Geological Survey of India (GSI), established in 1851 is a government organization in India for conducting geological surveys and studies. It is one of the oldest of such organizations in the world.

[edit] History

The GSI in 1870. Standing: F. Stoliczka, R B Foote, William Theobald, FR Mallet, Valentine Ball, W. Waagen, WL Willson Sitting: A Tween, W King, Thomas Oldham, HB Medlicott, CA Hackett

Currently an organization under the control of the Union Ministry of Mines, Government of India, and the roots of the Geological Survey of India may be traced to 1836 when a Committee, named Coal Committee, followed by more such committees, was formed by the East India Company to study and explore availability of coals in the eastern parts of India. David H(iram) Williams, one of the first surveyors for the British Geological Survey, was appointed 'Surveyor of coal districts and superintendent of coal works, Bengal' on 3rd Dec 1845 and arrived in India the following February. The phrase "Geological Survey of India" was first used in a report by one of such committees in a report in the year 1848-49. On 4th February 1848, Williams was appointed the Geological Surveyor of the Geological Survey of India but he fell off his elephant and, soon after, died with his assistant, a Mr FB Jones, of 'jungle fever' on 15th Nov 1848^[1], after which McClelland took over as the "Officiating Surveyor" until his retirement on 5th March 1851.

At around the same time, in 1852, Sir Thomas Oldham mooted the idea of broadening the ambit of the scope of functioning of the Geological Survey of India, and consequently, the activities of the GSI was expanded to cover a broader geological study and studies of the Earth sciences of the territories of the Undivided India.

There are two geological parks maintained by GSI.

• Saketi Fossil Park, Saketi, H.P.
• Nehru Park, Hyderabad, A.P. The park displays life size figures of dinosaurs like T-Rex.

1. ^ Allen's Indian Mail Vol VII No 117 London Monday, January 22nd 1849 p41

[edit] Saketi Fossil park

Fibre glass life size model of extinct Elephant of Siwalik Hills. Tusk (long tooth) measures 18 Feet.

Fibre glass life size model of extinct Giant Turtle of Siwalik Hills

Saketi Fossil park is 5 km from Kala Amb, (its 85 km from Chandigarh, 65 km from Ambala, 22 km from Nahan, 110 km from Dehradun) There is a small fossil museum showcasing fossilized remnants (skulls, teeth, jaws etc) of various animal groups like mammals, reptiles, fishes and esp mammals that lived around Siwalik Hills area about 2.5 to 1 million years ago. The park also displays (in open) nicely made life size fiber glass models of six pre-historic animals which roamed around Siwalik Hills area, including 18 feet tusked elephant, 3 meter giant land turtle etc.

[edit] See also

• Survey of India is India's central agency in charge of mapping and surveying.
• Archaeological Survey of India is responsible for archaeological studies and the preservation of historical and cultural monuments.
• Paleontology the study of fossils
• Timeline of geography, paleontology, biology
• Important publications in paleontology
• Synchrotron X-ray tomographic microscopy
• Fossil Parks of India
• Fossil Parks
• Geology
• Dinosaurs
• Rajasaurus
• International Network of Geoparks
• Botanical Survey of India (BSI)
• Survey of India (SI)
• Zoological Survey of India (ZSI)
• Subimal Sinharoy

[edit] External links

• GSI - Official website
• GSI Geological Park, Saketi H.P.
• GSI on Banglapedia

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