The Geological Survey was established in 1925 by the
British Overseas Management Authority (BOMA) administration under the
name of Geological Survey Department (GSD) as an independent
governmental department. The primary objective was to speed up
development of mineral resources of the Tanganyika Territory. In April
1926, the headquarters of GSD was set up in Dodoma by the first
director, Dr. E.O.Teale. The main assignment of the GSD was to provide
geological information acquired through geological mapping and
reconnaissance mineral exploration in the country as well as prospecting
for groundwater resources. The Minerals Laboratory was established in
1929 to support the geological mapping and mineral exploration.
Since its establishment, the Survey has undergone
various re-organizational administrative changes under different
Ministries including Ministry of Mines and Commerce (1935 to 1949),
Ministry of Commerce and Industry (1960 to 1961), Ministry of
Industries, Mineral Resources and Power (1964 to 1966), Ministry of
Water, Power and Mineral Resources (1978 to1981), Ministry of Minerals
(1981 to 1984), Ministry of Energy and Minerals (1986 to 1990), Ministry
of Water, Energy and Minerals (1991 to 1996), Ministry of Energy and
Minerals (1996 to7th October 2017) and Ministry of Minerals since
October 2017 to present.
In 2005 the Geological Survey was transformed into a
Government executive agency established under the Executive Agencies Act
No 30 of 1997 and was officially launched as a Government Agency on 23
June 2006 under the name Geological Survey of Tanzania (GST).
In July 2017, the Government of Tanzania amended the Mining Act of 2010 through the Written Laws (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, No. 7 of 2017. Through the amendment, new functions were initiated on top of the other functions of GST described by the Mining Act 2010. To capture the new/additional functions, the existing functions and organization structure of GST to was reviewed to enhance its capacity in order to deliver services efficiently and effectively.
The Geological Survey has made notable achievements since its establishment about eighty years ago. The achievements include: