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Geologic mapping

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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Scientists with the GMEG Science Center work on issues related to geologic processes, mineral and energy resource potential, and past climate, primarily in the Western United States. The science staff includes Geologists, Geophysicists, Geochemists, Biologists, and Geographic Information Systems specialists located in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

Primary Research Direction - What we do.

GMEGSC focuses on Geologic Mapping, Mineral Resources and Mineral Environmental Health, Landslide Hazards, Energy Resources, Earthquake Hazards, and Land Change Science.

Innovation - How we help.

GMEGSC hosts the USGS Innovation Center, which sponsors work with public and private technology partners to design, test, and bring into operation a new generation of technical and engineering tools to address urgent national natural science issues.

Disciplinary Expertise - How we do it.

GMEGSC utilizes Geologic Mapping and Tectonics, Geophysics, Economic Geology, Geochronology, Sedimentary Basin Studies and Energy Assessments, Landslide Hazards, Geomorphology, Paleoclimatology, and many more processes to complete our work!

News

Illegal Oil and Gas Wastewater Dumps Disrupt Foundations of Fragile Desert Ecosystems

Illegal Oil and Gas Wastewater Dumps Disrupt Foundations of Fragile Desert Ecosystems

The USGS Updates Major Climate Change Visualization Tool

The USGS Updates Major Climate Change Visualization Tool

Friday's Findings - May 19 2023

Friday's Findings - May 19 2023

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Publications

Explosive 2018 eruptions at Kīlauea driven by a collapse-induced stomp-rocket mechanism

Explosive volcanic eruptions produce hazardous atmospheric plumes composed of tephra particles, hot gas and entrained air. Such eruptions are generally driven by magmatic fragmentation or steam expansion. However, an eruption mechanism outside this phreatic–magmatic spectrum was suggested by a sequence of 12 explosive eruptions in May 2018 at Kīlauea, Hawaii, that occurred during the early stages
Authors
Joshua Allen Crozier, Josef Dufek, Leif Karlstrom, Kyle R. Anderson, Ryan Cain Cahalan, Weston Thelen, Mary Catherine Benage, Chao Liang
By
Volcano Hazards Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Volcano Science Center

The dominance and growth of shallow groundwater resources in continuous permafrost environments

Water is a limited resource in Arctic watersheds with continuous permafrost because freezing conditions in winter and the impermeability of permafrost limit storage and connectivity between surface water and deep groundwater. However, groundwater can still be an important source of surface water in such settings, feeding springs and large aufeis fields that are abundant in cold regions and generat
Authors
Joshua C. Koch, Craig T. Connolly, Carson Baughman, Marisa Repasch, Heather Best, Andrew Hunt
By
Alaska Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Fluviomorphic trajectories for dryland ephemeral stream channels following extreme flash floods

Ephemeral alluvial streams pose globally significant flood hazards to human habitation in drylands, but sparse data for these regions limit understanding of the character and impacts of extreme flooding. In this study, we document decadal changes in dryland ephemeral channel patterns at two sites in the lower Colorado River Basin (southwestern United States) that were ravaged by extraordinary flas
Authors
Eliisa Lotsari, Kyle House, Petteri Alho, Victor R. Baker
By
National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
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Science

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Image Collage of Landsat, pollinator, and volcanologist

Geophysical Imaging for Critical Mineral Resources in the Southern Basin and Range

Reliance on imports for many critical mineral commodities (including rare earth elements) puts the U.S. at high risk for supply disruption. Undiscovered deposits of some of these critical and strategic minerals undoubtedly exist in the United States, but a lack of modern geological, geophysical, and topographic data makes exploration challenging. This project plans to improve our knowledge of the...
By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
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Geophysical Imaging for Critical Mineral Resources in the Southern Basin and Range

Reliance on imports for many critical mineral commodities (including rare earth elements) puts the U.S. at high risk for supply disruption. Undiscovered deposits of some of these critical and strategic minerals undoubtedly exist in the United States, but a lack of modern geological, geophysical, and topographic data makes exploration challenging. This project plans to improve our knowledge of the...
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Image Collage of Landsat, pollinator, and volcanologist

National assessment of Ni, Co, V, Cr, and PGE associated with mafic/ultramafic magmatic mineral systems

Many minerals critical for modern society are found only in a few places in the world. U.S. reliance on minerals imported from other countries can cause supply chain vulnerabilities. This project aims to evaluate critical commodities associated with mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks and highlight areas with mineral potential.
By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
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National assessment of Ni, Co, V, Cr, and PGE associated with mafic/ultramafic magmatic mineral systems

Many minerals critical for modern society are found only in a few places in the world. U.S. reliance on minerals imported from other countries can cause supply chain vulnerabilities. This project aims to evaluate critical commodities associated with mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks and highlight areas with mineral potential.
Learn More
link
Open pit rare earth element mine at Mountain Pass, California. Stepped sides of the pit and access for mining vehicles shown.

Multidisciplinary Investigations of REE Mineralization at Mountain Pass and in the Southeast Mojave Desert, California

In this time of increased focus on renewable energy technologies, rare earth elements (REEs) are of critical importance. For example, neodymium (Nd) is a REE used in the generator and motor magnets of wind turbines and electric vehicles. Reliance on REE imports puts the U.S. at high risk for supply disruption. The project will integrate geology, geophysics, petrology, geochronology, and economic...
By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
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Multidisciplinary Investigations of REE Mineralization at Mountain Pass and in the Southeast Mojave Desert, California

In this time of increased focus on renewable energy technologies, rare earth elements (REEs) are of critical importance. For example, neodymium (Nd) is a REE used in the generator and motor magnets of wind turbines and electric vehicles. Reliance on REE imports puts the U.S. at high risk for supply disruption. The project will integrate geology, geophysics, petrology, geochronology, and economic...
Learn More
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