**Publisher/Platform:** American Geosciences Institute (AGI) / Hosted by EBSCO
**Subjects Covered:** Geology, geophysics, hydrology, paleontology, environmental and planetary sciences, mining, and engineering geology.

Overview

GeoRef is the premier geoscience database providing global coverage of geological and earth science literature. Developed by the American Geosciences Institute (AGI), it indexes journals, books, maps, reports, and theses focused on geology, hydrology, geochemistry, and related disciplines. At South Dakota Mines, GeoRef supports coursework and research in Geology, Geological Engineering, Mining Engineering, and Environmental Sciences by providing authoritative access to primary and historical literature.

Scope and Content

• Coverage Dates: 1785 – present.
• Content Types: Journal articles, books, maps, theses, reports, and conference papers.
• Subjects Include: Geology, geophysics, hydrology, paleontology, mineralogy, geomorphology, and environmental geology.
• Source Material: Drawn from over 3,500 journals and government agency publications such as the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
• Platform Features (EBSCOhost): Advanced search by author, geographic location, or geologic age; citation tools; and full-text linking when available.

Strengths

• Authoritative indexing curated by geoscience professionals at AGI.
• Covers international and regional literature across all geoscience disciplines.
• Includes historic records dating back to the late 18th century.
• Provides precise geographic and stratigraphic indexing fields for research accuracy.
• Supports literature reviews in geology, environmental science, and engineering.
• Cross-searchable on EBSCOhost with related STEM databases such as GeoScienceWorld or Academic Search Complete.

Limitations

• Primarily abstract-level indexing—many records do not include full text.
• Advanced search features may require practice or training for optimal use.
• Occasional duplication of historical entries from print sources.
• Full-text access depends on institutional subscriptions and linking agreements.
• Coverage for newly published international materials may lag slightly.

Best For

• Students and faculty in Geology and Geological Engineering programs.
• Researchers conducting fieldwork or literature reviews in mining, hydrology, or paleontology.
• Graduate students preparing theses or dissertations on geoscience topics.
• Faculty developing course materials related to environmental or Earth systems science.
• Projects integrating geological, hydrological, and engineering data.

Complementary Databases

Overall Evaluation

GeoRef is the definitive index for earth sciences and geology research, offering comprehensive global and historical coverage. At South Dakota Mines, it serves as a cornerstone database for the geoscience and engineering communities, enabling detailed literature discovery across research and applied studies. It should be prominently featured in the A‑to‑Z Databases and Geology, Mining, and Environmental Sciences LibGuides as a key resource for geological and environmental research.

Ask Digby – Library Help

Looking for maps, geological reports, or research papers? Ask Digby, the Devereaux Library’s friendly prairie dog mascot! Digby can help you navigate GeoRef to find scholarly articles, historical surveys, and data on the Earth’s structure and resources.

📧 Email: library@sdsmt.edu

🌐 Chat: Ask Digby
🔗 Library Catalog (Primo): https://sdsmt.primo.exlibrisgroup.com

📍 Devereaux Library, South Dakota Mines, Rapid City, SD