Library Guides: Geosciences: Articles and Databases

Key Databases

GeoRef (GeoScienceWorld)
This database is comprehensive for North American geology. Includes GeoRef in Process.

GeoRef contains over 2 million references to geoscience journal articles, books, maps, conference papers, reports, theses and dissertations. Covers the geology of North America from 1785 to the present and the geology of the rest of the world from 1933 to the present. The database includes references to all publications of the U.S. Geological Survey, and US Canadian theses in the geosciences.
GeoRef Preview
This database consists of references to recent geoscience publications that have yet to be indexed and entered into the GeoRef or GeoRef in Progress databases. Updated weekly.

This database consists of references to recent geoscience publications that have yet to be indexed and entered into the GeoRef or GeoRef in Progress databases. Updated weekly.
Web of Science
Very current source for scientific journal articles in all disciplines.

Web of Science provides access to: the Science Citation Index Expanded 1900-present; the Social Sciences Citation Index 1956-present; and the Arts & Humanities Citation Index 1975-present. Web of Science indexes articles from thousands of journals and also indexes the citations used in those articles, thus allowing the user to see which papers have cited a core paper, and how many times a paper was cited in a given time period. Covers published content is almost every discipline.

GeoScienceWorld
Collection of articles from major geoscience journals (fulltext). GeoRef is a much more comprehensive tool to identify resources of interest, however.

U.S.G.S. Publications Warehouse
Database of over 130,000 publications by the U.S. Geological Survey, many available free online.
Geologic Guidebooks of North America Database
Free resource to help identify geologic field trip guidebooks. No full text.
Critical Issues Research Database
Discover studies and reports from federal and state governmental agencies, geoscience professional societies, and other geoscience information providers that pertain to the application of geoscience to societal issues.
State Geological Surveys Database
Includes publications from the state geological surveys and factsheets from the U.S. Geological Survey. The database provides full-text searching of all of its publications.

SciFinder Scholar
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This chemistry database is useful for articles on geochemistry.

The Chemical Abstracts database is available through SciFinder Scholar. Although SciFinder Scholar is a web-based interface, you must register to use it. To get to the registration information, go to and follow the onscreen instructions. VPN information for remote users.

Geologic Names Lexicon (GEOLEX)
Search tool for lithologic and geochronologic unit names.
Natural Hazards Center Online Library Catalog (Hazlib)
A collection of hazards resources that focus on how society copes with natural hazards and catastrophic events.
Cold Regions and Antarctic Science and Technology Bibliography
Index covers materials up to 2011.

NTRL (National Technical Reports Library)
Contains records of unclassified research materials including materials from the Army Corps of Engineers, NASA, DOE and others. U.S. Geological Survey materials are included but GeoRef or the USGS publications warehouse are better tools for finding these.

NTRL is the preeminent resource for accessing the latest US government sponsored research, and worldwide scientific, technical, and engineering information.

Journal Citation Reports
Journal Citation Reports provides impact factors and other data for journals by title and by subject, includes geosciences journals

Journal performance metrics offer a systematic, objective means to critically evaluate the world's leading journals delivers quantifiable statistical information based on citation data Helps determine a publication's impact and influence in the global research community Includes journal and category data
Ulrich'sWeb
provides listings of periodicals by subject, including geosciences

Ulrichsweb.com provides data on over a quarter-million serials titles (magazines, newspapers, newsletters, journals, etc...) produced around the world. Information typically provided includes: status (active/inactive),subscription price, publisher information, frequency of publication, ISSN, whether the publication is refereed, and which indexes cover the title. In some cases circulation and advertising data, tables of contents, and links to online materials are provided. Includes reviews from the publication Magazines for Libraries.