Geophysical Research and Development Completed
The Geophysical Research and Development Project supported the development of new and existing geophysical techniques for addressing critical geological problems. Research conducted under this project included development of needed geophysical methods and software, development of new geophysical instrumentation, and applications of geophysical techniques to frontier areas of geology.
Science Issue and Relevance
Many projects within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) use geophysics as a tool for studying buried or concealed geologic features. The availability of modern geophysical instrumentation and data interpretation software is often critical to the success of these projects. However, most projects using geophysics lack the resources to evaluate, purchase, maintain, and provide training for geophysical equipment and software. In addition, the development of any new geophysical technology is a risky, long-term activity, that is well beyond the scope of most individual projects.
Methods to Address Issue
The Geophysical Research and Development Project ran from 1996 to 2012 and provided the geophysical equipment and software tools USGS projects needed. The Project strived to anticipate and develop new geophysical technologies that the Survey would need within the next several years and supported the development of new and existing geophysical techniques to address critical geological problems.
Research conducted under this project includes development of needed geophysical methods and software, development of new geophysical instrumentation, and applications of geophysical techniques to frontier areas of geology.
Technologies supported and developed fell within the general categories of geoelectrical methods, potential-field methods, and gamma-ray methods. These methods permitted geophysical investigations at a broad range of scales from national and regional scales to local and site characterization scales, and at a range of depths from a few centimeters to tens of kilometers.
Supported geophysical methods include potential-field methods (gravity and magnetics), electrical methods (DC resistivity, induced polarization, and self-potential), electromagnetic methods (magnetotellurics (MT), ground penetrating radar (GPR), directional borehole radar, time-domain EM, and frequency-domain EM), shallow seismic methods (reflection, refraction, and surface-to-borehole), and gamma-ray geophysics.
Return to Mineral Resources Program | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Magnetotelluric data collected near geophysically logged boreholes in the Española and Middle Rio Grande Basins, New Mexico
The Cerrillos Uplift, the La Bajada Constriction, and Hydrogeologic Framework of the Santo Domingo Basin, Rio Grande Rift, New Mexico
Geophysical evaluation of the Success Dam foundation, Porterville, California
Magnetotelluric data, north central Yucca Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
Magnetotelluric data, across Quartzite Ridge, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
Magnetotelluric data, central Yucca Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
Magnetotelluric data, northern Frenchman Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
Magnetotelluric data, northern Yucca Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
Magnetotelluric data, southern Yucca Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
Magnetotelluric data across the Pajarito fault, west of Santa Fe, New Mexico
Magnetotelluric survey to locate the Archean/Proterozoic suture zone in north-central Elko County, Nevada
Magnetotelluric data in the Espanola Basin, west of Santa Fe, New Mexico
- Overview
The Geophysical Research and Development Project supported the development of new and existing geophysical techniques for addressing critical geological problems. Research conducted under this project included development of needed geophysical methods and software, development of new geophysical instrumentation, and applications of geophysical techniques to frontier areas of geology.
Science Issue and Relevance
Many projects within the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) use geophysics as a tool for studying buried or concealed geologic features. The availability of modern geophysical instrumentation and data interpretation software is often critical to the success of these projects. However, most projects using geophysics lack the resources to evaluate, purchase, maintain, and provide training for geophysical equipment and software. In addition, the development of any new geophysical technology is a risky, long-term activity, that is well beyond the scope of most individual projects.
Methods to Address Issue
The Geophysical Research and Development Project ran from 1996 to 2012 and provided the geophysical equipment and software tools USGS projects needed. The Project strived to anticipate and develop new geophysical technologies that the Survey would need within the next several years and supported the development of new and existing geophysical techniques to address critical geological problems.
Research conducted under this project includes development of needed geophysical methods and software, development of new geophysical instrumentation, and applications of geophysical techniques to frontier areas of geology.
Technologies supported and developed fell within the general categories of geoelectrical methods, potential-field methods, and gamma-ray methods. These methods permitted geophysical investigations at a broad range of scales from national and regional scales to local and site characterization scales, and at a range of depths from a few centimeters to tens of kilometers.
Supported geophysical methods include potential-field methods (gravity and magnetics), electrical methods (DC resistivity, induced polarization, and self-potential), electromagnetic methods (magnetotellurics (MT), ground penetrating radar (GPR), directional borehole radar, time-domain EM, and frequency-domain EM), shallow seismic methods (reflection, refraction, and surface-to-borehole), and gamma-ray geophysics.
Return to Mineral Resources Program | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Filter Total Items: 82Magnetotelluric data collected near geophysically logged boreholes in the Española and Middle Rio Grande Basins, New Mexico
The Santa Fe region is growing rapidly. The Santa Fe Group aquifer in the Española Basin is the main source of municipal water for the region, and water shortfalls could have serious consequences. Future growth and land management in the region depend on accurate assessment and protection of the region's ground-water resources. An important issue in managing the ground-water resources is a betterAuthorsJackie M. Williams, Brian D. RodriguezThe Cerrillos Uplift, the La Bajada Constriction, and Hydrogeologic Framework of the Santo Domingo Basin, Rio Grande Rift, New Mexico
The geologic, geophysical, and hydrogeologic properties of the La Bajada constriction and Santo Domingo Basin, northern New Mexico, result from tectonic and volcanic processes of the late Tertiary and Quaternary Rio Grande rift. An integrated geologic and geophysical assessment in the La Bajada constriction allows development of a geologic framework that can provide input for regional ground-waterAuthorsScott A. MinorGeophysical evaluation of the Success Dam foundation, Porterville, California
Success Dam is a zonedearth fill embankment located near Porterville, CA. Studies of Success Dam by the recent Dam Safety Assurance Program (DSAP) have demonstrated the potential for seismic instability and large deformation of the dam due to relatively low levels of earthquake shaking. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers conducted several phases of investigations to determine the properties of the dAuthorsL. E. Hunter, M.H. Powers, S. Haines, T. Asch, B.L. Burton, D.C. SerafiniMagnetotelluric data, north central Yucca Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
No abstract available.AuthorsJackie M. Williams, Brian D. Rodriguez, Theodore H. AschMagnetotelluric data, across Quartzite Ridge, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
No abstract available.AuthorsJackie M. Williams, Brian D. Rodriguez, Theodore H. AschMagnetotelluric data, central Yucca Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
No abstract available.AuthorsJackie M. Williams, Brian D. Rodriguez, Theodore H. AschMagnetotelluric data, northern Frenchman Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
No abstract available.AuthorsJackie M. Williams, Brian D. Rodriguez, Theodore H. AschMagnetotelluric data, northern Yucca Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
No abstract available.AuthorsJackie M. Williams, Brian D. Rodriguez, Theodore H. AschMagnetotelluric data, southern Yucca Flat, Nevada Test Site, Nevada
No abstract available.AuthorsJackie M. Williams, Brian D. Rodriguez, Theodore H. AschMagnetotelluric data across the Pajarito fault, west of Santa Fe, New Mexico
No abstract available.AuthorsJackie M. Williams, Brian D. RodriguezMagnetotelluric survey to locate the Archean/Proterozoic suture zone in north-central Elko County, Nevada
No abstract available.AuthorsJackie M. Williams, Brian D. RodriguezMagnetotelluric data in the Espanola Basin, west of Santa Fe, New Mexico
No abstract available.AuthorsJackie M. Williams, Brian D. Rodriguez