The role of Illinois State Geologist was established by Illinois statute to serves as the state's authoritative voice on matters of geoscience, representing Illinois with the Association of American State Geologists and providing timely, objective geoscience information to scientists, industry, policymakers, and the public.
Illinois State Geologist Richard C. Berg is also the director of the Illinois State Geological Survey, where he has worked since 1974. His scientific specialties are Quaternary geology, aquifer sensitivity assessment, and three-dimensional geological mapping. He has worked extensively with government officials at the local, state, and federal levels to promote a better understanding of the complexities of the subsurface as it applies to balancing economic development decision making with wise water and mineral resource use and environmental protection.
If you have a geoscience/geology question, or have a specimen of a rock, mineral, or fossil that you'd like to share, Ask the State Geologist!
