Carol A Finn, Ph.D.
Carol Finn is a research geophysicist with the Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center in Denver, CO.
Carol specializes in the application of magnetic, gravity and electromagnetic data, to develop framework geological models in support of resource and volcano hazards assessments and fundamental Earth Processes. She has worked all over the world. Her current research is on imagining Yellowstone's iconic thermal features, 3D modeling of layered mafic intrusions and their platinum group element potential and Cascades and Alaska landslide hazards.
Research Interests
Carol is an expert on the application of magnetic, gravity and electromagnetic data, along with other geophysical techniques, to identify the subsurface distribution of
- hydrothermal alteration and causative sub-volcanic intrusions as well as ground water as they relate to both landslide hazard assessment and systematics of hydrothermal systems
- layered mafic intrusions, including the Bushveld, Stillwater and Duluth complexes, in support of assessments of platinum group element potential
- crystalline basement related to global mineral resource assessments (Algeria, Mauritania, Afghanistan, South Africa, Uzbekistan, United States)
Professional Experience
1978-present, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, CO
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Geophysics, University of Colorado, 1988
M.S. Geophysics, University of Colorado, 1984
B.S. Geology, Wellesley College, 1978
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union: Thriving Earth Exchange Board Member (2016-present), Past President (2015-2016), President (2013-2014), President-Elect (2011-2012), General Secretary (2006-2010)
Geological Society of America
2000-2005 Adjunct faculty member, Dept. of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO
Honors and Awards
2011 - DOI Meritorious Service Award
2007 - DOI Superior Service Award
2004 - Elected Geological Society of America Fellow
2003 - US Board of Geographic Names named Finn Spur in Antarctica (79° 17' S, 156° 37' E) after me in recognition of my management of Antarctic aerogeophysical field projects.
2001-2002 - Awarded senior Gledden Research Fellowship, Centre for Global Metallogeny, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
1990-1992 - Awarded Science and Technology Fellowship, Geological Survey of Japan, Tsukuba, Japan
Science and Products
Combining multiphase groundwater flow and slope stability models to assess stratovolcano flank collapse in the Cascade Range
The F'derik-Zouerate iron district: Mesoarchean and Paleoproterozoic iron formation of the Tiris Complex, Islamic Republic of Mauritania
Regional tectonic setting for the Trinidad earthquake swarms (2000-2012) from gravity and magnetic data
Mapping the 3-D extent of the Northern Lobe of the Bushveld layered mafic intrusion from geophysical data
Algoma-, Superior-, and oolitic-type iron deposits of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (phase V, deliverable 83)
Synthesis of geophysical data (phase V, deliverable 55)
Hydrogeologic map of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (phase V, deliverable 56), Synthesis of hydrologic data (phase V, deliverable 57), and chemical hydrologic map of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (added value)
Mineral potential tracts for orogenic, Carlin-like, and epithermal gold deposits in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, (phase V, deliverable 69)
Crystalline basement map of Mauritania derived from filtered aeromagnetic data (deliverable 54_1), Aeromagnetic and geological structure map of Mauritania (phase V, deliverable 54_2), Maximum depth to basement map of Mauritania derived from Euler analysis
Using nuclear magnetic resonance and transient electromagnetics to characterise water distribution beneath an ice covered volcanic crater: The case of Sherman Crater Mt. Baker Washington.
Overview of the magnetic signatures of the Palaeoproterozoic Rustenburg Layered Suite, Bushveld Complex, South Africa
Helicopter electromagnetic data map ice thickness at Mount Adams and Mount Baker, Washington, USA
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Maps
- Multimedia
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 115
Combining multiphase groundwater flow and slope stability models to assess stratovolcano flank collapse in the Cascade Range
Hydrothermal alteration can create low‐permeability zones, potentially resulting in elevated pore‐fluid pressures, within a volcanic edifice. Strength reduction by rock alteration and high pore‐fluid pressures have been suggested as a mechanism for edifice flank instability. Here we combine numerical models of multiphase heat transport and groundwater flow with a slope‐stability code that incorporAuthorsJessica L. Ball, Joshua M. Taron, Mark E. Reid, Shaul Hurwitz, Carol A. Finn, Paul A. BedrosianThe F'derik-Zouerate iron district: Mesoarchean and Paleoproterozoic iron formation of the Tiris Complex, Islamic Republic of Mauritania
High-grade hematitic iron ores (of HIF, containing 60-65 wt%Fe) have been mined in Mauritania since 1952 from Superior-type iron deposits of the F'derik-Zouerate district. Depletion of the high-grade ores in recent years has resulted in new exploration projects focused on lower-grade magnetite ores occurring in Algoma-type banded iron formation (of BIF, containing ca. 35 wt% Fe). Mauritania is tAuthorsCliff D. Taylor, Carol A. Finn, Eric D. Anderson, Dwight C. Bradley, Mohamed Joud, Ahmed Taleb Mohamed, John D. Horton, Craig A. JohnsonRegional tectonic setting for the Trinidad earthquake swarms (2000-2012) from gravity and magnetic data
