Colin F Williams, PhD.
Colin is the Mineral Resources Program Coordinator. Colin was previously the Director of the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He previously led the Geothermal Resource Studies Project, which assessed the geothermal resources of the US and conducted research on geothermal systems.
Colin's primary research interest is in measuring and modeling the flow of heat and fluids through the Earth's crust and using those measurements to understand hydrothermal processes, earthquakes, and groundwater flow. He joined the USGS after earning a PhD and MPhil in Geological Sciences from Columbia University, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and a BS in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College.
Professional Experience
Present, Program Coordinator for the Mineral Resources Program
2012-2023, Center Director, USGS Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Menlo Park, CA
2004-2012, Supervisory Research Geophysicist and Geothermal Project Chief, USGS, EQ Science Center, Menlo Park, CA
1989-2004, Research Geophysicist, Heat Flow Studies, USGS Branch of Tectonophysics, Menlo Park, CA
Education and Certifications
M.Phil, PhD., Geophysics, Columbia University, 1989
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of California-Berkeley, 1984
B.S., Engineering, Harvey Mudd College, 1983
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Geothermal Resources Council
International Geothermal Association
2000-2012, Seismological Society of America
NASA - Non-USGS
Department of Energy - Non-USGS
Science and Products
Thermal regime of the San Andreas fault near Parkfield, California
Thermal conductivity of water-saturated rocks from the KTB pilot hole at temperatures of 25 to 300°C
Temperature and the seismic/aseismic transition: Observations from the 1992 Landers earthquake
Heat-flow measurements in the vicinity of the Hayward Fault, California
The thermal regime of Santa Maria Province, California. Phosphorus geochemistry, diagenesis, and mass balances of the Miocene Monterey Formation at Shell Beach, California
Well log-derived estimates of thermal conductivity in crystalline rocks penetrated by the 4-KM deep KTB Vorbohrung
Heat-flow studies in the northwest geysers geothermal field, California
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 43
Thermal regime of the San Andreas fault near Parkfield, California
Knowledge of the temperature variation with depth near the San Andreas fault is vital to understanding the physical processes that occur within the fault zone during earthquakes and creep events. Parkfield is near the southern end of the Coast Ranges segment of the San Andreas fault. This segment has higher mean heat flow than the Cape Mendocino segment to the northwest or the Mojave segment to thAuthorsJ. H. Sass, C.F. Williams, A. H. Lachenbruch, S.P. Galanis, F.V. GrubbThermal conductivity of water-saturated rocks from the KTB pilot hole at temperatures of 25 to 300°C
The conductivitites of selected gneiss (two) and amphibolite (one) core samples have been measured under conditions of elevated temperature and pressure with a needle‐probe. Water‐saturated thermal conductivity measurements spanning temperatures from 25 to 300°C and hydrostatic pressures of 0.1 and 34 MPa confirm the general decrease in conductivity with increasing temperature but deviate significAuthorsD. Pribnow, C.F. Williams, J. H. Sass, R. KeatingTemperature and the seismic/aseismic transition: Observations from the 1992 Landers earthquake
An important constraint on the size and destructive potential of earthquakes is the depth extent of rupture. Laboratory studies of the transition from unstable to stable sliding, along with ob served relationships between surface heat flow and the thickness of the seismogenic crust, provide strong evidence for the significance of temperature in determining the maximum nucleation depth of large earAuthorsC.F. WilliamsHeat-flow measurements in the vicinity of the Hayward Fault, California
No abstract available.AuthorsColin F. Williams, S. Peter GalanisThe thermal regime of Santa Maria Province, California. Phosphorus geochemistry, diagenesis, and mass balances of the Miocene Monterey Formation at Shell Beach, California
No abstract available.AuthorsColin F. Williams, S. Peter Galanis, Frederick V. Grubb, Thomas H. Moses, Gabriel M. Filippelli, Margaret L. DelaneyWell log-derived estimates of thermal conductivity in crystalline rocks penetrated by the 4-KM deep KTB Vorbohrung
Well log measurements of compressional and shear velocity (Vp, Vs), density, and temperature from the 4 km-deep KTB Vorbohrung (pilot hole) were applied in a phonon conduction model for the thermal conductivity of a crystalline solid. The resulting conductivity estimates were compared with conductivities (kLAB) measured on the nearly continuous (91% recovery) core. Previous studies have shown theAuthorsD. Pribnow, Colin F. Williams, H. BurkhardtHeat-flow studies in the northwest geysers geothermal field, California
Temperature and thermal conductivity data were acquired from 3 idle production wells in the Northwest Geysers. Heat-flow profiles derived from data recorded in the caprock which overlies the steam reservoir reveal a decrease of heat flow with depth in 2 of the 3 wells. These observations contradict the generally accepted theory that conductive heat flow is constant with depth within The Geysers caAuthorsColin F. Williams, S. Peter Galanis, Thomas H. Moses, Frederick V. Grubb
*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