People Expert geologists, researchers, and support staff specializing in landslide monitoring, hydrogeology, mineral resources, and environmental geology.
Labs State-of-the-art research facilities providing geochemical analysis, materials testing, and hazard assessments for geological research and environmental monitoring across Kentucky.
Monitoring Real-time monitoring of groundwater, seismic activity, landslides, and environmental conditions to protect communities and infrastructure across Kentucky.
News & Events Latest KGS research findings, field studies, publications, and community outreach helping Kentucky understand and prepare for geological hazards.
The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) is a state-supported research center and public resource within the University of Kentucky. Our mission is to support the sustainable prosperity of the Commonwealth, the vitality of its flagship land grant university, and the welfare of its people. We do this by conducting research in the geological sciences, providing unbiased data and information to the public, and engaging with stakeholders. Research conducted by the KGS serves the Commonwealth and its people by building resilience.
Discover comprehensive geological educational resources tailored for K-16 educators and students.
Our research and laboratories enhance knowledge and understanding of Kentucky's geological resources, hazards, and water systems to support science-based decision making for the Commonwealth.
Access our geological data and information resources to support research and decision-making.
The Paul Edwin Potter Internship Program participants collaborate with mentors from KGS on 10-week research projects focused on KGS current research areas. Interns develop technical skills, participate in professional development opportunities, and expand their academic networks.
We're finalizing the application for the 2027 Paul Edwin Potter Internship Program. Stay tuned!
2026 Potter Internship program participants at Floracliff Nature Sanctuary (site of the 2026 and upcoming 2027 projects).
The Kentucky Geological Survey now offers near real-time slope monitoring and weather data across Eastern Kentucky’s landslide-prone terrain. View live slope saturation and precipitation data from the monitoring station network, with charts showing current conditions and 14-day trends. This network is operated by the Kentucky Geological Survey Landslides Hazards and Engineering Team and funded through the EPSCOR CLIMBS program.
The Kentucky Geological Survey now offers real-time groundwater monitoring through our enhanced KGON well network. View live water level elevations and temperature data from monitoring wells across Kentucky, with interactive charts showing current conditions and historical trends.
Example of a monitoring plot on a real-time data page. This image displays the real-time weekly groundwater level data for the KGON-1 well at the Kentucky Horse Park. Follow the link above to view all the available monitoring wells.
The Earthquakes and Geophysics Team operates and maintains the Kentucky Seismic and Strong-Motion Network, or KSSMN, which monitors earthquakes in and around the commonwealth. The network consists of 21 permanent seismic and strong-motion stations. Each year, hundreds of gigabytes of KSSMN data are downloaded from IRIS by researchers around the globe. The Kentucky Geological Survey also operates a network of infrasound pressure sensors co-located with seismic stations across Kentucky. Infrasound data complement seismic recordings — together they help distinguish between natural seismic events and surface explosions, and aid in rapid event characterization.
This podcast is a fun, conversational approach to discussing all things geology and earth processes. We primarily focus on Kentucky as we talk about emerging ideas in research, along with classic topics in earth science for all levels of interest.
Have questions about Kentucky's geology? Wondering about rocks, minerals, landslides, or groundwater in your area? Our expert geologists are here to help with answers backed by decades of research and field experience.
Send your geology questions to kgsmail@uky.edu. Please include the topic in your subject line.
For specimen identification (fossils, rocks, minerals), include a high-quality (at least 150 dpi), in-focus photo with an item next to the specimen for
scale (ruler, coin, etc.). If possible, please also provide at least the county-level location where you found the specimen.
Please note: KGS staff and researchers cannot perform land surveying, consulting services, or referrals.
You can find a list of licensed geologists in Kentucky through the Kentucky Board of Registration for Professional Geologists:
bpg.ky.gov.
The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) traces its roots back to 1838 and has been part of the University of Kentucky since 1948. Our mission is to support the sustainable prosperity of the Commonwealth, the vitality of its flagship university, and the welfare of its people.
We do this by conducting research and providing unbiased information about the geology and natural resources of Kentucky. We focus on issues relevant to the economic prosperity, environmental quality, and practical well-being of the Commonwealth and its people: the things that can make Kentucky a compelling place to live, work, and do business.
KGS provides technical support to several state agencies and organizations, as well as a host of local, county, and federal agencies. We also interact with stakeholders from a wide range of community, industry, environmental, and educational groups, and the KGS website provides free public access to our databases, digital map layers, and reports.
Learn moreThe Kentucky Geological Survey provides free public access to comprehensive databases, digital maps, and research reports through user-friendly interactive interfaces—no specialized software required.
Our Earth Analysis Research Library houses over 2,500 rock cores, 16,000 oil/gas well samples, 8,000 limestone samples, and 5,000 coal samples. The KGS Groundwater Data Repository contains information on over 92,000 water wells, 5,100 springs, and 58,000 water-quality analyses.
Additional databases document Kentucky's landslides, sinkholes, oil and gas wells, earthquakes, mines, and quarries—all supporting resource exploration, environmental protection, and engineering studies.
KGS staff are headed to Pittsburgh to talk about all things orphan wells.
KGS will be at the upcoming American Library Association's Core Forum in Louisville, KY. Cheyenne Hohman and Doug Curl will be presenting their poster "Mapping Accessibility at the Kentucky Geological Survey" on Friday, Nov 20th.
Calling all science teachers! KGS is headed to the KSTA annual conference.
Dr. Seth Carpenter, with the Kentucky Geological Survey, said the 2.3 magnitude quake happened late last night near the edge of the New Madrid Seismic Zone, a region that regularly produces small tremors.
KGS has received a generous donation of 9,930 feet of rock cores from the Western Kentucky Fluorspar District. The collection was donated by longtime driller William “Buddy” Davidson and geologist Walt Gaylord and has now been entrusted to KGS for long-term preservation and future research.
To better understand landslides, the Kentucky Geological Survey has installed monitoring stations across eastern Kentucky to measure soil and rainfall variables.
