The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. It provides impartial information on the health of our ecosystems and environment, the natural hazards that threaten us, the natural resources we rely on, the impacts of climate and land-use change, and the core science systems that help us provide timely, relevant, and useful information to resource managers, planners, and other customers. USGS activities include monitoring and assessing the quantity and quality of the nation’s surface and subsurface water, conducting research on the health and biology of ecosystem health, mapping the nation’s topography and geology, assessing the potential impacts of climate change, and developing new technologies and techniques to better understand our environment.

Upon its creation, USGS established a more comprehensive approach to surveying and worked to classify public lands -- examining their geological structure, mineral resources and products.doi.govUSGS revolutionized surveying. Before USGS was formed, most mapping in the United States was done by military expeditions and several independent government surveys.

The USGS is the sole science agency for the Department of the Interior. Congress appropriates funds for the agency through the annual Interior Environment and Related Agencies appropriations acts. …realcom.bits-stl.comCreated by an act of Congress in 1879 the U.S. Geological Survey has evolved over the decades matching its talent and knowledge to the progress of science and technology.

But But (USGS) (USGS) Finchite, or hydrous strontium uranyl vanadate, a newly recognized mineral, is one of many that have been discovered and described by USGS scientists, or named for them. (USGS)rockngem.comIn 1979, the USGS was recognized as one of the few governmental agencies to survive for 100 years with its original name and mission basically unchanged, although substantially expanded.