Colorado Geological Survey

What Colorado Geological Survey does

The Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) is a state government agency of Colorado, housed within the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, and established in 1909. It produces science-driven geological information and services covering five program areas: Energy (oil, gas, coal, geothermal, CO2 sequestration, uranium), Hazards (earthquakes via HAZUS modeling, landslides, debris flows, expansive/collapsible soils, rockfall, subsidence, radon, abandoned mine lands), Minerals (industrial, strategic/critical minerals, metals, gemstones), Water (groundwater atlas, radiological baseline, surface water quality), and Geology (STATEMAP quadrangle mapping, fossils, educational resources). The agency's core technology stack consists of GIS mapping (ArcGIS Pro-compatible .ppkx packages), LiDAR-based alluvial fan mapping, FEMA HAZUS earthquake loss estimation modeling, groundwater radionuclide and metals analysis, and a COREs database serving as the statewide geological data portal, supported by a content library of more than 900 reports, maps, and GIS datasets accumulated since 1910.

CGS serves Colorado citizens, state and local government agencies, the energy and mining industry, educators, and federal partners including the U.S. Geological Survey (STATEMAP cooperative agreement) and FEMA. Revenue mechanics are entirely public-sector: state appropriations fund the agency, supplemented by grants (e.g., the CDPHE-funded 5-year groundwater radionuclide study) and minimal income from physical publication sales through an Amazon FBA storefront. Digital publications, GIS data, and RockTalk newsletters are distributed free of charge via the official website (coloradogeologicalsurvey.org), with direct technical assistance provided by phone and email during business hours. Land-use review services are supported by a fee paid through Colorado School of Mines' Cashnet commerce system. Distribution is single-country/domestic (State of Colorado), with no commercial geographic expansion or external equity ownership.

Name

Colorado Geological Survey

Legal name

Colorado Geological Survey

Website

https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1909

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Colorado Geological Survey is a state government agency, housed within the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado, that delivers geological hazard assessments, mineral and energy resource evaluations, groundwater studies, and statewide geologic mapping as free publications and technical services to Colorado citizens, government agencies, and the energy/mining industry.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

State Geological Survey Services

NAICS

Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (54136), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Support Activities for Mining (213)

SIC

Oil & Gas Field Exploration Services (1382), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Mineral Exploration & Geoscience Services (Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry, Resource Modeling) (IMAKAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Earth Science & Geoscience Programs (EDAMABAI), Exploration, Appraisal & Subsurface (Seismic, Geology, Reservoir Characterization) (EUAAAAAH)

Keywords

• Geological survey services
• Geologic hazard assessment
• Mineral resource evaluation
• Groundwater quality studies
• Geologic GIS mapping

Headquarters

HQ city

Coushatta

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Appropriation: As a state government agency within the Colorado School of Mines, CGS receives state funding and appropriations to support its mission of providing geological services to Colorado citizens.
2. Publication Sales: Digital publications are provided free of charge. Remaining physical publications are sold through an Amazon storefront (Fulfillment by Amazon).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

The Colorado Geological Survey provides science-driven geological services, research, and publications covering Colorado's energy resources, geologic hazards, mineral resources, water resources, and general geology. Its core deliverables are more than 900 professional publications (bulletins, open-file reports, information series, map series, resource notes, and special publications) and GIS datasets, distributed primarily as free digital downloads and complemented by technical assistance, county-level hazard modeling, and grant-funded studies.

