David Ponce
Dave Ponce is a Research Geophysicist with the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center in Menlo Park, California. His work focuses on the application of gravity, magnetic, and other geophysical methods to address a variety of earth science issues including earthquake hazards and mineral resources.
David Ponce is a senior Research Geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in Menlo Park, California, with over 30 years of experience. He is a member and past Chief of the Geophysical Unit of Menlo Park (GUMP), a potential-field (gravity and magnetics), paleomagnetic, and electromagnetic methods research group. He received a B.S. and M.S. in Geology/Geophysics from San Jose State University, California. His primary areas of interest are geophysical investigations of the San Francisco Bay Area and the Basin and Range Province of the western U.S. These studies utilize geophysical methods to understand geology and tectonophysics; volcano and earthquake hazards; and water, mineral, and energy resources. He has authored more than 250 abstracts, reports, maps, or articles.
Dave is also a member of the American Geophysical Union, Geological Society of America, and Society of Exploration Geophysicists and is a recipient of the Superior Service Award from the Department of Interior.
Professional Experience
Research Geophysicist, Geophysics Unit of Menlo Park (GUMP), Geology, Minerals, Energy and Geophysics Science Center (GMEG)
Project Chief, REE deposits in the southeast Mojave Desert, California
Principal Investigator, Geophysical investigations of the Calaveras, Hayward, and Rodgers Creek Faults, California and implications on earthquake hazards.
Education and Certifications
M.S., Geophysics/Geology, San Jose State University, 1981
B.S., Geophysics/Geology, San Jose State University, 1976
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Science and Products
The Mt. Lewis fault zone: Tectonic implications for eastern San Francisco Bay
Anomalously low strength of serpentinite sheared against granite and implications for creep on the Hayward and Calaveras Faults
Ground-motion modeling of Hayward fault scenario earthquakes, part I: Construction of the suite of scenarios
Geophysical Studies in the Vicinity of the Warner Mountains and Surprise Valley, Northeast California, Northwest Nevada, and Southern Oregon
Physical-Property Measurements on Core samples from Drill-Holes DB-1 and DB-2, Blue Mountain Geothermal Prospect, North-Central Nevada
A prominent geophysical feature along the northern Nevada rift and its geologic implications, north-central Nevada
Structures controlling geothermal circulation identified through gravity and magnetic transects, Surprise Valley, California, northwestern Great Basin
Three-dimensional geologic model of the northern Nevada rift and the Beowawe geothermal system, north-central Nevada
Geophysical framework investigations influencing ground-water resources in east-central Nevada and west-central Utah, with a section on geologic and geophysical basin by basin descriptions
Relatively simple through-going fault planes at large-earthquake depth may be concealed by the surface complexity of strike-slip faults
Nevada Magnetic and Gravity Maps and Data: A Website for the Distribution of Data
Geophysical Investigations of the Smoke Creek Desert and their Geologic Implications, Northwest Nevada and Northeast California
Science and Products
- Science
- Data
- Maps
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 119
The Mt. Lewis fault zone: Tectonic implications for eastern San Francisco Bay
No abstract availableAuthorsJanet Watt, David A. Ponce, Robert W. Simpson, Russell W. Graymer, Robert C. Jachens, Carl M. WentworthAnomalously low strength of serpentinite sheared against granite and implications for creep on the Hayward and Calaveras Faults
Serpentinized ophiolitic rocks are juxtaposed against quartzofeldspathic rocks at depth across considerable portions of the Hayward and Calaveras Faults. The marked compositional contrast between these rock types may contribute to fault creep that has been observed along these faults. To investigate this possibility, we are conducting hydrothermal shearing experiments to look for changes in frictiAuthorsDiane E. Moore, David A. Lockner, David A. PonceGround-motion modeling of Hayward fault scenario earthquakes, part I: Construction of the suite of scenarios
We construct kinematic earthquake rupture models for a suite of 39 Mw 6.6-7.2 scenario earthquakes involving the Hayward, Calaveras, and Rodgers Creek faults. We use these rupture models in 3D ground-motion simulations as discussed in Part II (Aagaard et al., 2010) to provide detailed estimates of the shaking for each scenario. We employ both geophysical constraints and empirical relations to provAuthorsBrad T. Aagaard, Robert W. Graves, David P. Schwartz, David A. Ponce, Russell W. GraymerGeophysical Studies in the Vicinity of the Warner Mountains and Surprise Valley, Northeast California, Northwest Nevada, and Southern Oregon
