British Geological Survey

Discovered in 1970, the Forties field has produced almost 3 billion barrels of oil and transformed our understanding of North Sea geology. Today, preserved samples continue to support research, inform infrastructure development and help advance the energy transition. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/forties...

Our October lexicon find is BOO! 👻 Hope we didn't scare you - BOO is actually the code for Boon’s Member, part of the Hartshill Sandstone Formation in Warwickshire. BGS' Lexicon provides definitions of the geological units of the UK and its continental shelf. www.bgs.ac.uk/technologies...

BGS is leading a three-year project funded by The Crown Estate to develop a new suite of seabed geology datasets and reports, providing crucial information for offshore developers about the seabed around the UK. Read more: www.bgs.ac.uk/news/new-pro...

BGS has secured Bronze accreditation under the Advance HE Race Equality Charter framework, recognising its commitment to identifying & addressing race equality issues in the geosciences. We are one of the UK’s first specialist research institutes to receive the award. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/bgs-one...

🛰️ Use #AI and satellite data to map #landslides across Europe and understand their impacts on communities and infrastructure. Funded TREES CASE PhD at @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social with @bgs.ac.uk. Apply by 14 December 2026: www.trees-dla.ac.uk/projects/qua...

📍 Bow Fiddle, Banffshire Originally attached to the Scar Nose headland, this sea stack became detached through marine erosion. A similar process is now taking place within the arch, which will eventually collapse, leaving an isolated stack. BGS image library: bgs.assetbank.app/assetbank-bg...

The amazing bat excrement sculpting Borneo’s hidden caves 🦇 BGS researchers have delved into Borneo’s underworld to learn more about how guano deposited by bats and cave-dwelling birds is shaping the subsurface. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/hole-y-...

BGS has been trialling a novel tracing technique which may be more accurate in detecting chemicals in contaminated soils. Understanding how these contaminants can affect people is an important step in assessing and managing potential health risks from soil. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/improvi...

Mystery of one of the earliest recorded space weather impacts solved 🌌 BGS scientists were part of an international team that has solved a 178-year-old mystery surrounding one of the earliest recorded examples of space weather affecting technology. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/mystery...

BGS and Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (@brgm.fr) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) cementing the two organisations’ commitment to enhanced collaboration through the sharing of data, knowledge and best practice. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/british...

BGS' monthly newsletter is here. This month discover: 🌋 secrets of a supervolcano 🖥️supply chain vulnerabilities for UK data centres 🏙️ What lies beneath Europe's sinking ground Read the latest newsletter and sign up via the link below: content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKB...

P5b have been learning all about different types of rocks! They analysed the rocks by describing what they looked like and felt like. Thanks to @bgs.ac.uk for the resources! #partnerships #STEMGlasgow #successfullearners

A historic watercolour has been unearthed on the back of a Dryburgh geological field map🗺️ The beautiful painting, believed to have been made by geologist Benjamin Neeve Peach while on fieldwork in the early 1870s has been discovered in the BGS archives. Learn more: www.bgs.ac.uk/news/histori...

Congratulations to our colleagues at the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, for an outstanding success at the 2026 All-Ireland Sustainability Awards last night, winning in three categories! The awards recognise excellence in sustainability, innovation and impact across the island of Ireland.

The Geological Survey of Northern Ireland and @nationaltrust.org.uk have teamed up to help save Mussenden Temple from erosion through a coastal monitoring and adaption plan. Watch the team talk about how they're going about it on UTV, here: www.itv.com/watch/news/p...

BGS geoscientist @ekbal.bsky.social is featured in a new book 'Scientists Making a Difference' 👨‍🔬 which tells the stories of scientists addressing some of the biggest issues of our time. In the book, Ekbal talks about his career path, which led him to using remote sensing to understand earthquakes.

BGS is at the #WorldWaterCongress from 4 to 8 October in Glasgow. We'll be promoting BGS' data products and services in areas including geological hazards, groundwater and soils. Visit us on stand 732. www.bgs.ac.uk/geological-d...

The BGS maps portal provides access to over 45,000 high-res viewing images of almost all maps produced by BGS since mapping started in 1832. This sheet is from 1852. It shows North part of Anglesey, and part of Holyhead Island Mineral Lodes. Access the portal: www.bgs.ac.uk/information-...

What lies beneath Europe’s sinking ground? Land subsidence is becoming increasingly visible across Europe. New research examines how better monitoring, shared data and a deeper understanding of the subsurface can help assess and manage its impacts. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/what-li...

Following our field campaign in April, BGS, GSNI and @ukceh.bsky.social returned to Blakeney and Cley in Norfolk to continue investigations into the gravel barriers and surrounding marshes. Fieldwork included saline intrusion investigations, drone surveys and geophysical scans.

BGS' Head of Groundwater, Professor Alan MacDonald, has been recognised with the President's Award by the International Association of Hydrogeologists for his extensive contributions to groundwater science. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/profess... @iahgroundwater.bsky.social

Scientists in Ghana are set to “see” beneath the soil surface in real time for the first time, using a new technology expected to improve climate-resilient farming and deepen understanding of how water and nutrients move underground. ghanaiantimes.com.gh/scientists-t...

