Publications
Listed below are publication products directly associated with the Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center:
Filter Total Items: 1250
Hydraulic fracturing (fracking) Hydraulic fracturing (fracking)
No abstract available.
Authors
Tanya J. Gallegos
Correlation of the Tuscaloosa marine shale in Mississippi, Louisiana, and east Texas, U.S.A. Correlation of the Tuscaloosa marine shale in Mississippi, Louisiana, and east Texas, U.S.A.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an assessment of undiscovered, technically recoverable unconventional petroleum resources in the Upper Cretaceous marine shale of the Tuscaloosa Group (Tuscaloosa marine shale; TMS) in 2018. As part of the geologic characterization in preparation for the assessment, a series of wireline log cross sections were constructed to illustrate TMS...
Authors
William A. Rouse, Catherine B. Enomoto, Nicholas J. Gianoutsos
Quality of water from crystalline rock aquifers in New England, New Jersey, and New York, 1995-2007 Quality of water from crystalline rock aquifers in New England, New Jersey, and New York, 1995-2007
Crystalline bedrock aquifers in New England and parts of New Jersey and New York (NECR aquifers) are a major source of drinking water. Because the quality of water in these aquifers is highly variable, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) statistically analyzed chemical data on samples of untreated groundwater collected from 117 domestic bedrock wells in New England, New York, and New...
Authors
Sarah M. Flanagan, Joseph D. Ayotte, Gilpin R. Robinson
A practical primer on geostatistics A practical primer on geostatistics
Introduction The Challenge—Most geological phenomena are extraordinarily complex in their interrelationships and vast in their geographical extension. Ordinarily, engineers and geoscientists are faced with corporate or scientific requirements to properly prepare geological models with measurements involving a small fraction of the entire area or volume of interest. Exact description of a...
Authors
Ricardo A. Olea
Application of organic petrology in high maturity shale gas systems Application of organic petrology in high maturity shale gas systems
Application of incident light microscopy techniques for organic petrology in high temperature thermogenic shale gas systems demonstrates that solid bitumen is the dominant organic matter. Solid bitumen is retained as a residual conversion product as oil-prone kerogen cracks to hydrocarbons or occurs from the cracking of once liquid oil. Oil-prone Type I/II kerogens are not present in...
Authors
Paul C. Hackley
Analysis of artificially matured shales with confocal laser scanning raman microscopy: Applications to organic matter characterization Analysis of artificially matured shales with confocal laser scanning raman microscopy: Applications to organic matter characterization
Raman spectroscopy has been suggested as a method for characterizing the thermal maturity of rocks. The literature contains many empirical correlations between thermal maturity proxies, such as vitrinite reflectance (VRo) and pyrolysis-Tmax, with spectral metrics such as Raman peak-widths, peak-center positions, peak-areas and all manner of differences and ratios of these parameters...
Authors
Grant A. Myers, Kelsey Kehoe, Paul C. Hackley
Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Cretaceous Nanushuk and Torok Formations, Alaska North Slope, and summary of resource potential of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, 2017 Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources in the Cretaceous Nanushuk and Torok Formations, Alaska North Slope, and summary of resource potential of the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, 2017
The U.S. Geological Survey estimated mean undiscovered, technically recoverable resources of 8.7 billion barrels of oil and 25 trillion cubic feet of natural gas (associated and nonassociated) in conventional accumulations in the Cretaceous Nanushuk and Torok Formations in the National Petroleum Reserve in Alaska, adjacent State and Native lands, and State waters. The estimated...
Authors
David W. Houseknecht, Richard O. Lease, Christopher J. Schenk, Tracey J. Mercier, William A. Rouse, Palma J. Botterell, Katherine J. Whidden, Christopher P. Garrity, Kristen A. Lewis, Samuel J. Heller, William H. Craddock, Timothy R. Klett, Phuong A. Le, Rebecca A. Smith, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Stephanie B. Gaswirth, Cheryl A. Woodall, Michael E. Brownfield, Heidi M. Leathers-Miller, Thomas M. Finn
Selenium Selenium
Selenium (Se) was discovered in 1817 in pyrite from copper mines in Sweden. It is a trace element in Earth’s crust, with an abundance of three to seven orders of magnitude less than the major rock-forming elements. Commercial use of selenium began in the United States in 1910, when it was used as a pigment for paints, ceramic glazes, and red glass. Since that time, it has had many other...
Authors
Lisa L. Stillings
Environmental considerations related to mining of nonfuel minerals Environmental considerations related to mining of nonfuel minerals
Throughout most of human history, environmental stewardship during mining has not been a priority partly because of the lack of applicable laws and regulations and partly because of ignorance about the effects that mining can have on the environment. In the United States, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, in conjunction with related laws, codified a more modern approach to...
Authors
Robert R. Seal, Nadine M. Piatak, Bryn E. Kimball, Jane M. Hammarstrom
Zirconium and hafnium Zirconium and hafnium
Zirconium and hafnium are corrosion-resistant metals that are widely used in the chemical and nuclear industries. Most zirconium is consumed in the form of the main ore mineral zircon (ZrSiO4, or as zirconium oxide or other zirconium chemicals. Zirconium and hafnium are both refractory lithophile elements that have nearly identical charge, ionic radii, and ionic potentials. As a result...
Authors
James V. Jones, Nadine M. Piatak, George M. Bedinger
Critical mineral resources of the United States—Economic and environmental geology and prospects for future supply Critical mineral resources of the United States—Economic and environmental geology and prospects for future supply
Summary Mineral commodities are vital for economic growth, improving the quality of life, providing for national defense, and the overall functioning of modern society. Minerals are being used in larger quantities than ever before and in an increasingly diverse range of applications. With the increasing demand for a considerably more diverse suite of mineral commodities has come renewed...
Niobium and tantalum Niobium and tantalum
Niobium and tantalum are transition metals that are almost always found together in nature because they have very similar physical and chemical properties. Their properties of hardness, conductivity, and resistance to corrosion largely determine their primary uses today. The leading use of niobium (about 75 percent) is in the production of high-strength steel alloys used in pipelines
Authors
Klaus J. Schulz, Nadine M. Piatak, John F. Papp