From May 2006 to August 2007, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected 793 gravity stations, about 102 line-kilometers of truck-towed and ground magnetometer data, and about 325 physical-property measurements in northeastern California, northwestern Nevada, and southern Oregon. Gravity, magnetic, and physical-property data were collected to study regional crustal structures and geology as an aiAuthorsDavid A. Ponce, Jonathan M. G. Glen, Anne E. Egger, Claire Bouligand, Janet T. Watt, Robert L. MorinPhysical-Property Measurements on Core samples from Drill-Holes DB-1 and DB-2, Blue Mountain Geothermal Prospect, North-Central Nevada
From May to June 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) collected and measured physical properties on 36 core samples from drill-hole Deep Blue No. 1 (DB-1) and 46 samples from drill-hole Deep Blue No. 2 (DB-2) along the west side of Blue Mountain about 40 km west of Winnemucca, Nev. These data were collected as part of an effort to determine the geophysical setting of the Blue Mountain geothermaAuthorsDavid A. Ponce, Janet T. Watt, John Casteel, Grant LogsdonA prominent geophysical feature along the northern Nevada rift and its geologic implications, north-central Nevada
We consider the origin and character of a prominent large-scale geophysical feature in north-central Nevada that is coincident with the western margin of the northern Nevada rift—a mid-Miocene rift that includes mafic dike swarms and associated volcanic rocks expressed by a NNW-striking magnetic anomaly. The geophysical feature also correlates with mid-Miocene epithermal gold deposits and is coincAuthorsDavid A. Ponce, Jonathan M.G. GlenStructures controlling geothermal circulation identified through gravity and magnetic transects, Surprise Valley, California, northwestern Great Basin
No abstract available.AuthorsJonathan M.G. Glen, Anne E. Egger, David A. PonceThree-dimensional geologic model of the northern Nevada rift and the Beowawe geothermal system, north-central Nevada
A three-dimensional (3D) geologic model of part of the northern Nevada rift encompassing the Beowawe geothermal system was developed from a series of two-dimensional (2D) geologic and geophysical models. The 3D model was constrained by local geophysical, geologic, and drill-hole information and integrates geologic and tectonic interpretations for the region. It places important geologic constraintAuthorsJanet Watt, Jonathan M.G. Glen, David John, David A. PonceGeophysical framework investigations influencing ground-water resources in east-central Nevada and west-central Utah, with a section on geologic and geophysical basin by basin descriptions
A geophysical investigation was undertaken as part of an effort to characterize the geologic framework influencing ground-water resources in east-central Nevada and west-central Utah. New gravity data were combined with existing aeromagnetic, drill-hole, and geologic data to help determine basin geometry, infer structural features, estimate depth to pre-Cenozoic basement rocks, and further constraAuthorsJanet T. Watt, David A. Ponce, Alan R. WallaceRelatively simple through-going fault planes at large-earthquake depth may be concealed by the surface complexity of strike-slip faults
At the surface, strike-slip fault stepovers, including abrupt fault bends, are typically regions of complex, often disconnected faults. This complexity has traditionally led geologists studying the hazard of active faults to consider such stepovers as important fault segment boundaries, and to give lower weight to earthquake scenarios that involve rupture through the stepover zone. However, recentAuthorsRussell W. Graymer, Victoria Langenheim, Robert W. Simpson, Robert C. Jachens, David A. PonceNevada Magnetic and Gravity Maps and Data: A Website for the Distribution of Data
No abstract available.AuthorsRobert P. Kucks, Patricia L. Hill, David A. PonceGeophysical Investigations of the Smoke Creek Desert and their Geologic Implications, Northwest Nevada and Northeast California
The Smoke Creek Desert is a large basin about 100 km (60 mi) north of Reno near the California-Nevada border, situated along the northernmost parts of the Walker Lane Belt, a physiographic region defined by diverse topographic expression consisting of northweststriking topographic features and strike-slip faulting. Because geologic and geophysical framework studies play an important role in undersAuthorsDavid A. Ponce, Jonathan M. G. Glen, Janet E. Tilden - News
*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