Geologic Website of the Month
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources
http://geoinfo.nmt.edu
Michael F. Forlenza, P.G.
The geologic survey of each state has a website. The quality and content of each of these websites varies depending upon the allocated budget and relative importance of geologic resources to the state’s economy. One would expect the website for the Montana geological survey to be more extensive than the website for the Rhode Island geological survey.
The homepage for the website of the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR) is rather spare with a plain white background. The attractive banner graphics on the homepage features a palette of southwestern colors, a photograph of shiprock, and a colorful block cross section of the basin and range geology.
A preliminary viewing of the homepage gives the visitor the impression that the website does not have much content. This is somewhat surprising for a state with such a wealth of geologic resources. The homepage has only a colorful geologic map of New Mexico and a few active links. The banner has five subtly integrated links. The links are so understated that the labels are not even capitalized: about us, publications, laboratories, geosciences info, archive & collections. An interesting feature found on the homepage is a choice of settings that allows the viewer to adjust the layout of the website to one of four pre-set formats: accessible, min, default, or full.
The publication page provides access to a sizable list of materials pertaining to New Mexico geology. However, most of the maps, technical publications, field guides, and reports require a fee. There is a list of free downloads under "Free Stuff!"
Across the top of the homepage are the links for: Site Overview, Staff, Announcement, Maps, FAQ, Geologic Tour, and Mineral Museum. Clicking on most of these links does not yield much new territory. Even the Geologic Tour is disappointing. The Geologic Tour page features striking oblique view of the geologic map of New Mexico overlaid on a composite satellite image with the title "Virtual Geological Tour of New Mexico." A visitor might expect the next click would produce a virtual swooping fly-over of geologic features and animated cross sections. However, only after browsing around for a while does it become evident that an additional software download is needed to use the virtual tour.
Most of the interesting browsing on the NMBGMR is found after clicking on "geoscience info" in the homepage banner. The Geoscience Information page includes the clickable subheadings to: Projects, Mapping, Oil & Gas, Coal, Minerals, Water, Environment, Hazards, and Education. The Projects page has a clickable list of current research projects and programs conducted by the NMBGMR. While most of these projects pertain to New Mexico geology, several are based on the study of far-flung locations such as the Tibetian Plateau or the Antarctic ice sheet. The Oil & Gas, Coal, Minerals, and Water links have an abundance of information on these resources vital to the New Mexico economy. On the Coal page you can learn that coal resources underlie 12 percent of the state’s total area. There is an impressive list of Geology Web Links on the "Links" subpage to Geoscience Information.
The New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources is a non-regulatory agency that serves as the geological survey for the state of New Mexico. The NMBGMR was established by the New Mexico legislature in 1927 as a service and research division of the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (New Mexico Tech). New Mexico Tech, located in Socorro, was originally founded in 1889 as the New Mexico School of Mines but is a research university, specializing in areas of science, engineering, and related fields. The main goals of the Bureau are to:
· Conduct research and interact with State and Federal agencies and industry to facilitate prudent exploitation of the state's geological resources.
· Distribute accurate information to scientists, decision makers, and the New Mexico public regarding the state's geologic infrastructure, mineral and energy resources, and geohydrology (including water quantity and quality).
· Create accurate, up-to-date maps (using GIS) of the state's geology and resource potential.
· Provide timely information on potential geologic hazards, including earthquakes, volcanic events, soils-and subsidence-related problems, and flooding.
· Act as a repository for cores, well cuttings and a wide variety of geological data. Provide convenient physical and Internet access for New Mexicans to such resources.
· Provide public education and outreach through college teaching and advising, a Mineral Museum, and teacher- and student-training programs.
The NMBGMR and its website serves a diverse audience from elementary school students to research and industry scientists. Some of the best materials on the website are geared towards students. Still, a browse through the website can satisfy a taste for some desert geology.
Michael F. Forlenza
hgs.forlenza@gmail.com