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These publications showcase the significant science conducted in our Science Centers.

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Mappable criteria for Li-mineralized pegmatites in the Appalachian orogen (utilizing the mineral systems approach) Mappable criteria for Li-mineralized pegmatites in the Appalachian orogen (utilizing the mineral systems approach)

Li-mineralized pegmatites are found throughout the Appalachian orogenic belt. Available evidence layers (e.g. tectonic setting, structures, geochemistry, geochronology) are used to develop mappable criteria for mineral resource assessments of Li-mineralized pegmatites in the northern and southern U.S. Appalachians. These evidence layers are placed into a mineral systems anatomy and...
Authors
Christopher S. Holm-Denoma, Joshua Mark Rosera, Niki E. Wintzer, Kelsey Elizabeth Crocker, Laura S. Pianowski, George N.D. Case, Jacob T. Murchek, Dalton M. McCaffrey, Joshua A. Coyan

The future of biocontrol in the Anthropocene: A review of climate change impacts on biocontrol agents and their hosts The future of biocontrol in the Anthropocene: A review of climate change impacts on biocontrol agents and their hosts

Biological control, the practice of using one species (biocontrol agent) to control the population of another (a host or prey species, hereafter target), can be a successful method to reduce pest species in agricultural and natural systems worldwide. Successful biocontrol agents often share a deep evolutionary history with their targets that results in high target specificity and...
Authors
Annette E. Evans, William Pfadenhauer, Daniel Buonaiuto, Matthew Fertakos, Carrie Brown-Lima, Toni Lyn Morelli

Quantitative mineral resource assessment of lithium pegmatite deposits in the Appalachian Orogen, USA Quantitative mineral resource assessment of lithium pegmatite deposits in the Appalachian Orogen, USA

Lithium is classified as a U.S. critical mineral commodity, and its demand is projected to drastically increase through 2040, driven by electric vehicle production and energy storage applications (IEA 2021).Most global lithium production is not in the United States increasing vulnerability to a supply disruption. The U.S. Geological Survey is actively assessing domestic lithium deposits...
Authors
Niki E. Wintzer, Joshua Mark Rosera, Christopher S. Holm-Denoma, Dalton M. McCaffrey, Kelsey Elizabeth Crocker, Joshua Aaron Coyan, Graham W. Lederer

Understanding market sensitivity: Estimation of supply and demand elasticities for non-fuel minerals Understanding market sensitivity: Estimation of supply and demand elasticities for non-fuel minerals

In today’s rapidly changing economic landscape, understanding market responsiveness to price changes and the factors influencing commodity prices has become increasingly relevant. Price elasticities serve as indicators of how variations in market conditions affect supply and demand, providing insights into the sensitivity of commodity markets to price fluctuations. This paper presents a
Authors
Ensieh Shojaeddini, Elisa Alonso, Nedal T. Nassar, David Pineault, Sydney M. Allen, Jamie L. Brainard, Dalton M. McCaffrey, Timothy M. O'Brien, Abraham J. Padilla, John W. Ryter

Regional high-frequency monitoring revealed chloride concentrations in exceedance of ecological benchmarks in urban streams across the Delaware River Basin, USA Regional high-frequency monitoring revealed chloride concentrations in exceedance of ecological benchmarks in urban streams across the Delaware River Basin, USA

Rising chloride concentrations pose critical risks to freshwater stream ecosystems in temperate regions like the Delaware River Basin (DRB), USA, where winter deicer applications (i.e., road salt) are common. Increasing chloride concentrations have been documented in the region, but the extent to which chloride exceeds regulatory benchmarks remains unclear because detection of...
Authors
Rosemary M. Fanelli, Michelle Morency, Brandon J. Fleming, Joel Moore, Deanna Hardesty, Megan E. Shoda

New constraints on location and timing of the Great Lakes tectonic zone, central Upper Peninsula, Michigan, USA New constraints on location and timing of the Great Lakes tectonic zone, central Upper Peninsula, Michigan, USA