Product overview

Colorado Geological Survey (CGS) operates as a state government agency within the Colorado School of Mines, offering a portfolio of science-driven geoscience products and services. The core offering is a collection of over 900 publications—bulletins, open-file reports, information series, map series, resource series, and special publications—covering energy resources, geologic hazards, minerals, water resources, and general Colorado geology. Major programs include the Energy Program (oil, gas, coal, geothermal, CO2 sequestration), Hazards Program (earthquake HAZUS reports, landslide/rockfall mapping, alluvial fan LiDAR mapping), Minerals Program (industrial, strategic/critical minerals, metals), Water Program (groundwater atlas, radiological studies), and Geology Program (quadrangle mapping via STATEMAP, rock/fossil resources). The Hazards Program produces county-specific HAZUS earthquake event reports and LiDAR-based alluvial fan maps for post-wildfire hazard mitigation. Critical minerals research includes reconnaissance reports on rare earth elements. CGS distributes publications primarily as free digital downloads (PDF, ZIP, ArcGIS formats) and sells remaining physical copies via Amazon. RockTalk serves as a public-facing newsletter. The CORES database provides GIS data/map portal access.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Energy Program Publications Research and publications on Colorado's energy resources including oil, natural gas, coal, coalbed methane, oil shale, wind, solar, geothermal, CO2 sequestration, and uranium. Target users: state agencies, energy industry, and the public.
• Hazards Program Publications Geologic hazard assessment and mitigation resources including earthquake analysis (HAZUS reports), landslide mapping, rockfall, debris flows, collapsible soils, expansive soil and rock, ground subsidence, avalanche, radon, and abandoned mine lands. Target users: emergency managers, planners, and the public.
• Minerals Program Publications Analysis of Colorado's mineral resources including industrial minerals, strategic/critical minerals, metals, gemstones, and historic mining districts. Target users: mining industry, state agencies, and the public.
• Water Program Publications Groundwater and surface water resources research including the Colorado Groundwater Atlas, groundwater quality studies, and radiological baseline investigations. Target users: water resource managers, state agencies, and the public.
• Geology Program Publications Colorado geology education covering igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks, fossils, geologic mapping, gemstones, and the STATEMAP program for quadrangle mapping. Target users: educators, students, and the public.
• HAZUS Earthquake Event Reports County-specific earthquake simulation reports using FEMA's HAZUS software to estimate potential damages, economic loss, and casualties from seismic events. Target users: emergency managers, planners, and state agencies.
• Alluvial Fan Mapping (LiDAR-based) County-specific maps identifying alluvial fans and high-angle/debris fans at risk for post-wildfire debris flows and mudflows, developed using available Colorado LiDAR datasets. Target users: emergency managers, planners, and county governments.
• Critical Minerals Reconnaissance Reports Research notes examining critical mineral occurrences including rare earth elements in coal-bearing strata and mine-related waste. Target users: mining industry, federal agencies, and state policymakers.
• State Land Board Evaluation Reports
• Geothermal Resources Publications Assessments and maps of Colorado's geothermal resources including gradient mapping, market opportunities, and evaluation of thermal springs and wells. Target users: geothermal industry, state agencies, and researchers.
• Oil Shale Publications (OS Series) Historical and current studies on Colorado oil shale resources including environmental impacts, regional development, land use, and rehabilitation of land disturbances from oil shale development. Target users: oil shale industry, state agencies, and researchers.
• RockTalk Newsletter Series Periodic publication series providing accessible geoscience information to the public about Colorado geology, hazards, minerals, water, and CGS activities. Target users: Colorado citizens, educators, and students.
• Colorado Mineral and Energy Industry Activities Report Annual comprehensive overview of Colorado's energy and mineral resource production. IS-88 estimates total 2024 production value at $19.5 billion, with oil and natural gas accounting for ~84.4% of total value. Target users: state agencies, industry, and policymakers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2024 Colorado mineral and energy production valued at $19.5 billion with oil and natural gas accounting for ~84.4% of total production value
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCGS has been funded through a grant from CDPHE to conduct a 5-year study of baseline naturally occurring radionuclides and metals in groundwater obtained from privately owned residential water wells throughout Colorado.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• U.S. Geological Survey (USGS): Federal counterpart conducting national-scale geological surveys, hazards assessment, mineral resource evaluation, and geologic mapping. Directly comparable in mission and methodology, but operates at national rather than state scale, and is CGS's active partner on the STATEMAP program.

Others

• Association of American State Geologists (AASG): Umbrella organization representing all U.S. state geological surveys. Not a direct competitor but the coordinating body that CGS participates in, providing federal liaison and cross-state collaboration on STATEMAP, EarthMRI, and other national programs.

Direct peers

• California Geological Survey: California's official state geological survey, providing geologic hazard assessment (earthquakes, landslides), mineral resource evaluation, and geologic mapping. Operates with the same government-mandated mission as CGS but at much larger scale, given California's population and seismic risk.
• Utah Geological Survey: Utah's state geological survey with strong focus on energy and mineral resource assessments in the Uinta Basin and elsewhere, sharing Colorado's Rocky Mountain geological context and a comparable mix of energy, hazards, and minerals programs.
• Wyoming State Geological Survey: Wyoming's state geological survey with overlapping focus on energy resources (coal, oil, gas, uranium), mineral assessments, and geologic hazards in a Rocky Mountain context closely comparable to Colorado.
• New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources: New Mexico's state geological survey, also housed at the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources within the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology — a direct structural analog to CGS's Colorado School of Mines affiliation.
• Texas Bureau of Economic Geology: University-based (UT Austin) state geological research organization performing energy, mineral, and environmental geoscience research for Texas. Closely mirrors CGS's structure as a state survey housed within a major engineering/ mining university (Colorado School of Mines).
• Arizona Geological Survey: Arizona's state geological survey providing geologic hazard, mineral resource, and energy assessments across a comparably diverse western U.S. geology. Serves the same governmental and public customer segments as CGS.
• Kentucky Geological Survey: University of Kentucky-affiliated state geological survey with a comparable energy/minerals/water/hazards program structure. Geographically distinct but functionally similar as a state survey embedded in a state research university.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/COGeolSurvey
• Facebookfacebook.com/ColoradoGeologicalSurvey
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/colorado-geological-survey
• Instagraminstagram.com/cogeosurvey
• TikToktiktok.com/@cogeosurvey

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Colorado Geological Survey