At first it was restrited to monitoring activities of the terrestrial magnetic field and seismic activity conducted by the National Observatory since the beginning of the century, and it culminated in the beginning of the activities of PETROBRAS in 1954.
       Between 1954 – 1968 the geophysical activity in the country was practically conducted by PETROBRAS by means of petroleum prospection.
       In 1960 theResearch Program and Post-Graduation in Geophysics of the Federal University of Bahia was stablished placing emphasis in Geophysics applied to petroleum and regional geophysics;
       After 1968, and specially in the beginning of the 70's, Geophysics gained much territory and extended its activites to academic institutions and companies which began to actuate in the mineral sector.
       In 1969 the Company of Research in Mineral Resources – CPRM was established due to lthe policy of the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Brazil which proposed to intesifify mineral research in the country to boost exportation;
       In 1971, the Company of Vale do Rio Doce, CVRD, created in 1942 to utilize the abundant iron-ore in the State of Minas Gerais, Southeast of Brazil, started geophysical activities to dedicate itself chiefly with research of non-ferrous minerals;
       In 1972 the Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics of USP IAG/USP became a teaching unit, with outstanding actuation in the area of Solid Earth Geophysics;
       In 1975 the Nucleus of Geophysical and Geological Sciences of the Federal University of Pará NCGG/UFPa, was created with actual activities in to reservoirs and regional geophysics;
       Among the Geophysics Research Institutes in Brazil we single-out the following:
       The National Institute of Space Reseach INPE, created in 1961, with outstanding performance in the area of External Geophysics;
       The Institute for Technological Research IPT, which since 1976 has been active in Geophysics applied to Engineering and Environment;
       One can say that from 1976 onwards the Geophysics of the National Observatory was reborn after its entry to the CNPq, the National Council for Research of the Ministry of Sciences and Technology. The ON continues to monitor and study the geomagnetic and seismic fields, and to conduct research chiefly in Solid Earth Geophysics.
       And finally in the 90's there were important events in Brazilian Geophysics.
       The Research Company for Mineral Resourcers turned into the Geological Service of Brazil and became responsible for all the database in geophysics in the country, in both mineral research and the petroleum industry.
       In 1996, the ANP National Petroleum Agency was created, and the petroleum exploration in Brazil was then opened to various companies.