About the Maine Geological Survey

In 1836 the Maine Legislature authorized the first geological survey of the State, thus beginning a process of geological inquiry which continues today. A modern geological survey with full-time staff and an active field program evolved by the early 1940s to meet the resource demands of a growing population and the strategic mineral needs of a nation at war. Program emphasis through this early period was on economic resources including dimension stone, ore minerals, and clay. In the 1960s and 1970s a major exploration boom was fueled in part by the Survey's detailed reports on ore deposits. While economic aspects remain a part of Survey programs, the burgeoning population of southern and coastal Maine has required us to refocus our resources toward ground water and coastal marine issues. By using a modern geographic information system we are improving the analysis of map information and our ability to make high quality maps available to the public.

Contact Information

Maine Geological Survey
22 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333

Phone: (207) 287-2801
Fax: (207) 287-2353
E-mail: mgs@maine.gov

Office Hours

Monday - Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, except holidays.

Maps, Publications, and Data

The Maine Geological Survey publishes a wide variety of geologic maps and reports. Recent efforts at the Survey have focused on providing geologic maps online as PDF files. Visit our new publications search page to search geographically or by subject for geologic publications and topographic maps.

Geologic Outreach

Staff geologists are available to answer questions from the public via e-mail and telephone. Refer to the Contact us page for more information.

Geologic Reference Library

Our in-house geologic library contains a variety of information about the geology of Maine. Published information from state, federal, and private agencies has been collected and cataloged. The library also contains a wide range of open-file and unpublished maps, progress reports, theses, dissertations, and recent geology journals. The library is available to the public during normal office hours, but materials may not be removed from the office. Advance notice is recommended.

Aerial Photographs

We have two sets of U.S. Department of Agriculture aerial photographs covering Maine, a set at a scale of 1:20,000 from the 1960's and a set at a scale of 1:40,000 from the late 1970's. These photos are available for use at the Maine Geological Survey during office hours.

Maine Mineral Collection

A display and reference collection of rocks and minerals is open to the public during office hours. The rock and mineral collection contains specimens from localities in Maine and elsewhere in the country.

Core Repository

The core repository currently contains rock cores from several localities including a tin prospect in the Winslow-Vassalboro area (Billiton Metals and Ores USA), northern Maine (Great Northern Paper Company), the Bald Mountain and Mount Chase base metal prospect areas, copper-zinc deposits in Hancock County, several Aroostook County targets (Chevron Resources and Superior Mining), various manganese prospects in Aroostook County (U. S. Bureau of Mines), pegmatite explorations in Oxford County, and the Union-Warren area near the nickel deposit (Knox Mining Company). Please contact us for additional information.

Last updated on December 27, 2007

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