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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

Uncovering the Mysteries of the Bering Land Bridge

Uncovering the Mysteries of the Bering Land Bridge

Restoring Giants from the Ground Up: A Story of Fire, Soil, and Sequoias

Restoring Giants from the Ground Up: A Story of Fire, Soil, and Sequoias

The Threat of Coastal Flooding from Cascadia Earthquake-Driven Land Subsidence

The Threat of Coastal Flooding from Cascadia Earthquake-Driven Land Subsidence

Publications

Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of spinifex komatiitic basalts in the Bradley Peak greenstone terrane, Wyoming Province Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of spinifex komatiitic basalts in the Bradley Peak greenstone terrane, Wyoming Province

Komatiitic volcanic rocks are important hosts of Ni sulfide mineralization and record early Earth evolution; however, those in the well-studied Archean Wyoming Province have received little attention. Here, we elucidate the timing and petrogenesis of the Bradley Peak komatiitic volcanic rocks using field and textural observations, geochronology, and geochemistry. Detrital and igneous...
Authors
Lisa Zieman, Michael Jenkins, Jacob Poletti

Uppermost Oligocene and Miocene diatom biostratigraphy of Ocean Drilling Program Sites 682 and 688 from the Peru Margin Uppermost Oligocene and Miocene diatom biostratigraphy of Ocean Drilling Program Sites 682 and 688 from the Peru Margin

The diatom biochronology of ODP (Ocean Drilling Program) Holes 682A and 688E provides a detailed framework for refiningMiocene diatom zonation in the East Pisco Basin of southern Peru, establishing both a nearly complete offshore reference section and a correlation tool for the fragmentary onshore vertebrate-bearing deposits. This new biostratigraphic record documents a complete...
Authors
Jason Coenen, John Barron, Thomas J. DeVries

Origin of the high Pd/Pt ratio of the J-M Reef, Stillwater Complex Montana USA Origin of the high Pd/Pt ratio of the J-M Reef, Stillwater Complex Montana USA

The J-M Reef of the Stillwater Complex exhibits a high and consistent Pd/Pt ratio (~3.8). This ratio results from the equilibration of an immiscible sulfide liquid with a relatively high Pd/Pt silicate melt rather than an unusually Pd- and Pt-enriched parental melt. Numerical modeling suggests that the original silicate melt contained typical mantle-derived concentrations of Pd and Pt (...
Authors
Michael Jenkins, William Smith

Science

Life Cycle of Critical Minerals: A Balanced Approach to Meeting Our Nation's Resource Demands

Critical minerals are essential to the Nation’s economy and security. Demand for critical minerals is increasing, and it is essential to balance the societal need for these minerals with efforts to understand the effects of mining on other natural resources and to develop techniques to minimize these effects. The USGS Minerals Resources Life Cycle Integrated Science Team (IST) focuses on the life...
Life Cycle of Critical Minerals: A Balanced Approach to Meeting Our Nation's Resource Demands

Life Cycle of Critical Minerals: A Balanced Approach to Meeting Our Nation's Resource Demands

Critical minerals are essential to the Nation’s economy and security. Demand for critical minerals is increasing, and it is essential to balance the societal need for these minerals with efforts to understand the effects of mining on other natural resources and to develop techniques to minimize these effects. The USGS Minerals Resources Life Cycle Integrated Science Team (IST) focuses on the life...
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Geology of the eastern Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain along the Fall Zone, Virginia to Georgia

This USGS NCGMP Project aims to fill the void in geologic map coverage along the Fall Zone from southeastern Virginia to central Georgia, for critical mineral research, earthquake hazards, and interstate correlation. We are also forging strong cooperative ties within the NCGMP by combining resources across all three Program components by supporting Virginia Energy (Virginia Geological Survey), the...
Geology of the eastern Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain along the Fall Zone, Virginia to Georgia

Geology of the eastern Piedmont and upper Coastal Plain along the Fall Zone, Virginia to Georgia

This USGS NCGMP Project aims to fill the void in geologic map coverage along the Fall Zone from southeastern Virginia to central Georgia, for critical mineral research, earthquake hazards, and interstate correlation. We are also forging strong cooperative ties within the NCGMP by combining resources across all three Program components by supporting Virginia Energy (Virginia Geological Survey), the...
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2024 Hurricane Helene Landslide Hazards

Hurricane Helene produced widespread and damaging landslides. The USGS is mapping landslides to support our partners. This page provides information about the extent and severity of landslide impacts. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday, September 26th, 2024. The hurricane continued across the southern Appalachian Mountains producing record rainfall. This...
2024 Hurricane Helene Landslide Hazards

2024 Hurricane Helene Landslide Hazards

Hurricane Helene produced widespread and damaging landslides. The USGS is mapping landslides to support our partners. This page provides information about the extent and severity of landslide impacts. Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida as a Category 4 storm on Thursday, September 26th, 2024. The hurricane continued across the southern Appalachian Mountains producing record rainfall. This...
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