U.S. Geological Survey
U.S. Geological Survey
There's a lot more to Nevada than the well-known attractions it's famous for! Some of the world's largest silver deposits were the cause of towns that developed, flourished, and died within a decade. The decayed remains of some of these towns are popular destinations for photographers. The names of still other towns that survived beyond the mining tell the story of law and justice of the mining days (and we'll leave it to you to figure out which ones!).
We hope you enjoy exploring Nevada through the resources offered here, whether you live in Nevada, are planning a trip to Nevada, or are simply interested in the natural resources Nevada has to offer. Use these resources to explore geology studies that are underway and how they contribute to diverse problems such as understanding earthquake shaking, finding minerals, and evaluating environmental stability.
Find out about Nevada's earthquakes from a site maintained by the University of Nevada at Reno.
Would you believe that there's an ongoing project to map the Las Vegas urban corridor? Find out why when you visit the USGS geologic mapping website. You'll also be able to check up on other mapping projects in Nevada.
To gain a full understanding of the geology of an area, it's important to be able to "see" into the subsurface. Using specialized instruments mounted on airplanes, geophysicists are able to help determine what geologic structures lie beneath the Earth's surface. Find out what what scientists are discovering about Nevada through geophysical mapping.
The complex geologic history of Nevada created a wide variety of metallic and non-metallic mineral resources. Nevada is the largest producer of gold in the United States, and it is the second largest producer of diatomite. USGS research based at the Reno Field Office studies the origin, characteristics, and geoenvironmental aspects of Nevada's mineral resources.
The Mojave Desert is a vast expanse of land covering most of southern Nevada nearby states. The USGS is participating in an ambitious interdisciplinary project to better understand the fragile Mojave Desert Ecosystem.
It may seem improbable, but dust is crucial to the well-being of the desert environment. Find out what USGS scientists are learning about the importance of windblown dust in southern Nevada.
Oil and gas have been produced from several basins in Nevada. The Energy Program of the USGS has evaluated the potential for undiscovered oil and gas resources in the United States, including Nevada.
The USGS sponsored an interactive workshop on the impact of climate change in the southwestern United States in July of 1997, which was open to anyone with Internet access. The articles and comments on this important topic will remain on the website indefinitely.
The USGS has some state by state listings that might interest you:
| Minerals Information | USGS Fact Sheets |
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Download shaded relief map of Nevada (92 kb GIF file) |
Reno
Field Office
U.S. Geological Survey
Mackay School of Mines, MS 176
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557-0047
(775) 784-5366
USGS State
representative for Nevada:
Kimball E Goddard
333 West Nye Lane, Rm 203
Carson City, NV 89706
Telephone: (775) 887-7600
Fax: (775) 887-7621
Office hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time
Water
Resources Division Nevada Office
Biological Resources Division
National Mapping Division
Be sure to visit the Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology website if you are looking for more information about Nevada's geology.
USGS Products are sold at Earth Science Information Centers (ESICs) throughout the country. Find out what an ESIC is, and whether there is an ESIC near you.
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