Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center

Comprehensive, Interdisciplinary Research and Surveys

Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Scientists within the GEMSC represent a breadth of programs focused on the USGS mission; Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, and Environmental Health Programs. GEMSC conducts comprehensive, interdisciplinary research and surveys of the origin, occurrence, distribution, quantity, and composition of oil, gas, coal, minerals, and more.

What We Provide

GEMSC conducts comprehensive, interdisciplinary research and surveys of the origin, occurrence, distribution, quantity, and composition of oil, gas, coal, minerals, and associated deposits. We provide up-to-date, publicly available, scientific data.

Explore Our Science

What We Address

GEMSC was established in 2020 through the merger of the Eastern Energy Resources and the Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Centers. Our work is broadly applicable to current and emerging geology, energy, and minerals issues.

About The Center

Science Priorities

News

June 18, 2026

USGS: Lithium in Carolinas Could Replace Imports for a Century or More

April 28, 2026

Lithium in Eastern States Could Replace Imports for a Century or More

August 28, 2025

USGS Unveils New National Geologic Map

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Publications

October 21, 2026

Assessment of Undiscovered Conventional Gas Resources in the Northern Alaska Province, 2026 Assessment of Undiscovered Conventional Gas Resources in the Northern Alaska Province, 2026

Using a geology-based assessment methodology, the U.S. Geological Survey estimated undiscovered, technically recoverable mean conventional resources of 96 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Northern Alaska Province.

Authors

William H. Craddock, Jared T. Gooley, Katherine J. Whidden, John W. Counts, Christopher D. Connors, David W. Houseknecht, Rebecca A. Smith, Jade Harper, William A. Rouse, Richard O. Lease, Samuel J. Heller, Tracey J. Mercier, Christopher J. Schenk

Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

September 25, 2026

Elemental and isotope geochemistry of Smackover Formation brines in Alabama and Arkansas: Implications for fluid mixing and water-rock interaction Elemental and isotope geochemistry of Smackover Formation brines in Alabama and Arkansas: Implications for fluid mixing and water-rock interaction

This study investigates the geochemical characteristics of brines within the Upper Jurassic Smackover Formation in Alabama and Arkansas through elemental and isotopic analyses and geochemical modeling to reveal the extent and nature of fluid mixing and water-rock interactions. Smackover Formation brines exhibit Na-Cl-Ca hydrogeochemical facies and sulfate depletion relative to seawater...

Authors

Kelly Kreitzer, Ming-Kuo Lee, Haibo Zou, Yang Wang, Andrew L. Masterson, Ann S. Ojeda, Billor Zeki, Natalia Malina, Gregory Guthrie, Bonnie McDevitt, Ann Arnold, Demi Durham

Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

September 17, 2026

Release and recapture: Limited carbon mobilization in sediment adjacent to Central Atlantic Magmatic Province sills, Florida, USA Release and recapture: Limited carbon mobilization in sediment adjacent to Central Atlantic Magmatic Province sills, Florida, USA

Large Igneous Provinces (LIPs) are associated with dramatic changes to the Earth system; their rapid release of carbon may initiate catastrophic climatic changes causing mass extinction. This carbon release is often associated with volcanic emissions, yet metamorphic carbon production is poorly constrained. Metamorphic carbon devolatilization occurs as intrusions interact with host...

Authors

Lindsi Allman, E.M. Stewart, Kanwa Sengupta, Mainak Mookherjee, Miles Kelsey, Paul C. Hackley, Ryan J. McAleer, Aaron M. Jubb, Rebecca Stokes

Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Florence Bascom Geoscience Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

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