author

Geological Survey (U.S.)

Created by Congress in 1879, this U.S. scientific agency has spent generations studying the land, water, maps, minerals, and hazards that shape everyday life. Its publications often bring together careful research and public service, turning complex Earth science into practical knowledge.

3 Audiobooks

LandSat Picture of Washington, DC

by Geological Survey (U.S.), United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Natural Gemstones

Natural Gemstones

by Geological Survey (U.S.)

Ferdinand Vandiveer Hayden and the Founding of the Yellowstone National Park

Ferdinand Vandiveer Hayden and the Founding of the Yellowstone National Park

by Geological Survey (U.S.)

About the author

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is the science bureau of the U.S. Department of the Interior. Founded on March 3, 1879, it was originally charged with classifying public lands and examining the nation's geological structure, mineral resources, and products.

Over time, its work expanded far beyond geology alone. USGS has become a major source of information on earthquakes, volcanoes, water, ecosystems, mapping, energy, and mineral resources, with a mission often summed up in its long-running phrase, "science for a changing world."

As an author credit, Geological Survey (U.S.) usually points to an institutional writer rather than a single person. That means these works reflect the expertise of government scientists, researchers, and mapmakers whose goal is to provide reliable, usable information for the public, researchers, and decision-makers.