Geology: Find Images

There have been many questions recently regarding how to find images to use in instruction and post in course websites (ie copyright-free images). Below is a collection of sites where you may find such images.

NOTE: Use of images & figures from the course textbook: Check the licensing agreement that your department signed with the publisher of your course textbook, you may be permitted to use textbook content in your slides.

U.S. Geological Survey Photographic Library - All photographs within this collection are public domain; therefore, signed releases, permissions, and payment for use or reproduction are not required.

  AGI's Earth Science World Image Bank - for personal or educational, non-commercial use.

NOAA/National Geophysical Data Center - Natural Hazards Image Database - Usage: credit both the source (person / organization) and NOAA/National Geophysical Data Center.

NASA Visible Earth - A catalogue of NASA images and animations of our home planet (freely available to use with attribution - see Terms of Use).

Other geology images free to use for non-commercial, educational purposes:

• Geology Photos by Marli Bryant Miller
• The Virtual Fossil Museum

The New York Public Library Digital Gallery has an impressive collection of digitized historical photos and other images. Terms & conditions: Low resolution files may only be used for personal, educational, or research purposes (not for commercial purposes). See these collections in particular:

• Pictures of Science: 700 Years of Scientific and Medical Illustration

• Classic Illustrated Zoologies and Related Works, 1550-1900

• Nature Illustrated: Flowers, Plants, and Trees, 1550-1900