Finding data

People looking at core

The NGDC comprises data gathered or generated by BGS or its precursors, as part of its national strategic mapping programme, in addition to that provided by external organisations.

If you need to find out more about subsurface of any given area in Great Britain, whether for academic or commercial purposes, the most comprehensive collection of information is at the National Geoscience Data Centre (NGDC).


A selection of paper stored in the NGRC Discovery metadata

Browse our discovery metadata by list, keyword, hierarchy or location.


Abstract machinery Finding digital data

NGDC has a wealth of digital data, many of the most popular datasets are available to search and view online.


Records store Finding records

How to find records stored with the National Geological Records Centre.


Mineral Finding collections

What kind of collection do you need for your research or site investigation? Biostratigraphy and palaeontology; onshore and offshore drillcore, borehole samples; petrology and mineralogy and geochemistry collections.


Rainbow Finding academic research data

Search the Earth Science Academic Archive (ESAA) to find the results of NERC research and any other similar research projects.


Oil rig Finding offshore oil and gas exploration data

Information on well and seismic data archived with the NHDA is available from DEAL. For a general list of wells, seismic surveys, licences and fields archived with the NHDA see NHDA Data Holdings.


Receiving the Nirex samples at BGS Finding the Nirex geological archive

Borehole cores and samples, thin and polished sections, digital data and paper records acquired by Nirex during its investigations at Sellafield and Dounreay.