There are two divisions in the Department namely Exploratory and Prospecting Division and Mineral Development and Mining Leases Division. A brief note on the functions and activities of the two divisions are given below: 

The functions of the Exploratory and Prospecting Division include preliminary and detailed geological mapping, trenching, pitting, drilling, sampling  and chemical analysis and mineral identification of samples.  In addition to the exploration activities approved by the State Geological Programming Board, the Department also undertakes exploration activities of  urgent nature for which specific directions are issued by the State Government. The Department is equipped with an analytical laboratory as well as mineralogy and gem testing laboratory. Chemical analysis of samples and mineral and gem identification are undertaken on payment basis.

This division implements mineral exploration programmes approved by the State Geological Programming Board. Apart from the above, this division also takes up investigation programmes of urgent nature for the benefit of the mineral based industries in the State as per the directions of the Government from time to time.

The Department has 4 core drilling units viz. LongYear 34, Vol 90, RD 30 and RD 30 each having a capacity to drill hard rock / soft rock up to a depth of 400 to 500 m. The drilling rigs are extensively used for mineral investigation carried out by the Department. Drillings are also carried out on payment basis for private as well as other government organizations.

 This department has two laboratories viz.,

i.    Analytical laboratory and
ii.   Mineralogy and Gem testing laboratory

Both the laboratories act as supporting units of the Exploratory and Prospecting division. Samples collected during the investigation are being analyzed in the laboratories. They include china clay, silica sand, graphite, bauxite, limestone, limeshell, stream sediments, rock samples etc. A number of precious stones brought by the public are being identified in the gem-testing laboratory, realizing the fee fixed by the Government. This laboratory also undertakes analysis and identification of rock samples brought by the public on payment basis.

Facility for photogeology, remote sensing and GIS studies	Rock cutting, polishing and thin section preparation facility
Gem Testing and Mineralogy Laboratory	Drilling unit for mineral investigation
Full fledged analytical laboratory with extended facility for checking of brightness of clay samples
Full fledged GIS laboratory with A0 Plotter and A0 Scanner

The Department has recently setup a GIS Lab with state of the art facilities comprising of high end computers, A0 Plotter, A0 Scanner, and ARCGIS software.

Besides, the Department maintains a mineralogy museum with varied type of rocks and minerals samples collected from different parts of the state. Students from various educational institutions visit this museum. The museum also displays various types of polished granite dimension stones that are found in different parts of Kerala. The Department also participates in exhibitions organised by differnt organisations / agencies.

Mineral Development and Mining Leases Division  

This division is responsible for the implementation of Mines and Minerals (Regulation and Development) Act, 1957, The Mineral concession Rules,1960 and the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules,1967.This function is being executed through 14 District Offices, Special Office at Cherthala and 2 Kerala Mineral Squads (Southern and Northern Region) with their head quarters at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode respectively. 

The main activities of Mineral Development and Mining Lease Division are as follows:

(a) Recommending to State Government to grant/ renewal of mining leases and prospecting licences in respect of major minerals.
(b) Grant/renewal of quarrying permits, quarrying leases and dealer's licences in respect of major minerals.
(c) Inspection of mines and quarries and enforcement of relevant rules and regulations by virtue of the powers vested with it under the Mines and Minerals ( Development & Regulation) Act, 1957, the Minerals Concession Rules, 1960 and the Kerala Minor Mineral Concession Rules, 1967.
(d) Collection of revenue on both major as well as minor minerals.
(e) Curbing of illegal mining and clandestine movement of minerals.
(f) Attending to court cases in connection with mining and movement of minerals.
(g) Collection of data on production/sales/consumption of major and minor minerals and furnishing the required information to government of India and other Central/ State institutions.

Audit wing 

The audit wing is attached to the Mineral development and mining leases division. Systemic annual audit of accounts in respect of collection of royalty, deadrent, surface rent etc. of various mineral concessionaires is the prime responsibility of the audit wing.

