Geology and Land Survey Welcome to the Geology and Land Survey Division of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Our mission is to provide technical assistance, education and guidance in the use and protection of Missouri's natural resources; interpret the state's geological setting; assess the availability of its energy and mineral resources; evaluate and interpret geological hazards; and determine land boundaries. Our offices are in Rolla at 111 Fairgrounds Road. ...more

Meet the Department of Natural Resources Director
Mark N. Templeton




Meet the State Geologist and Geology and Land Survey Director
Joe Gillman

Meet the State Land Surveyor and Land Survey Program Director
Darrell Pratte

Rolla's Energy Efficient Makeover -- The Buehler and Annex buildings in Rolla are two of the most energy-efficient office buildings operated by Missouri state government.  The event featured a presentation by Joe Gillman (MoDNR), representatives from Missouri S&T, Rolla Municipal Utilities, Intercounty Electric Cooperative and business.

Dyeing to Follow the Water -- Cecil Boswell, technical assistant with the Department, conducts water traces and provides technical assistance to industry and researchers who also conduct water traces.

Earthquake Awareness Activities in Missouri -- Missourians experience small earthquakes weekly. This is especially true in southeast Missouri and to mark earthquake awareness month in Missouri, the department, the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), the Missouri Seismic Safety Commission and others are partnered during the month of February to provide critical information to Missourians about earthquakes in the New Madrid Seismic Zone (NMSZ).

Gillman chosen as lead geologist in multi-state earthquake association -- Joe Gillman, state geologist and Geology and Land Survey Division director with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, was selected as coordinator for the Association of Central United States Earthquake Consortium (CUSEC) State Geologists.

A Day at the Fair -- American Surveyor Magazine article about educating the public at the Missouri State Fair about the work of professional land surveyors.

Department hosts National Coal Resources Conference -- Geologists and other coal resources experts from around the nation, met at the Department of Natural Resources' Geology and Land Survey Division campus last week to discuss work regarding the National Coal Resources Data System.

International Scientists visit Missouri Cave and Springs -- An International group of speleologists and geologists participated in a three hour lantern tour of Round Spring Cave near Eminence.

Edith Starbuck awarded Best Poster Presentation at Missouri GIS Conference.

Department of Natural Resources to Play Key Role in Green job Creation Under New Director -- Missouri Senate confirms Mark N. Templeton as Director of Department of Natural Resources.

Looking for books, cards, posters?

• Land survey corners are the basis for the location of all property in Missouri PDF
• You can order land records from our repository containing approximately
  2 million documents
• What to do before, during and after an earthquake
• How sinkholes form

• Missouri's Black Gold--Oil and Gas
• Career Connection--Land Surveying
• 2009 State of Missouri's Environment Report--Latest Biennial Report
• STATEMAP AND AIPG--Mapping for the Future
• Getting More from Your Handheld GPS Unit--The American Surveyor
• Reusing Missouri's Underground Space--Get Down!

Active Earth Kiosk makes debut in Rolla
This new, interactive earthquake exhibit will undoubtedly, pique the interest of children and adults interested in learning about our active earth. The Active Earth Kiosk is an interactive computer-based educational tool that provides information about plate tectonics, earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis.  The Active Earth Kiosk is being made available to the us through Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology (IRIS), a university consortium sponsored by the National Science Foundation that is dedicated to the operation of scientific facilities for the acquisition, management, and distribution of freely available seismic data. ...more

Back by popular demand!
Missouri Rock and Mineral Sets

Want to delight your favorite rock enthusiast?  If so, consider giving a Missouri Rock and Mineral Set.  After a 15-year hiatus, these popular, educational rock and mineral sets are once again being offered by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Division of Geology and Land Survey. Accompanying the set is a 16-page, full-color booklet that describes each rock and mineral and its uses. To learn more about this set and other educational items, visit the publications desk in Rolla at 111 Fairgrounds Road or go online to the Missouri Geology Store

Magnitude 3.7 earthquake recorded near East Prairie/Sikeston Tuesday, March 2 
While the early afternoon earthquake registering magnitude 3.7 in southeast Missouri was a low magnitude, low intensity event, it serves as a reminder that Missouri is seismically active and the need for individual preparedness is important. This is especially true in the Bootheel region of the state, which lies in the New Madrid Seismic Zone, the most seismically active region in the United States, east of the Rocky Mountains. Did you feel it? If so, please report your experience to the USGS.  Click on the image below to enlarge.

Earthquake Hazard in the New Madrid Seismic Zone Remains a Concern
There is broad agreement in the scientific community that a continuing concern exists for a major destructive earthquake in the New madrid Seismic Zone.

Drop Cover and Hold -- Earthquake Safety in Schools Watch video  |  Download video (Duration 13 minutes, 30 seconds)

Make a commitment to being "Earthquake Prepared"
Guest editorial by DNR Director Mark Templeton encourages citizens to be prepared in the event of an earthquake in the New Madrid Seismic Zone. From MEI--A publication by Associated Industries of Missouri.