The organization responsible for advising the British government on all aspects of Earth science and for providing impartial geological advice to industry, academia, and the public. The BGS was founded in 1835, making it the oldest of all national geological surveys. It is a component part of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), and incorporates the former Overseas Geological Surveys and Mineral Resources Department of the Imperial Institute.
http://www.bgs.ac.uk/ Home page of the BGS.