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Publications

Publications from the staff of the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Filter Total Items: 2486

Cenozoic plate motions and the volcano-tectonic evolution of western Oregon and Washington Cenozoic plate motions and the volcano-tectonic evolution of western Oregon and Washington

A refined northeast Pacific plate-motion model provides a framework for analysis of the Tertiary volcanic and tectonic history of western Oregon and Washington. We examine three possible models for the origin of the allochthonous Paleocene and Eocene oceanic basalt basement of the Coast Range: (1) accretion to the continent of hot spot generated linear seamount chains; (2) accretion of...
Authors
Ray E. Wells, David C. Engebretson, P. D. Snavely, R. S. Coe

Shimada Seamount: An example of recent mid-plate volcanism Shimada Seamount: An example of recent mid-plate volcanism

Shimada Seamount is an isolated volcanic feature located between the Clipperton and Clarion Fracture Zones ∼1,150 km west of the East Pacific Rise and ∼600 km west of the inactive spreading center represented by the Mathematician Seamounts. It rises ∼3,900 m above the surrounding sea floor to within 50 m of present-day sea level. The area of Shimada Seamount should be volcanically...
Authors
J. V. Gardner, Walter E. Dean, Richard J. Blakely

Wilderness mineral potential: Assessment of mineral-resource potential in U.S. Forest Service lands studied in 1964-1984: Volume 1 Wilderness mineral potential: Assessment of mineral-resource potential in U.S. Forest Service lands studied in 1964-1984: Volume 1

Under the provisions of the Wilderness Act (Public Law 88-577, September 3, 1964) and subsequent related legislation, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) have been conducting mineral surveys of wilderness and primitive areas, and of other national forest lands being considered for wilderness designation. The Wilderness Act directs that the results of...

Geological Survey research, fiscal year 1981 Geological Survey research, fiscal year 1981

A summary of recent significant scientific and economic results accompanied by a list of geologic, hydrologic, and cartographic investigations in progress.
Authors
Water Resources Division U.S. Geological Survey

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
M. G. Bonilla, R. K. Mark, J. J. Lienkaemper

Paleomagnetic constraints on the interpretation of early Cenozoic Pacific Northwest paleogeography Paleomagnetic constraints on the interpretation of early Cenozoic Pacific Northwest paleogeography

Widespread Cenozoic clockwise tectonic rotation in the Pacific Northwest is an established fact; however, the geologic reconstructions based on these rotations are the subject of continuing debate. Three basic mechanisms have been proposed to explain the rotations: (1) simple shear rotation of marginal terranes caught in the dextral shear couple between oceanic plates and North America;...
Authors
Ray E. Wells

Book review: Geomagnetism of baked clays and recent sediments Book review: Geomagnetism of baked clays and recent sediments

This book is an outgrowth of the symposium entitled “Time Scales of Geomagnetic Secular Variations,” which was held at the 4th Assembly of the International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy (Edinburgh, U.K., August 1981). The volume includes many of the papers presented, which described paleomagnetic results from both archeologic materials and Holocene geologic deposits, as well...
Authors
Edward A. Mankinen
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