STATE GEOLOGICAL PROGRAMMING BOARD

The Government of Kerala constituted the State Geological Programming Board (SGPB) to assess and evaluate of various geological activities (including geological investigations; mineral exploration, exploitation, and administration) in the State by various Central and State Departments / Organisations, Autonomous Bodies/ Institutions and Public Sector undertakings. Principal Secretary to Government, Industries Department, Government of Kerala is the Chairman of the Board. Every year a meeting is convened to review various programs carried out by different Departments/ Organisations in the previous year and to approve new programs for the coming year. The Director of the Department of Mining and Geology, Government of Kerala is the Member Secretary of the Board and is also the convener of the SGPB meeting. The Director is also a member in the Central Geological Programming Board (CGPB).

List of Members of SGPB

1. The Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Mines, Shastri Bhavan, New Delhi.
2. The Advisor (Minerals), Planning Commission, Government of India, Yogana Bhavan, New Delhi 110 001
3. The Zonal Manager, Mineral Exploration Corporation Ltd. GSI Complex, Bandlaguda, Hyderabad – 500 068
4. The Director, Operation West Coast Marine Wing,Geological Survey of India, Mangaladevi Road, Pandeshwar, Mangalore 575 001
5. The Deputy Director General, Marine Wing, Geological Survey of India GSI Complex, North Block DK Sector Sector II ,Bidhan Nagar, Kolkata 780 091.
6. The Member Secretary, Federation of India Mineral Industries,301, Bakshi House, 40-41, Nehru Palace, New Delhi – 110 019.
7. The Chief Engineer, KSEB Investigation & Dam Safety, Vydyuthi Bhavan, Pattom , Thiruvananthapuram – 695004
8. The Chief Engineer, Irrigation, Thiruvananthapuram–1
9. The Managing Director, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation Ltd.,Keston Road, Kowadiar P.O.Thiruvananthapuram – 695 003
10. The Director, Centre for Earth Science Studies, P.B.No.7250, Akkulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Pin 695 031
11. The Managing Director, KEMDEL, Nandavanam, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 004
12. The Managing Director, Malabar Cements Ltd., Palakkad – 678 001
13. The Managing Director, MECL Ltd.,Seminary Hills, Nagpur –400 006.
14. The Director, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, (formerly Regional Research Laboratory), Pappanamcode, Thiruvananthapuram Pin 695 019
15. The Managing Director,Travancore Cements Ltd., Nattakom, Kottayam – 686 013
16. The Officer - In –Charge, Beach Sand and Offshore Investigations, Atomic Minerals Division,Department of Atomic Energy Poojappura, Thiruvananthapura Pin 695 012
17. The Secretary to Government, Water Resources Department, Govt. Secretariat, Thiruvanathapuram Pin 695 010
18. The Chief (Industries), State Planning Board, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram Pin 695 004
19. The Chief Engineer, PWD (Projects), Thiruvananthapuram Pin 695 001
20. The Deputy Director General, GSI Southern Region, Bandlaguda Complex,Sarovar Nagar PO, Hyderabad Pin 500 068
21. The Director in Charge, GSI Operations, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondichery, Rajaji Bhavan, Besant Nagar, Chennai Pin 600 090
22. The Director, Geological Survey of India, Kerala Unit Dharani Bhavan, Manikanteswaram, Thiruvananthapuram. Pin 695013
23. The Director, Offshore Mineral Exploration & Marine Geology Wing, GSI, Edappally, Kochi – 682 024
24. The Director, Division for Regional and Integrated Surveys, GSI, Hyderabad – 500 068
25. The Chief Engineer (Civil), KSEB, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 004
26. The Director, Central Ground Water Board, Kerala Region, Kedaram Buildings, Kesavadasapuram, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 004
27. The Regional Controller of Mines, Indian Bureau of Mines, 29, Industrial Suburb Second Stage, Trunkur Road, Yesuvandhapuram, Bangalore 560 022
28. The Director of Industries and Commerce, Vikas Bhavan, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 014
29. The Professor and Head, Department of Geology, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram – 695 581
30. The General Manager, Indian Rare Earths, Chavara, Kollam.
31. The Director, State Ground water Department, Ambalamukku, Kowdiar P.O , Thiruvananthapuram
32. The Managing Director, Kerala Ceramics Ltd, Kundara, Kollam
33. The Managing Director, Kerala Clays and Ceramic Products Pappinissery, Kannur 670 561
34. The Chief Conservator of Forest (Protection), Thiruvananthapuram.
35. The General Manager, Kerala Minerals and Metals Ltd., Chavara, Kollam.