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Browse recent USGS publications related to energy resources. 

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BET surface area distributions in polar stream sediments: Implications for silicate weathering in a cold-arid environment BET surface area distributions in polar stream sediments: Implications for silicate weathering in a cold-arid environment

BET surface area values are critical for quantifying the amount of potentially reactive sediments available for chemical weathering and ultimately, prediction of silicate weathering fluxes. BET surface area values of fine-grained (
Authors
Kristen Marra, Megan Elwood Madden, Gerilyn Soreghan, Brenda Hall

U-Pb zircon age data for selected sedimentary, metasedimentary, and igneous rocks from northern and central Alaska U-Pb zircon age data for selected sedimentary, metasedimentary, and igneous rocks from northern and central Alaska

This publication contains the complete results of U-Pb zircon age dating studies of sedimentary and metasedimentary units from northern and central Alaska that are discussed and interpreted in other reports by the author. Most of the U-Pb ages are of detrital zircons from sandstones, although U-Pb ages from igneous and sedimentary clasts from conglomerates in some of those same units are...
Authors
Thomas Moore

Stochastic modeling of a lava-flow aquifer system Stochastic modeling of a lava-flow aquifer system

This report describes preliminary three-dimensional geostatistical modeling of a lava-flow aquifer system using a multiple-point geostatistical model. The purpose of this study is to provide a proof-of-concept for this modeling approach. An example of the method is demonstrated using a subset of borehole geologic data and aquifer test data from a portion of the Calico Hills Formation, a...
Authors
Collin Cronkite-Ratcliff, Geoffrey Phelps

Vegetation controls on weathering intensity during the last deglacial transition in southeast Africa Vegetation controls on weathering intensity during the last deglacial transition in southeast Africa

Tropical climate is rapidly changing, but the effects of these changes on the geosphere are unknown, despite a likelihood of climatically-induced changes on weathering and erosion. The lack of long, continuous paleo-records prevents an examination of terrestrial responses to climate change with sufficient detail to answer questions about how systems behaved in the past and may alter in...
Authors
Sarah J. Ivory, Michael McGlue, Geoffrey Ellis, Anne-Marie Lézine, Andrew Cohen, Annie Vincens

Deformation from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake near the southwest margin of the Santa Clara Valley, California Deformation from the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake near the southwest margin of the Santa Clara Valley, California

Damage to pavement and near-surface utility pipes, caused by the 17 October 1989, Loma Prieta earthquake, provides evidence for ground deformation in a 663 km2 area near the southwest margin of the Santa Clara Valley, California (USA). A total of 1427 damage sites, collected from more than 30 sources, are concentrated in four zones, three of which lie near previously mapped faults. In...
Authors
Kevin Schmidt, Stephen Ellen, David Peterson

USGS investigations of water produced during hydrocarbon reservoir development USGS investigations of water produced during hydrocarbon reservoir development

Significant quantities of water are present in hydrocarbon reservoirs. When brought to the land surface during oil, gas, and coalbed methane production, the water—either naturally occurring or injected as a method to enhance production—is termed produced water. Produced water is currently managed through processes such as recycling, treatment and discharge, spreading on roads...
Authors
Mark Engle, Isabelle Cozzarelli, Bruce Smith

An 8700 year paleoclimate reconstruction from the southern Maya lowlands An 8700 year paleoclimate reconstruction from the southern Maya lowlands

Analysis of a sediment core from Lago Puerto Arturo, a closed basin lake in northern Peten, Guatemala, has provided an ∼8700 cal year record of climate change and human activity in the southern Maya lowlands. Stable isotope, magnetic susceptibility, and pollen analyses were used to reconstruct environmental change in the region. Results indicate a relatively wet early to middle Holocene...
Authors
David Wahl, Roger Byrne, Lysanna Anderson

Geological controls on the occurrence of gas hydrate from core, downhole log, and seismic data in the Shenhu area, South China Sea Geological controls on the occurrence of gas hydrate from core, downhole log, and seismic data in the Shenhu area, South China Sea

Multi-channel seismic reflection data, well logs, and recovered sediment cores have been used in this study to characterize the geologic controls on the occurrence of gas hydrate in the Shenhu area of the South China Sea. The concept of the "gas hydrate petroleum system" has allowed for the systematic analysis of the impact of gas source, geologic controls on gas migration, and the role...
Authors
Myung Lee, Xiujuan Wang, Timothy Collett, Shengxiong Yang, Yiqun Guo, Shiguo Wu

Reply to: Turner, R.E., 2014. Discussion of: Olea, R.A. and Coleman, J.L., Jr., 2014. A synoptic examination of causes of land loss in southern Louisiana as related to the exploitation of subsurface geologic resources, Journal of Coastal Research, 30(5), Reply to: Turner, R.E., 2014. Discussion of: Olea, R.A. and Coleman, J.L., Jr., 2014. A synoptic examination of causes of land loss in southern Louisiana as related to the exploitation of subsurface geologic resources, Journal of Coastal Research, 30(5),

To a large extent, geology is a science of solving inverse problems based on some data and scientific principles. Solutions to these types of problems are not unique, especially when using different data, invoking different principles, or both. It is not surprising that the discussant and we have reached different conclusions on the same specific issue of land loss along the coast of...
Authors
Ricardo A. Olea, James L. Coleman

MTpy: A Python toolbox for magnetotellurics MTpy: A Python toolbox for magnetotellurics

We present the software package MTpy that allows handling, processing, and imaging of magnetotelluric (MT) data sets. Written in Python, the code is open source, containing sub-packages and modules for various tasks within the standard MT data processing and handling scheme. Besides the independent definition of classes and functions, MTpy provides wrappers and convenience scripts to...
Authors
Lars Krieger, Jared Peacock

Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: Williston Basin, Central Montana Basins, and Montana Thrust Belt study areas Geologic framework for the national assessment of carbon dioxide storage resources: Williston Basin, Central Montana Basins, and Montana Thrust Belt study areas

The 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act directs the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to conduct a national assessment of potential geologic storage resources for carbon dioxide (CO2). The methodology used by the USGS for the national CO2 assessment follows that of previous USGS work. This methodology is non-economic and is intended to be used at regional to sub-basinal scales. The...
Authors
Marc Buursink, Matthew D. Merrill, William Craddock, Tina Roberts-Ashby, Sean Brennan, Madalyn S. Blondes, P.A. Freeman, Steven Cahan, Christina DeVera, Celeste D. Lohr

A geologic and mineral exploration spatial database for the Stillwater Complex, Montana A geologic and mineral exploration spatial database for the Stillwater Complex, Montana

The Stillwater Complex is a Neoarchean, ultramafic to mafic layered intrusion exposed in the Beartooth Mountains in south-central Montana. This igneous intrusion contains magmatic mineralization that is variably enriched in strategic and critical commodities such as chromium, nickel, and the platinum-group elements. One deposit, the J-M Reef, is the sole source of primary production and...
Authors
Michael Zientek, Heather Parks
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