Recognized as an international authority on deep-sea mineral deposits, he spent 46 years with the United States Geological Survey.

[1] The McKelvey diagram (or box), a visual representation of how to classify a particular mineral resource based on the value of its production (economic, marginal, etc.)

[2][3] In 1971, after William Thomas Pecora became Under Secretary of the Interior, Chief Geologist Vincent E. McKelvey, a career scientist with the Survey since 1941, became Director.

In 1973, the Geological Survey moved its National Headquarters from downtown Washington, D.C. to a new building designed expressly for its needs in Reston, Virginia.

It took on primary responsibility for operational research in seismology and geomagnetism by agreement with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 10 units of NOAA were transferred to the Geological Survey.

Responsibility for administration of the continuing petroleum exploration program on the Reserve and operation of the South Barrow Gas Field was delegated to the Director of the Survey.