It was established by Gustave Dewalque in Liège to promote the study of minerals, understand Belgium's soil in relation to industry and agriculture, and contribute to scientific progress.
Professor Laurent-Guillaume de Koninck was selected as the first president of the society during the meeting.
[2] The administration of the society was entrusted to a council of geology professors and mining engineers.
Belgian geologist Alphonse Briart was elected president of the council for the year 1874–1875 with vice-presidential positions that were filled by Charles de la Vallée-Poussin, Felix Jochams, and Victor Bouhy.
[1] In 1874, the society began publishing the journal Annales de la Société Géologique de Belgique (English: Annals of the Geological Society of Belgium) in Liége on Rue Saint-Adalbert.