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Publications

Results from our Program’s research and minerals information activities are published in USGS publications series as well as in outside journals.  To follow Minerals Information Periodicals, subscribe to the Mineral Periodicals RSS feed.

Filter Total Items: 2523

A multidisciplinary approach that considers occurrence, geochemistry, bioavailability, and toxicity to prioritize critical minerals for environmental research A multidisciplinary approach that considers occurrence, geochemistry, bioavailability, and toxicity to prioritize critical minerals for environmental research

Critical minerals (or critical elements) are minerals or elements that are essential to global security and development and have supply chains vulnerable to disruption. In general, knowledge of the environmental behavior and health effects of critical elements is needed to support the development of safe and environmentally responsible supplies. This knowledge includes identifying...
Authors
Sarah Jane White, Tyler Kane, Kate M. Campbell, Marie Noele Croteau, Michael G. Iacchetta, Johanna Blake, Charles A. Cravotta, Bethany K. Kunz, Charles N. Alpers, Jill Jenkins, Katherine Walton-Day

Rock sample photogrammetry Rock sample photogrammetry

This step-by-step protocol describes the photogrammetry process used by the U.S. Geological Survey Spokane Imaging Lab (SPIMG) lab to create 3D models of geologic samples. Steps related to photographing small objects are applicable to photogrammetry in general, however, SPIMG-specific steps involving lab hardware and software may not be.
Authors
Lucas Leonidus Evart

Brittle regime slip partitioned damage and deformation mechanisms along the eastern Denali fault zone in southwestern, Yukon Brittle regime slip partitioned damage and deformation mechanisms along the eastern Denali fault zone in southwestern, Yukon

Rare bedrock exposures of the eastern Denali fault zone in southwestern Yukon allow for the measurement, sampling, and analyses of brittle regime fault slip data and deformation mechanisms to explore relations to far field, oblique plate motions. Host rock lithologies and associated slip surfaces show episodic damage zone‐related deformation and calcite ± hematite ± chlorite related...
Authors
Jonathan Saul Caine, Omero F. Orlandini, Frederick W. Vollmer, Heather A. Lowers

The chlorine evolution of arc magmas and the crustal water filter The chlorine evolution of arc magmas and the crustal water filter

Degassing of water from magmatic systems is key to transporting metals from magmas to form ore deposits, but elements like chlorine, through the formation of anion complexes, can be important in solubilizing and mobilizing these metals into water-rich fluids. Reconstructing the Cl systematics of evolving magmas is thus an important step towards understanding the origins of ore deposits...
Authors
Jackson Stone Borchardt, Cin-Ty Lee

Spread and frequency of explosive silicic volcanism of the Carpathian-Pannonian Region during Early Miocene: Clues from the SW Pannonian Basin and the Dinaridesion during Early Miocene: clues from the SW Pannonian Basin and the Dinarides Spread and frequency of explosive silicic volcanism of the Carpathian-Pannonian Region during Early Miocene: Clues from the SW Pannonian Basin and the Dinaridesion during Early Miocene: clues from the SW Pannonian Basin and the Dinarides

Explosive silicic volcanism of the Carpathian-Pannonian Region (CPR) is increasingly recognized as the primary source of tephra across the Alpine-Mediterranean region during the Early and Middle Miocene. However, the tephrostratigraphic framework for this period of volcanic activity is still incomplete. We present new multi-proxy data from Lower Miocene ignimbrites and tephra fallout...
Authors
Mihovil Brlek, Nina Trinajstic, Sean Patrick Gaynor, Steffen Kutterolf, Folkmar Hauff, Julie Schindlbeck-Belo, Sanja Suica, Kuo-Lung Wang, Hao-Yang Lee, Elena Watts, Svetoslav V. Georgiev, Vlatko Brcic, Marko Spelic, Ivan Misur, Duje Kukoc, Blair Schoene, Reka Lukacs

New occurrences of the rare, REE minerals daqingshanite, törnebohmite, biraite, sahamalite, and ferriperbøeite from the Sheep Creek area, Montana, USA New occurrences of the rare, REE minerals daqingshanite, törnebohmite, biraite, sahamalite, and ferriperbøeite from the Sheep Creek area, Montana, USA

