Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Scientists with the GMEG Science Center work on issues related to geologic processes, mineral and energy resource potential, and past climate, primarily in the Western United States. The science staff includes Geologists, Geophysicists, Geochemists, Biologists, and Geographic Information Systems specialists located in Arizona, California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington.

News

In SF Bay, even an exceptionally wet year can’t supply enough sediment to keep pace with rising seas, new study finds

In SF Bay, even an exceptionally wet year can’t supply enough sediment to keep pace with rising seas, new study finds

Earth Science Matters - Vol. 21 | Issue 1

Earth Science Matters - Vol. 21 | Issue 1

Uncovering the Mysteries of the Bering Land Bridge

Uncovering the Mysteries of the Bering Land Bridge

Publications

Slip tendency and dilation tendency of Quaternary faults in the Great Basin region, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming Slip tendency and dilation tendency of Quaternary faults in the Great Basin region, Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming

This report presents the results of slip tendency and dilation tendency analysis of Quaternary faults in the Great Basin region, in the states of Arizona, California, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. This effort was undertaken as part of two studies: the U.S. Department of Energy Geothermal Technologies Office-funded Innovative Geothermal Exploration through Novel Investigations...
Authors
Drew L. Siler

EMIT reveals elevated calcite signatures in shorelines of Lake Powell and Lake Mead exposed by drought and Colorado River management EMIT reveals elevated calcite signatures in shorelines of Lake Powell and Lake Mead exposed by drought and Colorado River management

Nearly half of Earth’s seasonal freshwater storage variability occurs in human-managed reservoirs, resulting in large areas of reservoir-bed that are episodically inundated or subaerially exposed. Here we use hyperspectral data from NASA’s Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) mission to map calcite mineral assemblages across exposed surfaces in two large U.S. reservoirs...
Authors
Michael Raymond Fischella, Joel B. Sankey, Raymond F. Kokaly, Amy E. East, Alan Kasprak, Joshua Caster, Bridget R. Deemer, Ryan S. Crow, Skyler Mavor, Derek V. Mallia

Terrain-based map of mélange and intact rock at the junction of Coastal and Central Belt rocks of the Franciscan Complex between Gualala and Ukiah, northern California Coast Ranges Terrain-based map of mélange and intact rock at the junction of Coastal and Central Belt rocks of the Franciscan Complex between Gualala and Ukiah, northern California Coast Ranges

A terrain-based map of a large area of Franciscan Complex between the San Andreas and Maacama faults east of Point Arena, California, provides much new detail compared to prior mapping. The new map reveals an unusual, structurally disrupted area that is defined by northwest-trending patches of erosionally resistant topography interspersed in subdued topography. These two terrain types...
Authors
Carl Wentworth

Science

Geologic Mapping for Landscape Resiliency in California, Oregon, and Washington

This project uses geologic and geomorphic mapping in the context of societally relevant problems in the Earth’s critical zone. Leveraging interdisciplinary research ties and interagency collaborations, it utilizes remote sensing data, corroborated with field observations, to determine i) the spatial distribution of geomorphic processes and ages of Quaternary deposits in the context of active...
Geologic Mapping for Landscape Resiliency in California, Oregon, and Washington

Geologic Mapping for Landscape Resiliency in California, Oregon, and Washington

This project uses geologic and geomorphic mapping in the context of societally relevant problems in the Earth’s critical zone. Leveraging interdisciplinary research ties and interagency collaborations, it utilizes remote sensing data, corroborated with field observations, to determine i) the spatial distribution of geomorphic processes and ages of Quaternary deposits in the context of active...
Learn More

Controls on Critical Element Enrichment in Carbonatite-Alkaline Igneous Complexes

The project seeks to determine the processes responsible for critical element enrichment in carbonatites and to enhance our ability to identify and assess economic deposits. This project will work at various scales to meet this objective and will primarily focus on deposits within the US or our USGS collaborative Nations.
Controls on Critical Element Enrichment in Carbonatite-Alkaline Igneous Complexes

Controls on Critical Element Enrichment in Carbonatite-Alkaline Igneous Complexes

The project seeks to determine the processes responsible for critical element enrichment in carbonatites and to enhance our ability to identify and assess economic deposits. This project will work at various scales to meet this objective and will primarily focus on deposits within the US or our USGS collaborative Nations.
Learn More

Large Magmatic Systems for Minerals

This project continues work on large magmatic systems in the U.S., where critical mineral commodities important to clean energy technologies can be concentrated. Modeling of large mafic intrusion extents will continue, and new geophysical methods will be applied to improve understanding of magmatic systems.
Large Magmatic Systems for Minerals

Large Magmatic Systems for Minerals

This project continues work on large magmatic systems in the U.S., where critical mineral commodities important to clean energy technologies can be concentrated. Modeling of large mafic intrusion extents will continue, and new geophysical methods will be applied to improve understanding of magmatic systems.
Learn More
Was this page helpful?