Publications
These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.
Filter Total Items: 16758
Geologic map of the Washington West 30’ × 60’ quadrangle, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C. Geologic map of the Washington West 30’ × 60’ quadrangle, Maryland, Virginia, and Washington D.C.
The Washington West 30’ × 60’ quadrangle covers an area of approximately 4,884 square kilometers (1,343 square miles) in and west of the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The eastern part of the area is highly urbanized, and more rural areas to the west are rapidly being developed. The area lies entirely within the Chesapeake Bay drainage basin and mostly within the Potomac River...
Authors
Peter T. Lyttle, John N. Aleinikoff, William C. Burton, E. Allen Crider, Avery A. Drake, Albert J. Froelich, J. Wright Horton, Gregorios Kasselas, Robert B. Mixon, Lucy McCartan, Arthur E. Nelson, Wayne L. Newell, Louis Pavlides, David S. Powars, C. Scott Southworth, Robert E. Weems
Conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo—Tin processing plants, a critical part of the tin supply chain Conflict minerals from the Democratic Republic of the Congo—Tin processing plants, a critical part of the tin supply chain
Summary The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) analyzes mineral and metal supply chains to identify and describe major components of material flows from ore extraction, through intermediate forms, to a final product. Supply chain analyses may be used (1) to identify risks to the United States associated with the supply of critical and strategic minerals and metals and (2) to provide greater...
Authors
Charles Anderson
Geology of the Petersburg batholith, eastern Piedmont, Virginia Geology of the Petersburg batholith, eastern Piedmont, Virginia
The 295-300 Ma Petersburg batholith in east-central Virginia forms one of the largest and northernmost of the Alleghanian plutonic complexes in the southern Appalachian Piedmont. The batholith is primarily composed of granite including massive and foliated (both magmatic and solid-state fabrics) varieties. The plutonic complex intruded medium-grade metamorphosed volcanic/plutonic rocks...
Authors
Brent E. Owens, Mark W. Carter, Christopher M. Bailey
Use of modflow drain package for simulating inter-basin transfer in abandoned coal mines Use of modflow drain package for simulating inter-basin transfer in abandoned coal mines
Simulation of groundwater flow in abandoned mines is difficult, especially where flux to and from mines is unknown or poorly quantified, and inter-basin transfer of groundwater occurs. A 3-year study was conducted in the Elkhorn area, West Virginia to better understand groundwater-flow processes and inter-basin transfer in above drainage abandoned coal mines. The study area was...
Authors
Mark D. Kozar, Kurt J. McCoy
Emulation of long-term changes in global climate: application to the late Pliocene and future Emulation of long-term changes in global climate: application to the late Pliocene and future
Multi-millennial transient simulations of climate changes have a range of important applications, such as for investigating key geologic events and transitions for which high-resolution palaeoenvironmental proxy data are available, or for projecting the long-term impacts of future climate evolution on the performance of geological repositories for the disposal of radioactive wastes...
Authors
Natalie S. Lord, Michel Crucifix, Daniel J. Lunt, Mike C. Thorne, Nabila Bounceur, Harry J. Dowsett, Charlotte L. O’Brien, A. Ridgwell
Arsenic hazard and associated health risks: New England, USA aquifers Arsenic hazard and associated health risks: New England, USA aquifers
No abstract available.
Authors
Joseph D. Ayotte
Dissolution of fluorapatite by Pseudomonas fluorescens P35 resulting in fluorine release Dissolution of fluorapatite by Pseudomonas fluorescens P35 resulting in fluorine release
Chemical weathering of fluorine-bearing minerals is widely accepted as the main mechanism for the release of fluorine (F) to groundwater. Here, we propose a potential mechanism of F release via microbial dissolution of fluorapatite (Ca5(PO4)3F), which has been neglected previously. Batch culture experiments were conducted at 30°C with a phosphate-solubilizing bacteria strain, Pseudomonas
Authors
Jianping Zhou, Hongmei Wang, Charles A. Cravotta, Qiang Dong, Xing Xiang
Assessing the impacts of future climate conditions on the effectiveness of winter cover crops in reducing nitrate loads into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed using SWAT model Assessing the impacts of future climate conditions on the effectiveness of winter cover crops in reducing nitrate loads into the Chesapeake Bay Watershed using SWAT model
Winter cover crops (WCCs) have been widely implemented in the Coastal Plain of the Chesapeake Bay watershed (CBW) due to their high effectiveness at reducing nitrate loads. However, future climate conditions (FCCs) are expected to exacerbate water quality degradation in the CBW by increasing nitrate loads from agriculture. Accordingly, the question remains whether WCCs are sufficient to...
Authors
Sangchul Lee, Ali M. Sadeghi, In-Young Yeo, Gregory W. McCarty, W. Dean Hively
Geology and biostratigraphy of the Potomac River cliffs at Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County, Virginia Geology and biostratigraphy of the Potomac River cliffs at Stratford Hall, Westmoreland County, Virginia
The cliffs along the Potomac River at Stratford Hall display extensive exposures of Miocene marine strata that belong successively to the Calvert, Choptank, St. Marys, and Eastover Formations. Within the lower part of this sequence, in the Calvert and Choptank Formations, there is well-developed cyclic stratigraphy. Above the Miocene units lies the marginal marine to deltaic Pleistocene...
Authors
Robert E. Weems, Lucy E. Edwards, Bryan D. Landacre
Post-rift magmatic evolution of the eastern North American “passive-aggressive” margin Post-rift magmatic evolution of the eastern North American “passive-aggressive” margin
Understanding the evolution of passive margins requires knowledge of temporal and chemical constraints on magmatism following the transition from supercontinent to rifting, to post-rifting evolution. The Eastern North American Margin (ENAM) is an ideal study location as several magmatic pulses occurred in the 200 My following rifting. In particular, the Virginia-West Virginia region of...
Authors
Sarah E. Mazza, Esteban Gazel, Elizabeth A. Johnson, Michael Bizmis, Ryan J. McAleer, C. Berk Biryol
Protocol and results from the first season of captive-rearing whooping cranes for a non-migratory release in Louisiana Protocol and results from the first season of captive-rearing whooping cranes for a non-migratory release in Louisiana
No abstract available
Authors
Glenn H. Olsen, Jane N. Chandler
Thiamine and lipid utilization in fasting Chinook salmon Thiamine and lipid utilization in fasting Chinook salmon
A laboratory study was conducted to estimate utilization rates of thiamine (vitamin B1) and lipid in whole fish, muscle, and liver tissues of fasting Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha). The experiment was conducted with Chinook salmon held at 5ºC over a period of 150 days to simulate fasting during migration or overwintering. Chinook salmon body length and wet weight did not...
Authors
Dale C. Honeyfield, A. K. Peters, Michael L. Jones