Study confirms fossil footprints at White Sands National Park date to the Last Glacial Maximum
National Uncrewed Systems Office
Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
The Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center (GECSC) delivers critical science that supports Administrative and Departmental priorities. Through geologic mapping and Earth system research, GECSC provides essential data on the nation’s geologic resources, landscape dynamics, and surface processes—informing resource development, hazard mitigation, and land-use planning.
News
USGS Unveils New National Geologic Map
USGS Unveils New National Geologic Map
The Next Fueling Discovery Webinar Takes Place May 29
The Next Fueling Discovery Webinar Takes Place May 29
The Powerhouse of USGS Paleo-research
The Powerhouse of USGS Paleo-research
Publications
Evaluating Laramide orogenesis via flexural basin response in the San Juan basin, New Mexico and Colorado Evaluating Laramide orogenesis via flexural basin response in the San Juan basin, New Mexico and Colorado
A challenge in interpreting the location, timing, and magnitude of ancient orogenic events is that ongoing uplift and erosion in the hinterlands often destroys much of the primary record of these events. However, basin-thickness patterns in the sedimentary record can provide complimentary evidence of uplift via flexural effects. Here, we deploy well-log correlation, isochores, basin...
Zircon as a pathfinder to REE mineralization Zircon as a pathfinder to REE mineralization
Carbonatites and alkaline silicate rocks are major primary sources of the rare earth elements (REE) and other critical metals, such as Nb. Despite the economic significance of these rocks, their formation and the processes of REE enrichment are poorly understood. Here, statistical analysis of a global dataset demonstrates that zircon geochemistry is a powerful recorder of REE...
Hot stops, cool looks: Aesthetic solutions for thermal comfort at transit stops Hot stops, cool looks: Aesthetic solutions for thermal comfort at transit stops
Increased urban heat intensifies thermal discomfort, particularly in critical public spaces such as transit stops. This study investigated the predictors of transit users' thermal perceptions in Denver, Colorado—a semi-arid city. Sixty bus stops spanning a gradient of land cover compositions were selected for study. Micrometeorological data, including thermal comfort indices, were...