Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys

10/06/2026

🌋 Two new publications give you a peek into the active volcanos in Alaska and the Northern Mariana Islands!

These annual reports have been written and published by geologists at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Alaska Volcano Observatory, and Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys since the 1990s.

Video: "Video of the Shishaldin Volcano summit crater and vent during a helicopter overflight on August 22, 2025. Vigorous steam and gas emissions are coming from the open vent, but no new deposits are visible. Snow remains in the summit crater suggesting temperatures remain relatively cool." Source: https://avo.alaska.edu/image/view/196815

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Lubbers, Jordan, Nastan, A.M., Loewen, M.W., Fee, David, Tan, Darren, Grapenthin, Ronni, Kushner, Skye, Shreve, Tara, Haney, M.M., Wallace, K.L., Waythomas, C.F., Power, J.A., Cheng, Yitian, Wech, A.G., and Dietterich, H.R., 2026, 2023 Volcanic Activity in Alaska and the Northern Mariana Islands—Summary of Events and Response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigation 2026-6, 72 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/32147

Orr, T.R., Grapenthin, Ronni, Fee, David, Dietterich, H.R., Wech, A.G., Kelly, P.J., and Lopez, T.M., 2026, Volcanic activity in Alaska and the Northern Mariana Islands in 2024— Summary of events and response of the Alaska Volcano Observatory: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigation 2026-5, 36 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/32110

10/01/2026

Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys is recruiting a permanent seasonal Geologist 2!

This Suficial Geologic Mapper position is based in Fairbanks, Alaska. Duties include collecting and analyzing geologic data, preparing for field season, participating in helicopter-supported fieldwork, writing reports, and preparing figures.

Apply by Monday, October 26th at 5:00 PM. More information: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/alaska/jobs/newprint/5500741

Photo: Haines STATEMAP Project. Credit: Sandra Walser.

09/30/2026

New publication: Landslide mapping and susceptibility modeling on Wrangell Island

In this report, the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys expands an existing landslide inventory by the U.S. Forest Service - Tongass National Forest and models shallow landslide susceptibility and potential debris flow inundation.
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Nicolazzo, J.A., 2026, Landslide mapping and susceptibility modeling on Wrangell Island, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Report of Investigation 2026-2, 27 p., 3 sheets, scale 1:25,000. https://doi.org/10.14509/32057

09/22/2026

Notice of Public Scoping for DGGS Fee Structure Revision for Hyperspectral Scanner Use at the Geologic Materials Center

The Alaska Department of Natural Resources is considering a fee structure for the use of a hyperspectral scanning instrument at the Geologic Materials Center. This highly sophisticated technology can capture high resolution spectral data across hundreds of narrow wavelengths of a rock or core sample. The spectral signature is processed to identify and map mineralogy, alteration, grain-scale variations, compositional changes, and other characteristics of the core sample. The result is a detailed spatial mineral map that supports more accurate characterization of lithology, fluid-rock interactions, and geologic heterogeneity.

The Department of Natural Resources, Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys (DGGS) administers fees through the existing regulation 11 AAC 05.090, "Geological and geophysical survey, facilities, equipment, products, services, and publications." The potential regulation(s) could include provisions establishing a fee, creating a methodology to calculate fees, and/or administering the fee for the hyperspectral scanner.

The full public notice is available here: https://aws.state.ak.us/OnlinePublicNotices/Notices/View.aspx?id=225162

Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on October 30, 2026.

Please send submissions via email:
[email protected]

Or via mail:
Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys
Attn: Jess Thurman
3354 College Road
Fairbanks, Alaska 99709

09/15/2026

Have you heard of the "GMC" in Anchorage? The Geologic Materials Center archives 700,000+ rock samples and millions of feet of core from Alaska. As the state's largest geologic collection, the GMC is used by researchers, industry and the broader community to increase awareness of economic opportunities and Alaska's geologic history.

The archived samples at the GMC can be borrowed and tested by third parties. Their unreviewed results are published by the DGGS as "Geologic Materials Center Data Report". For example, we recently published the magnetic susceptibility results by Hilcorp Energy for two samples from Prudhoe Bay:

Hilcorp Energy, 2026, Magnetic susceptibility measurements by depth from PRUDHOE BAY UN LIS L3-12 and PRUDHOE BAY UN LIS L3-23 cores, North Slope, Alaska: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Geologic Materials Center Data Report 477, 1 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/32142

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GMC: https://dggs.alaska.gov/gmc/index.html
Geologic Materials Center Data Reports: https://dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/series/dggs/geologic-materials-center-data-report
Map of GMC samples source locations: https://maps.dggs.alaska.gov/gmc/inventory/search

Photo Credit: Andy Ethington. Staff from DNR and DGGS and members of the Alaska legislature tour the GMC in Anchorage on November 30, 2023. https://maps.dggs.alaska.gov/photodb/detail/36644

09/10/2026

We are map fans! Whether they are new or old, we open them and eagerly pan to Alaska. We wait for something to load. Too often nothing happens. This is a bummer and why the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Cooperative National Geologic Map is exciting. It includes Alaska!

The colorful map is searchable by age, material, and rock type. Check it out at

Explore the Cooperative National Geologic Map, a unified view of our Nation's geology, with interactive layers and geologic data.

09/07/2026

DGGS offices are closed today for Labor Day and re-open tomorrow, September 8th. Shout out to the work by, but not limited to, geologists, volcanologists, cartographers, and admin.
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Photo descriptions:
Conor Truskowski working in southeast Alaska on Haines STATEMAP Project. Source: https://maps.dggs.alaska.gov/photodb/detail/28524

Wyatt Mayo (AVO/DGGS) installs a time-lapse camera on the north flank of Shishaldin volcano. https://www.avo.alaska.edu/images/image.php?id=156681

DGGS staff Jennifer Athey and Linda Natrop help students work through tabletop projects at Ft. Wainwright on Earth Day 2016. https://maps.dggs.alaska.gov/photodb/detail/14764

Amy MacPherson (DGGS GIC Section) works on a geologic map for Okmok Volcano. https://maps.dggs.alaska.gov/photodb/detail/23255

DGGS geologist Rainer Newberry collects samples in the field. During 2022, Mineral Resources Section geologists conducted the largest geologic mapping campaign in recent memory, fielding 12 geologists for 460 person-days of work. https://maps.dggs.alaska.gov/photodb/detail/23843

09/03/2026

Curious about Alaska geothermal data? You're in luck! Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys staff presented on this topic at the recent Geothermal Rising Alaska Regional Interest Group meeting.

- Presentation slides: https://dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/id/32136
- Presentation recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ5M0FxVw-w

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Harun, N.T., Hendricks, M.D., and Steinleitner, A.M., 2026, Exploring Alaska’s geothermal data (presentation): Geothermal Rising, Alaska Regional Interest Group, August Meeting, August 19, 2026: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys, 17 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/32136

08/27/2026

New publication for those new to Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys!

Maybe you recently started following us or perhaps it's been a while since you've accessed geological or geophysical data on our site. Either way, this "Who and what are DGGS" publication is for you.

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Janssen, K.A., Aho, K.B., and DGGS Staff, 2026, Services of the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys: Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys Information Circular 94 v. 2, 2 p. https://doi.org/10.14509/32134