Over 30 small, discontinuous, tabular carbonatite bodies are located in the Sheep Creek area, Ravalli County, southwest Montana. The age and origin of these REE-Nb-rich deposits are currently being investigated. The purpose of this paper is to document the occurrence of several rare minerals, including daqingshanite, törnebohmite, biraite, sahamalite, and ferriperbøeite, in two of the...
Authors
Chris Gammons, Sarah Risedorf, Gary Wyss, Heather A. Lowers

Mantle melting in regions of thick continental lithosphere: Examples from Late Cretaceous and younger volcanic rocks, Southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado (USA) Mantle melting in regions of thick continental lithosphere: Examples from Late Cretaceous and younger volcanic rocks, Southern Rocky Mountains, Colorado (USA)

Major- and trace-element data together with Nd and Sr isotopic compositions and 40Ar/39Ar age determinations were obtained for Late Cretaceous and younger volcanic rocks from north-central Colorado, USA, in the Southern Rocky Mountains to assess the sources of mantle-derived melts in a region underlain by thick (≥150 km) continental lithosphere. Trachybasalt to trachyandesite lava flows...
Authors
Lang Farmer, Leah E. Morgan, M. Cosca, James Mize, Treasure Bailey, Kenzie J. Turner, Cameron Mark Mercer, Eric T Ellison, Aaron Bell

Cathodoluminescence imaging and spectrometry of a jadeite microbeam reference crystal: Detection of Ce3+ Cathodoluminescence imaging and spectrometry of a jadeite microbeam reference crystal: Detection of Ce3+

Options for selecting a high Na concentration mineral for instrument calibration that are suitably stable under the electron beam are limited [1]. NaCl (approximately a mass fraction of 39 % Na) is not practical for use alongside other embedded and polished materials in a mounted block of standards. While albite (NaAlSi3O8; approximately a mass fraction of 8 % Na) represents a typical...
Authors
Thomas Lameris, Heather A. Lowers, Scott A. Wight, Edward P. Vicenzi

Correlating quantified cathodoluminescence spectra in jadeite with micro-scale color measurements in visible-near infrared reflectance spectrometry Correlating quantified cathodoluminescence spectra in jadeite with micro-scale color measurements in visible-near infrared reflectance spectrometry

Cultures throughout history have valued jadeite jade (hereinafter jade), a natural material assemblage composed predominately of the NaAl endmember pyroxene, jadeite (NaAlSi2O6) that is prized for its mechanical properties and enticing coloration [1, 2]. The geological setting for the formation of jadeite-rich rocks and associated complex geochemical phenomena is well documented in the...
Authors
Edward P. Vicenzi, Thomas Lameris, Heather A. Lowers, Colin MacRae

Compositional and structural mapping of Northwest Africa 15507 angrite Compositional and structural mapping of Northwest Africa 15507 angrite

Angrite meteorites represent interesting sampling of planetary crustal environments. Quench-textured angrites with strong crystal zoning originated from the shallow surface region, with evidence of reducing conditions during solidification. Plutonic angrites have more coarse-grained igneous and metamorphic textures with comparatively less zoning and are interpreted as having equilibrated...
Authors
Heather A. Lowers, Paul C. Carpenter, Jay M. Thompson, Anthony Irving

Deep lithospheric controls on surface deformation and seismicity around the East Anatolian Fault Zone and A3 Triple Junction Deep lithospheric controls on surface deformation and seismicity around the East Anatolian Fault Zone and A3 Triple Junction

The East Anatolian Fault Zone (EAFZ) is a plate-bounding strike-slip fault capable of hosting large earthquakes, as demonstrated by the extremely damaging February 2023 Mw 7.8 and Mw 7.7 mainshocks of the Kahramanmaraş earthquake sequence. Deformation related to this boundary, part of the Anatolia-Arabia-Africa (A3) Triple Junction, is diffuse, as was shown by part of this earthquake...
Authors
Jonathan Daily, Michael H. Darin, Donna L. Whitney, M. Cosca, Christian Teyssier, Nuretdin Kaymakci, Tuna Eken, Mary R. Reid, Susan L. Beck
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