Earthquakes in the Raton basin near Trinidad, Colorado, (Figure 1) are located (Rubenstein et. al., 2014) near a major gravity and magnetic boundary. These earthquakes also occur in an area of hydrocarbon production that includes several high-capacity produced water injection wells. This presentation gives a very basic outline of the relation between the earthquakes, the potential field data, andAuthorsCarol A. Finn, Mason A. Kass, Bruce D. SmithMapping the 3-D extent of the Northern Lobe of the Bushveld layered mafic intrusion from geophysical data
Geophysical models image the 3D geometry of the mafic portion of the Bushveld Complex north of the Thabazimbi-Murchison Lineament (TML), critical for understanding the origin of the world's largest layered mafic intrusion and platinum group element deposits. The combination of the gravity and magnetic data with recent seismic, MT, borehole and rock property measurements powerfully constrains the mAuthorsCarol A. Finn, Paul A. Bedrosian, Janine Cole, Tshepo David Khoza, Susan J. WebbAlgoma-, Superior-, and oolitic-type iron deposits of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (phase V, deliverable 83)
High-grade hematitic iron ores (or HIF, containing 60–65 percent Fe) have been mined in Mauritania from Superior-type iron deposits since 1952. Depletion of the high grade ores in recent years has resulted in a number of new projects focused on lower grade magnetite ores in Algoma-type banded iron formation (or BIF, containing approximately 35 percent Fe). Large deposits of oolitic-type iron oresAuthorsCliff D. Taylor, Carol A. Finn, Eric D. Anderson, M. Y. Joud, M. A. Taleb, John D. HortonSynthesis of geophysical data (phase V, deliverable 55)
Aeromagnetic and radiometric data were used to map shallow Precambrian basement lithology and structure and determine the depth to magnetic basement, which in most cases, corresponds to the depth to crystalline basement of interest for mineral exploration. These depths, along with those determined from gravity data, help identify basins with hydrologic potential. In addition, the magnetic data werAuthorsCarol A. Finn, Eric D. AndersonHydrogeologic map of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (phase V, deliverable 56), Synthesis of hydrologic data (phase V, deliverable 57), and chemical hydrologic map of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania (added value)
A hydrogeologic study was conducted to support mineral-resource assessment activities in Mauritania, Africa. Airborne magnetic depth estimates reveal two primary groundwater basins: the porous coastal Continental Terminal Basin (fill deposits); and the interior, fractured interior Taoudeni Basin. In the Continental Terminal Basin, there is uniform vertical recharge and localized discharge that isAuthorsMichael J. Friedel, Carol A. Finn, John D. HortonMineral potential tracts for orogenic, Carlin-like, and epithermal gold deposits in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, (phase V, deliverable 69)
The gold resources of Mauritania presently include two important deposits and a series of poorly studied prospects. The Tasiast belt of deposits, which came into production in 2007, is located in the southwestern corner of the Rgueïbat Shield and defines a world-class Paleoproterozoic(?) orogenic gold ore system. The producing Guelb Moghrein deposit occurs along a shear zone in Middle Archean rockAuthorsRichard J. Goldfarb, Erin E. Marsh, Eric D. Anderson, John D. Horton, Carol A. Finn, Georges BeaudoinCrystalline basement map of Mauritania derived from filtered aeromagnetic data (deliverable 54_1), Aeromagnetic and geological structure map of Mauritania (phase V, deliverable 54_2), Maximum depth to basement map of Mauritania derived from Euler analysis
In 1996, at the request of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, a team of U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists produced a strategic plan for the acquisition, improvement and modernization of multidisciplinary sets of data to support the growth of the Mauritanian minerals sector and to highlight the geological and mineral exploration potential of the country. In 1999, the MinisAuthorsCarol A. Finn, John D. HortonUsing nuclear magnetic resonance and transient electromagnetics to characterise water distribution beneath an ice covered volcanic crater: The case of Sherman Crater Mt. Baker Washington.
Surface and laboratory Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) measurements combined with transient electromagnetic (TEM) data are powerful tools for subsurface water detection. Surface NMR (sNMR) and TEM soundings, laboratory NMR, complex resistivity, and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis were all conducted to characterise the distribution of water within Sherman Crater on Mt. Baker, WA. Clay rich rocks,AuthorsTrevor P. Irons, Kathryn Martin, Carol A. Finn, Benjamin R. Bloss, Robert HortonOverview of the magnetic signatures of the Palaeoproterozoic Rustenburg Layered Suite, Bushveld Complex, South Africa
Aeromagnetic data clearly delineate the mafic rocks of the economically significant Bushveld Igneous Complex. This is mainly due to the abundance of magnetite in the Upper Zone of the Rustenburg Layered Suite of the Bushveld, but strongly remanently magnetised rocks in the Main Zone also contribute significantly in places. In addition to delineating the extent of the magnetic rocks in the complex,AuthorsJanine Cole, Carol A. Finn, Susan J. WebbHelicopter electromagnetic data map ice thickness at Mount Adams and Mount Baker, Washington, USA
Ice-thickness measurements critical for flood and mudflow hazard studies are very sparse on Cascade Range (North America) volcanoes. Helicopter electromagnetic (HEM) data collected to detect hydrothermal alteration are used to determine ice thickness over portions of Mount Baker and Mount Adams volcanoes. A laterally continuous inversion method provides good estimates of ice <100 m thick over wateAuthorsCarol A. Finn, Maria Deszcz-Pan, Paul A. Bedrosian
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government