New interdisciplinary research highlights the hidden issue affecting rural water supplies across Africa. Understanding these interactions can help deliver more reliable water supply for rural communities. latitude.plos.org/2026/09/behi...

BGS SEISMIC INFORMATION ... SOUTHERN NORTH SEA 18 SEPTEMBER 2026 13:04 UTC 3.3 ML DATE: 18 September 2026 ORIGIN TIME: 13:04 30s UTC LAT/LON: 53.310° North / 0.591° East GRID REF: 573 kmE / 382 kmN DEPTH: 11 km MAGNITUDE: 3.3 Ml LOCALITY: Southern North Sea, 20km East Sutton-on-Sea

Mystery of one of the earliest recorded space weather impacts solved 🌌 BGS scientists were part of an international team that has solved a 178-year-old mystery surrounding one of the earliest recorded examples of space weather affecting technology. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/mystery...

Whether you're a geological enthusiast, researcher, or just curious about your area, BGS offers a suite of interactive mapping tools that allow you to: 🪨 Explore bedrock and superficial geology 🗺️ Access onshore and marine datasets 🌱 Track soil types and groundwater www.bgs.ac.uk/geological-d...

UK Groundwater levels remain robust as seasonal recession slows 💧 🗺️ The latest BGS groundwater summary, analysing data from the end of August, has confirmed that the seasonal depletion of major groundwater aquifers continues but at a reduced rate. Read the summary: nrfa.ceh.ac.uk/nhmp/monthly...

📢 Nottingham! Join us for Geo-Explorers, an after school club for geology enthusiasts! The club is for children aged 8 to 11 and is based at our HQ in Keyworth. The clubs run for 5 weeks and costs £30. 9 Nov to 7 Dec Sign your child up here: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/geo-explor...

Hello! 👋 We’re the Geomagnetism Team from the British Geological Survey. We’ll be posting a daily geomagnetic forecast here, along with occasional aurora alerts when we’re expecting a geomagnetic storm. We’ll also keep you updated on the team’s research and new developments.

Around 20,000 years ago, Scotland and much of Britain were buried beneath the British–Irish ice sheet. Advances in high-resolution seabed mapping have revealed extensive fields of submerged drumlins across the Irish Sea and along Scotland’s west coast. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/coastal...

For marine geoscientist Nikki Dakin, a fascination with geology began with family trips to Kimmeridge Bay on the Dorset coast. Today, Nikki specialises in mapping and characterising the geology of the seabed and near surface across the UK continental shelf.

What lies beneath Europe’s sinking ground? Land subsidence is becoming increasingly visible across Europe. New research examines how better monitoring, shared data and a deeper understanding of the subsurface can help assess and manage its impacts. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/what-li...

The Lyell Centre celebrates 10 years of world-leading earth and marine science research! 🎉 Over its first ten years the Centre has delivered internationally recognised research spanning climate change, marine conservation, geoenergy and the sustainable management of natural resources 🌍

We have several fossil kits available to loan to schools & educational organisations. These kits are free to use and can be borrowed for up to 2 weeks. Kits include: ammonites, crinoids, bivalves & trilobites. To request to borrow a kit please email the BGS Engagement Team (bgsengage@bgs.ac.uk).

Applications are open for our virtual work experience programme! 📩 BGS is partnering with @bas.ac.uk to offer a cross-centre virtual work experience programme this October. For more information or to apply, visit: forms.gle/vBP9jsbbUMzG...

Student Phoebe Brown visited BGS to understand the life cycle of carbon fibre (CF), from primary production to recycling. Phoebe's project evaluated how environmentally beneficial recycling is over primary production of a high-polymer content material such as CF. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/measuri...

A new report published by the BGS-led UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre presents both the opportunities for innovation-led economic growth and the challenges associated with securing the materials required for data centres, AI and quantum computing. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/demand-...

Come and see us at Keyworth Green Festival! 🌳 BGS will be attending the inaugural Keyworth Green Festival this Saturday, where we will be discussing critical minerals among other research relating to the energy transition ♻️ For more details, please contact: events@keyworthparishcouncil.org

Scientists have found evidence of a long-hidden link between an ancient buried ash layer in Scandinavia and a concealed supervolcano in eastern England, changing our understanding of England’s geological past. 🌋 www.bgs.ac.uk/news/secrets...

It was a pleasure to welcome Prof Calum Semple, Chief Scientific Advisor for Scotland and Prof Mark Inall, Chief Scientific Advisor for Marine to the Lyell Centre this week. We had a valuable discussion about BGS research in Scotland including critical minerals, geothermal energy and offshore wind.

Back in Lusaka after my @bgs.ac.uk colleague Dr David Currie & I lead a 10-day #CriticalMineral field training exercise for the Zambian Geological Survey Department (GSD) & Copperbelt University (CBU). Our Zambian colleagues are now well prepared for future mineral exploration opportunities.

BGS & UKCEH research into drought-exposed soils wins award 🏆 Land, an international, cross-disciplinary, journal, has announced that this research has received the 'Best Paper Award', granted to publications of scientific significance and extensive influence. www.bgs.ac.uk/news/bgs-res...