See the sections of resource links below for those of you interested in earth sciences. The listing has a Pacific Northwest focus, but includes resources located in adjacent states and the Rocky Mountains. Many of these links lead to even richer collections. With the exception of Rock, Gem and Mineral Clubs, most of the links are pointed to citizen scientists, students and research scientists.
- Nearby Earth-Science Groups
- Pacific Northwest Geology Programs
- Rocky Mountain Geological Societies
- Washington Universities and Colleges with Geologic Programs
- Other Institutions with Geology Resources
- Geology Oriented Blogs and Podcasts – Our Favorites
NEARBY EARTH-SCIENCE GROUPS
Geological Society of the Oregon Country (GSOC; Portland, OR). Largest earth-science group in Oregon; monthly programs and yearly field trips, some into Washington.
Ice Age Floods Institute (IAFI; Puget Lobe Chapter, Edmonds, WA). State-wide volunteer organization focused on the ice-age floods in Washington (11 chapters in WA, ID MT, OR) .
Northwest Geological Survey (NWGS; Seattle, WA). Long-established earth-science group in Washington, monthly programs and yearly field trips.
Northwest Paleontological Association (Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA). Vocational and professional group that explores and preserves the paleontological heritage of Washington and the Pacific Northwest; affiliated with the Burke Museum in Seattle. These folks go out of state for some projects, and there are quite a lot of members. It’s tough to find a place to dig – most places have been pre-ruined by unethical collectors. Info about the Northwest Paleontological Association. To advance the science of paleontology; To explore, understand and preserve the paleontological heritage of Washington State and the Pacific Northwest
Sound Water Stewards of Island County (SWS; Freeland, WA). Formerly Beach Watchers, wide variety of natural and physical science activities, education oriented.
Washington Rock, Gem and Mineral Clubs
https://mineralcouncil.wordpress.com/member-clubs/
https://www.rockandmineralshows.com/location/rock-clubs/washington
PACIFIC NORTHWEST GEOLOGY PROGRAMS
British Columbia Geological Survey (Vancouver, BC). Provincial agency tasked with earth science investigations, inventories.
Cascade Volcano Observatory (USGS; Vancouver, WA). One of several US Volcano Observatories; deals with Cascade volcanoes (WA, OR, northern CA).
Geoscience BC (Vancouver, BC). Large non-profit Earth Science research organization.
Idaho Geological Survey (Boise and Moscow, ID). State agency tasked with Earth Science investigations, inventories.
Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Information (DOGAMI; Portland, OR). State agency tasked with Earth Science investigations, inventories.
Washington Geological Survey (WGS; Olympia, WA). State agency tasked with Earth Science investigations, inventories. For geologic resource, go to the DNR Geologic Information Portal.
Washington Geological Survey Library (WGSL; Olympia, WA). The library has more than 80,000 items in its collection, but less than a quarter of the collection is available online.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES
Volunteer non-profit groups that conduct lectures, field trips, and outreach programs; some offer scholarships.
Arizona Geological Society (AGS; Tucson, AZ)
Colorado Scientific Society (CSS; Golden, CO)
Four Corners Geological Society (FCGS; Durango, CO)
Montana Geological Society (MGS; Billings, MT)
Geological Society of Nevada (GSN; Reno, NV)
New Mexico Geological Society (NMGS; Socorro, NM)
Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists (RMAG; Denver, CO)
Tobacco Root Geological Society (TRGS; Butte, MT)
Utah Geological Association (UGA; Salt Lake, UT)
West Texas Geological Society (WTGS; Midland, TX)
Wyoming Geological Society (WGA; Casper, WY)
Western Interior Paleontological Society (WIPS; Denver, CO)
WASHINGTON UNIVERSITIES/COLLEGES WITH GEOLOGY PROGRAMS
Central Washington University (Ellensburg, WA). Geology Department; BSc, MSc degrees. Central Washington location; Nick Zentner is a popular geology teacher there (see blogs).
Evergreen State College (Olympia, WA). Geology Department; Environmental Science Program, MES degree. Self-directed educational system.
University of Washington (Seattle, WA). Department of Earth and Space Sciences; BSc, MSc, PhD degrees. Washington’s largest degree-granting institution, robust research programs.
Washington State University (Pullman, WA). School of the Environment; BSc, MSc. degrees Eastern Washington’s institution, Western Rocky Mountains.
Western Washington University (Bellingham, WA). Geology Department; BSc, MSc. degrees. Washington’s second largest degree-granting institution.
Whitman College (Walla Walla, WA). Geology Department; BSc, MSc. degrees. Liberal arts college.
OTHER INSTITUTIONS WITH GEOLOGY RESOURCES
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture (Univ. of Washington Campus, Seattle, WA). Designated as Washington’s state museum of natural history.
EarthLab (Univ. of Washington, Seattle, WA). EarthLab is a “Visionary institute at the UW that pushes boundaries to address our most pressing environmental challenges.”
Ginkgo Petrified Forest State Park (Vantage, WA). Petrified wood, Stone House.
Stonerose Interpretive Center & Eocene Fossil Site (Republic, WA). The Interpretive Center & Fossil Site is a non-profit public museum and fossil dig.
GEOLOGY-ORIENTED BLOGS AND PODCASTS (OUR FAVORITES)
Bruce Bjornstad, Geologist/Author (Richland, Washington) Author of the popular ‘On the Trail of the Ice Age
Bruce Bjornstad, geologist/author (Richland, Washington). Author of the popular ‘On the Trail of the Ice Age Floods’ guidebook.
Dan McShane, geologist (Bellingham, Washington). Author of ‘Reading the Washington Landscape’ blog.
Dave Tucker, geologist (Western Washington University, Bellingham, Washington). Recent book on Northwest Geology Field Trips; also associated with Mt. Baker Volcano Research Center.
David Williams, writer/naturist (Seattle). Publishes a weekly ‘Seattle Street Smart’ newsletter, leader of Naturalist walks and frequent speaker about Seattle.
Geobulletin (Stratigraphy.net). News from the Geoblogosphere. Massive list of geology oriented blogs.
http://www.geobulletin.org/?action=list
Geologic map of Washington state. J. Eric Schuster, 2005; Washington Division of Geology and Earth Resources Geologic Map GM-53, 1 sheet, scale 1:500,000, with 44 p. text. We add this reference because it has a helpful pamphlet (expanded lexicon) that discusses the formations on the map and correlations thereof. The obvious limitation is the scale and thus selected map units.
Marli Miller, geologist/photographer (University of Oregon; Eugene, Oregon). Her site offers a compilation of free geology photos for instructors based on 35 years of geological field research.
Nick Zentner, geologist (Central Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington). Nick lectures (in person and on line) about all things geologic.
Stratigraphic Time Charts and Correlations
If you’re into stratigraphy, time, and correlation of rock units, take a look at these sites… [read more]