows an area of proposed development and the cross section indicates the existence of a sensitive aquifer along that locator line. 

This map shows the generalized glaciated terrain of the state of Illinois. For more information, visit the Illinois State Geological Survey website. 

2025 List of Critical Minerals

The 2025 List of Critical Minerals includes 60 critical minerals. 50 of these were also included on the 2022 List of Critical Minerals, and 10 are new. There are 15 rare earth elements included on the List. 

This is an image of the sign that was placed at the 2025 GSA annual meeting to designate the USGS NCGMP-hosted BSGMC. 

Terri Zach (left), First Place winner of the 2025 Best Student Geologic Map Competition from the University of Kentucky (UK), presents their geologic map of the Survey Peak quadrangle, WY, in front of their UK EDMAP mentor Dr. Ryan Thigpen, fellow UK graduate student Jillian Cavellier, and Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Geologic Mapping Program Manager, Dr.

This is an image of the top two winners from the competition holding their awards along with contest sponsors. 

This picture illustrates a BSGMC participant student poster presented at GSA. 

Terry Lee from the University of Nevada, Reno, 1:24,000-Scale Geologic Map of the Western Half of the Franklin Lake NW 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Ruby Mountains-East Humboldt Range Metamorphic Core Complex, Northeast Nevada.

This picture illustrates a BSGMC participant student poster presented at GSA. 

David Canova, University of Barcelona, Salt structures in the Eastern External Betics fold and thrust belt, SE Iberia—Geologic maps, cross sections, and palinspastic reconstructions. 

This is an image of Matthew Crane presenting his entry geologic map poster of Pinegrass Ridge for the 2025 Best Student Geologic Map Competition. 

This picture illustrates a BSGMC participant student poster presented at GSA. 

Terri Zach, University of Kentucky, Geology of the Survey Peak 7.5' Quadrangle, Wyoming: Using Detailed Mapping to Reconstruct the Paleo-Topography of the Northern Teton Range and Implications for the Paleo-Teton Collapse Hypothesis.

Art of Inquiry show hosted at USGS on 22 September, 2025 as part of Flagstaff Festival of Science and in collaboration with Flagstaff Arts and Leadership Academy

Alaska Science Center Data Management staff organize, scan, and digitally archive physical data. Once published as part of a data release, the physical data are organized and placed into banker boxes, labeled with pertinent information, such as the data release DOI, and moved to a secure location.

Isolated beryllium specimen from the USGS mineral collection. High-definition image showing metallic luster and fine-grained texture.

High-definition image of blue calcite specimen with layered crystal structure and pale blue hue.

USGS mineral specimen of calcite with sphalerite inclusions. High-definition image showing crystal structure and metallic highlights.

Isolated chalcopyrite specimen from the USGS mineral collection. High-definition image showing metallic luster and granular texture.

Isolated USGS mineral specimen of vesicular basalt. High-definition image showing porous side texture and dark volcanic color.

USGS mineral specimen of gold ore with 0.5 oz per short ton. High-definition image showing granular texture and metallic flecks.

 Isolated skeletal gypsum specimen from the USGS mineral collection. High-definition image showing intricate crystal structure.

Isolated magnesite specimen from the USGS mineral collection. High-definition image showing granular texture and pale coloration.

Isolated malachite specimen from the USGS mineral collection. High-definition image showing banded green texture and fibrous structure.