Arizona Geological Survey
A contributor from the Arizona Memory Project
Arizona Geological Survey web page at Arizona Memory Project
The Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS)'s chief objective is to inform, advise, and educate the public about Arizona's geologic setting, and to encourage prudent development of Arizona's land, water, mineral, and energy resources.
The AZGS accomplishes its mission through fundamental geologic research -- geologic mapping, mineral assessment, and geohazard evaluation -- and by broadly disseminating the results of that work. History. The Arizona Geological Survey is the latest in a line of academic departments and state agencies serving the people of the Arizona Territory and now the State of Arizona. In 1883, then Territorial of Arizona Governor Tritle, requested federal assistance in establishing a geologic survey for the Territory. The U.S. Congress responded in 1888 by creating the post of Territorial Geologist of Arizona. The unpaid position went first to John F. Blandy, who served until the mid-1890s. When Arizona gained statehood in 1912, the position of Territorial Geologist was abolished.
The Arizona Geological Survey (AZGS) was established as an independent state agency on July 1, 1988. In 1991, the Survey became the institutional home of Arizona's Oil and Gas Conservation Committee, a five-member commission charged with supporting and monitoring oil and gas exploration in the state. With the support of the U.S. Geological Survey, AZGS opened the Tucson Earth Science Information Center in August 1992. AZGS moved to its present location, 416 W. Congress St., Tucson, in July.
AZGS collaborates with a host of geosciences agencies and societies in joint support of our collective mission to illuminate the role of the Earth sciences in meeting the needs of human society. Network friends include: U.S. Geological Survey, Association of American State Geologists, Arizona Geological Society, Arizona State Park, Arizona Department of Water Resources, Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources, COPUS, OneGeology, and Year of Science 2009, among others.
The organization's partnership with the U.S. Geological Survey provides partial funding for participation in the nationwide State Maps program. AZGScollaborates with the Arizona Geological Society on developing and disseminating publications of both local and international significance. The AZGS Library, open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m., is located at 401 W. Congress St., Tucson, Arizona. Library holdings total more than 15,000 volumes. The collection of Arizona publications, reports, and geologic maps is particularly rich and makes up the foundation of the library. AZGS Library holds all reports, circulars, bulletins, and geologic maps and cross-sections published by the Arizona Geological Survey and its predecessor agencies.
The organization also hosts a myriad collection of geologic guidebooks, fieldtrips, reports, and circulars for California -- this is our most robust out-of-state collection -- Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, and to a much lesser extent, Oklahoma. Our other chief holdings include:
- Arizona Water Resources Bulletins
- Arizona Department of Mines and Minerals Resources publications
- Arizona County Soil Maps
- Select theses and dissertations pertaining to Arizona geology
- University of Arizona Geodaze Papers
- USGS Bulletins
- USGS Miscellaneous Investigations Series
- USGS Circulars
- USGS Miscellaneous Map Series
- USGS Water Resource Papers
- US Dept of Interior: Bureau of Mines – Report of Investigations
- Numerous general and specialized geology and geophysics texts
- Arizona Geological Society Indexes and Field Trips
- Rock Core Library
- Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Rock Cuttings
- Oil and Gas Conservation Commission Well Logs
Arizona Geological Survey