The Great Lakes tectonic zone (GLTZ) forms the boundary between the Wawa–Abitibi and Minnesota River Valley subprovinces within the Archean Superior Province. The GLTZ is concealed for all of its 1100 km length, except for a segment in the central Upper Peninsula of Michigan. There, it is exposed as a northwest-striking mylonite zone along a 11 km segment, extending to the onlap of...
Authors
Benjamin J. Drenth, Amanda Kate Souders, William F. Cannon, Jay M. Thompson

Assessing and enhancing national water model streamflow predictions for montane catchments in the northeastern United States Assessing and enhancing national water model streamflow predictions for montane catchments in the northeastern United States

This study evaluates National Water Model (NWM) performance in low-order montane catchments across the northeastern United States by comparing retrospective simulations to measured observations. To address deficiencies, we develop a machine learning (ML) correction model for selected sites using LightGBM, a different approach from conventional bias correction methods. Montane, low-order...
Authors
Mirce Morales-Velazquez, Beverley Wemple, James B. Shanley, Scott Douglas Hamshaw, John T. Kemper, Donna M. Rizzo, Kristen L. Underwood, Patrick J. Clemens, Andrew W. Schroth

Methodology and technical input for the 2025 U.S. List of Critical Minerals—Assessing the potential effects of mineral commodity supply chain disruptions on the U.S. economy Methodology and technical input for the 2025 U.S. List of Critical Minerals—Assessing the potential effects of mineral commodity supply chain disruptions on the U.S. economy

The Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, is tasked by section 7002 (“Mineral Security”) of title VII (“Critical Minerals”) of the Energy Act of 2020 (Public Law 116–260, December 27, 2020, 116th Congress) with reviewing and revising the methodology used to evaluate mineral commodity supply risk and the U.S. List of Critical Minerals (LCM)...
Authors
Nedal T. Nassar, David Pineault, Sydney M. Allen, Dalton M. McCaffrey, Abraham J. Padilla, Jamie L. Brainard, Mani Bayani, Ensieh Shojaeddini, John W. Ryter, Sara Lincoln, Elisa Alonso

Spatial mapping of dissolved methane using an in situ sensor in Puget Sound Spatial mapping of dissolved methane using an in situ sensor in Puget Sound

Release of methane, as gas bubbles or in the dissolved phase, from the seafloor has been observed in coastal waters ( 1000 m). Methane dissolution within the water column affects the geochemistry of the surrounding water, leading to localized oxygen loss and potential escape to the atmosphere, particularly from shallower sites. Traditional methods for detecting and quantifying dissolved...
Authors
Alexandra M. Padilla, William Pardis, Jason Kapit, Tor A. Bjorklund, Nicholas D. Ward, Daniel J. Fornari, Susan Hautala, William F. Waite, H. Paul Johnson, Anna P. Michel

Simulated biogeochemical effects of seawater restoration on diked salt marshes, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts, U.S. Simulated biogeochemical effects of seawater restoration on diked salt marshes, Cape Cod National Seashore, Massachusetts, U.S.

Efforts have been underway worldwide to reintroduce seawater to many historically diked salt marshes for restoration of tidal flow and associated estuarine habitat. Seawater restoration to a diked Cape Cod marsh was simulated using the computer program PHREEQC based on previously conducted microcosm experiments to better understand the associated timing and sequence of multiple...
Authors
Craig J. Brown

Simulated hydrologic responses to proposed wastewater-returnflow scenarios in Falmouth, Massachusetts Simulated hydrologic responses to proposed wastewater-returnflow scenarios in Falmouth, Massachusetts

The Cape Cod aquifer is the sole source of drinking water for communities on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, including the Town of Falmouth, where the aquifer is currently threatened by contamination from septic-system-derived nitrogen. To address this problem, the Town is proposing to sewer areas of Falmouth, treat the wastewater at the Town’s Main Wastewater Treatment Facility (a nitrogen...
Authors
Kendall M.F. Goldstein, Timothy D. McCobb

Estimating the probability of export restrictions to inform mineral criticality Estimating the probability of export restrictions to inform mineral criticality

As demand for advanced technologies rises, mineral commodities will increase in geopolitical importance. To assess risks associated with mineral commodity supply chain disruptions, governmental agencies and others have developed "criticality" assessments, with criticality described using the economic impact and probability of supply chain disruptions. In previous work, subjective supply...
Authors
John W. Ryter, Nedal T. Nassar
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