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Browse recent USGS publications related to energy resources. 

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Fluorine in Colorado oil shale Fluorine in Colorado oil shale

Oil shale from the lower part of the Eocene Green River Formation in the Piceance Creek Basin, Colorado, averages 0.13 weight percent fluorine, which is about twice that found in common shales, but is the same as the average amount found in some oil shales from other parts of the world. Some fluorine may reside in fluorapatite; however, limited data suggest that cryolite may be...
Authors
John R. Dyni

Book review: Methods of rock magnetism and palaeomagnetism Book review: Methods of rock magnetism and palaeomagnetism

Book information: Methods of rock magnetism and palaeomagnetism — Techniques and instrumentation: D.W. Collinson. Chapman and Hall, London, 1983, xiv + 503 pp.
Authors
Ray E. Wells

The Steens Mountain (Oregon) geomagnetic polarity transition: 1. Directional history, duration of episodes, and rock magnetism The Steens Mountain (Oregon) geomagnetic polarity transition: 1. Directional history, duration of episodes, and rock magnetism

The thick sequence of Miocene lava flows exposed on Steens Mountain in southeastern Oregon is well known for containing a detailed record of a reversed‐to‐normal geomagnetic polarity transition. Paleomagnetic samples were obtained from the sequence for a combined study of the directional and intensity variations recorded; the paleointensity study is reported in a companion paper. This...
Authors
Edward A. Mankinen, M. Prevot, C. Sherman Gromme, Robert S. Coe

The Steens Mountain (Oregon) geomagnetic polarity transition, 2. Field intensity variations and discussion of reversal models The Steens Mountain (Oregon) geomagnetic polarity transition, 2. Field intensity variations and discussion of reversal models

We carried out an extensive paleointensity study of the 15.5±0.3 m.y. Miocene reversed‐to‐normal polarity transition recorded in lava flows from Steens Mountain (south central Oregon). One hundred eighty‐five samples from the collection whose paleodirectional study is reported by Mankinen et al. (this issue) were chosen for paleointensity investigations because of their low viscosity...
Authors
M. Prevot, Edward A. Mankinen, Robert S. Coe, C. Sherman Gromme

Recognition of interstitial anhydrite dissolution: A cause of secondary porosity, San Andres limestone, New Mexico, and Upper Minnelusa Formation, Wyoming Recognition of interstitial anhydrite dissolution: A cause of secondary porosity, San Andres limestone, New Mexico, and Upper Minnelusa Formation, Wyoming

Rectangular and stair-step pore reentrants in carbonate mudstones have been recognized previously as indirect evidence for anhydrite dissolution. In this study, direct evidence for subsurface dissolution of interstitial anhydrite in both dolomite grainstones and quartz sandstones includes: (1) cleavage-related dissolution fringe on anhydrite crystal surfaces, and (2) isolated remnants of...
Authors
Christopher J. Schenk, Randall W. Richardson

In situ stress, natural fracture distribution, and borehole elongation in the Auburn Geothermal Well, Auburn, New York In situ stress, natural fracture distribution, and borehole elongation in the Auburn Geothermal Well, Auburn, New York

Hydraulic fracturing stress measurements and a borehole televiewer survey were conducted in a 1.6‐km‐deep well at Auburn, New York. This well, which was drilled at the outer margin of the Appalachian Fold and Thrust Belt in the Appalachian Plateau, penetrates approximately 1540 m of lower Paleozoic sedimentary rocks and terminates 60 m into the Precambrian marble basement. Analysis of...
Authors
Stephen H. Hickman, John H. Healy, Mark D. Zoback

Paleomagnetism and geology of Eocene volcanic rocks of southwest Washington, implications for mechanisms of tectonic rotation Paleomagnetism and geology of Eocene volcanic rocks of southwest Washington, implications for mechanisms of tectonic rotation

Paleomagnetic and geologic investigations in Eocene volcanic rocks of the southwest Washington Coast Range demonstrate a close relationship between tectonic rotations and the local structural geology. The allochthonous middle Eocene submarine basalt basement of the Crescent Formation consists of several fault‐bounded structural domains up to 30 km across that are characterized by...
Authors
Ray E. Wells, Robert S. Coe

Well bore breakouts and in situ stress Well bore breakouts and in situ stress

The detailed cross-sectional shape of stress induced well bore breakouts has been studied using specially processed ultrasonic borehole televiewer data. Breakout shapes are shown for a variety of rock types and introduce a simple elastic failure model which explains many features of the observations. Both the observations and calculations indicate that the breakouts define relatively...
Authors
Mark D. Zoback, Daniel Moos, Larry Mastin, Roger N. Anderson

Canyon-filling lavas and lava dams on the Boise River, Idaho, and their significance for evaluating downcutting during the last 2 million years Canyon-filling lavas and lava dams on the Boise River, Idaho, and their significance for evaluating downcutting during the last 2 million years

Basalts that periodically dammed the Boise River and its South Fork over the last 2 million years reveal the canyon history and illustrate how lava interacted with impounded river water. Intracanyon basalt flows record a granite canyon successively filled by lava and then recut at least five times in the last 2 million years. The most voluminous flow, Steamboat Rock Basalt, reached 60...
Authors
Keith A. Howard, John W. Shervais, E.H. McKee

Statistical relations among earthquake magnitude, surface rupture length, and surface fault displacement Statistical relations among earthquake magnitude, surface rupture length, and surface fault displacement

In order to refine correlations of surface-wave magnitude, fault rupture length at the ground surface, and fault displacement at the surface by including the uncertainties in these variables, the existing data were critically reviewed and a new data base was compiled. Earthquake magnitudes were redetermined as necessary to make them as consistent as possible with the Gutenberg methods...
Authors
Manuel G. Bonilla, Robert K. Mark, James J. Lienkaemper
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