This story was originally published in the 2024 edition of Discovery magazine, the College of Science's publication. This edition of Discovery celebrated the 20th anniversary of the College of Science.
The ΒιΆΉΣ³» Bureau of Mines and Geology (NBMG) is ΒιΆΉΣ³»’s state geological survey. The bureau’s primary mission is to provide ΒιΆΉΣ³»ns with geologic information about natural resources and geologic hazards to protect the public and facilitate, diversify and enhance ΒιΆΉΣ³»’s economic future. All but two states in the U.S. have a state geological survey, and about half are associated with their state university systems. The NBMG is a public service unit at the ΒιΆΉΣ³» and supports the University’s land grant, educational and research missions.
The NBMG was originally established as the ΒιΆΉΣ³» Bureau of Mines in 1929 by the ΒιΆΉΣ³» State Legislature, with the charge of serving as a bureau of information and exchange on ΒιΆΉΣ³»'s mineral industry, mineral resources and geology.
Other responsibilities outlined in state statute include field investigations and laboratory studies, application of geologic engineering principles to geologic problems around the state and assisting state and local governmental agencies on topics related to the geology of ΒιΆΉΣ³».
In 1971, the bureau’s name was changed to "ΒιΆΉΣ³» Bureau of Mines and Geology." James Faulds, state geologist and director of the NBMG, said that with this change came a shift in the bureau’s responsibilities to take on more of a research and teaching mission. The bureau’s research output grew substantially and, in the late 1980s, NBMG research geologists were reclassified as University faculty. Later, in 2012, responsibilities for the NBMG’s academic faculty were further expanded to include regular teaching and advising of graduate students. Today, over a dozen graduate students are training to become geologists under the supervision of NBMG mentors.
"It is interesting to reflect on changes in the state’s geological needs over the bureau’s almost 100-year history, as well as our evolution within the University," Faulds, who has worked at the NBMG for over a quarter century, said. "Our mission was initially focused on the state’s natural resources, particularly its mineral resources, as they related to ΒιΆΉΣ³»’s extensive mining activities. However, as the state grew in population and diversified its economy amid periodic earthquakes, floods and landslides, the NBMG’s mission expanded to include assessments of geological hazards to facilitate more careful infrastructure planning and thus enhance public safety. Meanwhile, the University was also evolving into a premier research institution, and the NBMG’s mission expanded accordingly into both research and education over a period of several decades."
Overall, the NBMG employs nearly 30 individuals to cover its wide spectrum of responsibilities. These include specialists in geological mapping, economic geology (mineral resources), geothermal energy, geologic hazards, GIS/cartography and data organization/dissemination. Producing geological maps is a core function of state geological surveys like NBMG, as they provide foundational information needed for assessment of natural resources and geologic hazards. Major research organizations within the bureau include the Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy, which hosted its first geothermal open house event last fall to inform the local community about geothermal resources in the state; the ΒιΆΉΣ³» Geodetic Laboratory, which operates a network of more than 400 GPS stations tracking crustal motions across ΒιΆΉΣ³», helping to define earthquake hazards; and the Center for Research in Economic Geology, which conducts cutting-edge studies on gold deposits, critical minerals (such as lithium), and mine waste as a potential source of minerals (see page 14). NBMG also operates the Great Basin Science Sample and Records Library, a public facility and regional repository housing over 350,000 geologic specimens and reports. Additionally, the bureau provides outreach to K-12 students and teachers. The NBMG’s many activities are summarized in biennial reports.
Over its 95-year history, the bureau has carried out its role by sharing information with citizens and industry about hazards and resources to advance both public safety and economic development in the state, using the most up-to-date technology available. Major recent accomplishments include publishing a record number of geological maps in the past year, completing a new geological map of the Las Vegas Valley, conducting detailed analyses of some of ΒιΆΉΣ³»’s largest lithium deposits, election of one its faculty (Geoffrey Blewitt) to the National Academies of Sciences, and awarding of the prestigious Donath Medal (Young Scientist Award) by the Geological Society of America to another faculty member (Andrew Zuza).
Faulds, who has served as director of the bureau since 2012 and is planning to step down upon the hire of a new director, reflects on its long history and promising future:
"As the search for a new director progresses, I can only reflect in awe at all of the accomplishments over the past several decades of our dedicated faculty and staff, who have endured tight budgets and expanding duties, but have continued to excel in producing high quality maps, reports and publications to meet the growing needs of this amazing state, endowed with all of its geological complexity and enormous potential," Faulds said. "It has truly been an honor both to serve ΒιΆΉΣ³» for the past 12 years as state geologist and to work with my talented colleagues to achieve important objectives for the state. I know that the bureau will continue to expand its horizons in concert with both the state’s increasing needs and continued growth at the University."
