Images

Mineral: Specularite (a variety of Hematite)

Mineral Origin: Republic Mine, MI

Primary Mineral Commodity: Iron

Commodity Uses: Steelmaking

Sphalerite, zinc sulfide, is and has been the principal ore mineral in the world. Zinc uses range from metal products to rubber and medicines. Zinc alloys readily with other metals and is chemically active. On exposure to air, it develops a thin gray oxide film (patina), which inhibits deeper oxidation (corrosion) of the metal.

Mineral origin: Hallman Beam Mine, Cherryville, NC
Primary mineral commodity: Lithium
Uses: batteries for cell phones, laptops, and electric and hybrid vehicles

Stibnite (Sb2S3) is the predominant ore mineral of antimony. Antimony compounds help prevent skin burns, increase battery life, and refine glass used for cellphones. A surprising 83% of antimony consumed stateside is imported—mostly from China—leaving the US susceptible to supply disruption.

Mineral: Tetrahedrite (a copper antimony sulfosalt)

Mineral Origin: Bingham Canyon, UT

Main Commodity: Silver

Mineral: Vanadinite

Mineral Origin: J.C. Holmes Claim, Patagonia, AZ (Sample donated by G. van Oss)

Primary Commodity: Vanadium

Mineral: Wolframite
Primary Commodity: Tungsten
Primary Commodity Uses: Tungsten is one of the densest metals on the planet, and therefore gets used in metalworking and construction, as well as in heat sinks, weights, and even vibrating batteries.

Stacy M Kinsey collecting eDNA sample from Snake Riv nr Astoria HS, WY

Scientists deploy a Chirp seismic instrument from the beach. Seismic data provide view of sub-seafloor geology, which records depositional and erosional events and reveals geologic controls on sediment supply.

USGS scientists recently collected peat and lake core samples from the swamp to help reconstruct natural, environmental conditions over the past 12,000 years. 

Centuries of ditching, draining and harvesting resources have greatly altered the Great Dismal Swamp in Virginia.

Scientists never stop learning! USGS scientists participate in ongoing training to keep up on the latest scientific methods, tools, and best practices. In this photo, USGS scientists participate in a field class about collecting groundwater data using USGS standards and procedures.

Sampling for microplastics on Lake Mead, March 21, 2017

On March 21, 2017, the sediment trap from this instrument package (deployed the previous October into Monterey Canyon) is gone and the mounting frame is mangled, having been exposed to several significant turbidity currents in one deployment. 

This 3D model of the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit was constructed from a series of thermal images acquired during an overflight on Thursday, March 16. For scale, the lava lake is about 250 meters (820 ft) across. The lake is within the Overlook crater, which is within Halema‘uma‘u Crater.

Map of U.S. showing karst areas, which are prone to land subsidence and sinkholes.

Mohawk River at Lock 8 near Schenectady, New York (01354330)

Processing a sample for detection of N. fowleri 

This Dionex ASE 350 accelerated solvent extractor automatically extracts hydrocarbons for further analysis. We also have a Zymark TurboVap II for sample preparation (not shown).

In the carbon analysis laboratory, these three instruments (the UIC CM250) automatically analyze the total carbon, total organic carbon, and total inorganic carbon content of multiple dried sediment samples. 

We spin down a sample of sediment that's mixed with distilled water in a centrifuge. This separates the sediment from the water at the bottom of the sample bottle, and we pour off most of the water. This process removes dissolved salts.