Images

USGS employee installing sensor bracket for Sandy Theme 3 (SWaTH), Assateague Island at the Maryland Virginia State Line.

Ticks spread the widest variety of diseases that are harmful to humans, including Lyme disease. This is an image of blacklegged ticks, or deer ticks.

Rio Grande near Taos Junction Bridge near Taos, New Mexico. Photograph by Jeb Brown, U.S. Geological Survey, October 8, 2014.

SIR 2020-5026

Coal was essential to the operation of the larger steam engines. Coal burns at extremely hot temperatures and burns for a long time, making it an ideal fuel for converting water into steam.

A sand storage silo at Steamtown National Historic Site. Sand was stored in a dome on top of the engine and, as the train traveled the tracks, the sand would be sprinkled down pipes to land on the tracks in front of the wheels. This would aid the wheels in gripping the tracks, especially when the rails were wet.

A sand storage silo at Steamtown National Historic Site. Sand was stored in a dome on top of the engine and, as the train traveled the tracks, the sand would be sprinkled down pipes to land on the tracks in front of the wheels. This would aid the wheels in gripping the tracks, especially when the rails were wet.

Petroleum first saw widespread use in the transporation industry as a lubricant. It was refined into various products depending on which part of the engine they were meant to lubricate. Once transported by tanker car, it was stored in large tanks such as this one.

A panorama of fall colors from the observatory tower at Culp's Hill, one of the battle sites at Gettysburg Battlefield.

A meadow located at the foot of Culp's Hill, one of the battle sites at Gettysburg Battlefield.

A copse of trees at the base of Culp's Hill, one of the battle sites at Gettysburg Battlefield.

A meadow on Lower Culp's Hill, one of the battle sites at Gettysburg Battlefield.

A view of Big Round Top and the Gettysburg National Military Park visitor center from the Culp's Hill observatory tower, one of the battle sites at Gettysburg Battlefield.

Petroleum was refined onsite to differing levels depending on what its purpose was. Differing petroleums were stored in wells like these for ease of access.

Petroleum first saw widespread use in the transporation industry as a lubricant. It was refined into various products depending on which part of the engine they were meant to lubricate. It was transported in tanker cars like this one.

A steam engine at the Steamtown National Historic Site. Steam engines demonstrated one of the first comprehensive intersections of energy, mineral, and water resources. Steam engines required coal for fuel to boil water to make steam, as well as iron and steel for the casings and sand for traction on the rails.

Steam engines used high-grade silica sand for traction on the rails. Sand was stored in a dome on top of the engine and, as the train traveled the tracks, the sand would be sprinkled down pipes to land on the tracks in front of the wheels. This would aid the wheels in gripping the tracks, especially when the rails were wet.

Railroad tracks at Steamtown National Historic Site. Originally, rails were made of iron, but as steel production became more efficient, steel replaced it and is still used today.

A bend of the Tioughnioga River, a tributary of the Chenango River, that runs through Upstate New York.

Fall colors can be seen in Upstate New York along the banks of the Tioughnioga River near Whitney Point.

Petroleum was refined onsite to differing levels depending on what its purpose was. Differing petroleums were stored in wells like these for ease of access.

A locomotive turntable. These were used to move trains from track to track.