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Elisha “Eli” K. Moore, Ph.D.

Dr. Eli Moore is a Research Chemist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.

Eli Moore is a Research Chemist with the USGS Energy Resources Program’s Advancements in Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology of Energy Resources (AGGER) project, Oil and Gas Waters project, and the Mineral Resources Program’s Earth Mapping Resources Initiative. His research focuses on the formation of critical mineral deposits (e.g., uranium, critical mineral sulfides) through the application of data analytics to geochemical data resources, and multi-omics approaches to understand microbial processes involved in natural gas production. Dr. Moore’s work includes network analysis of critical mineral deposit formation from deep-time to present day, metaproteomic analysis of fossil fuel well microbial communities, and maintaining/expanding the USGS National Produced Waters Geochemical Database.

Professional Experience

  • 2023–Present: Research Chemist, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA

  • 2018–2022: Assistant Professor, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ

  • 2017–2018: AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellow, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD

  • 2015–2017: Post-doctoral Research Associate, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

  • 2011–2015: Post-doctoral Research Associate, Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research (NIOZ), Texel Island, Netherlands

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. Environmental Chemistry, University of Maryland, 2011

  • B.A. Chemistry, Oregon State University, 2005

  • B.A. Bioresource Research, Oregon State University, 2005

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Geochemical Society

Science and Products

AGGER Project - Immature Tasmanite

Advancements in Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology of Energy Resources (AGGER)

The AGGER project’s purpose is to advance the understanding of geologic energy sources, generation, composition, movement, and production potential, including resource recovery from energy wastes.
By
Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Eastern Energy and Environmental Laboratory (EEEL)
Advancements in Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology of Energy Resources (AGGER)

Advancements in Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology of Energy Resources (AGGER)

The AGGER project’s purpose is to advance the understanding of geologic energy sources, generation, composition, movement, and production potential, including resource recovery from energy wastes.
Learn More

U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (ver. 3.0, December 2023) U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (ver. 3.0, December 2023)

During hydrocarbon production, water is typically co-produced from the geologic formations producing oil and gas. Understanding the composition of these produced waters is important to help investigate the regional hydrogeology, the source of the water, the efficacy of water treatment and disposal plans, potential economic benefits of mineral commodities in the fluids, and the safety of...
By
Energy Resources Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Brine Research Instrumentation and Experimental (BRInE) Laboratory

Diverging mineral chemistry of iron and nickel throughout Earth’s changing redox conditions reveals foundation for their evolution as protein cofactors Diverging mineral chemistry of iron and nickel throughout Earth’s changing redox conditions reveals foundation for their evolution as protein cofactors

Iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) were both foundational to early metabolism, yet their biological trajectories diverged as Earth’s surface redox state changed. Here, we integrate mineral chemistry network analysis, protein metal-site coordination-sphere analysis, and curated redox comparisons to test how geochemistry and metalloprotein architecture co-evolved. Mineral network analyses show...
Authors
Benjamin Jelen, Yarissa Peralta, Shaunna M. Morrison, Beth A. Christensen, Elisha Kelly Moore
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

The mineral chemistry networks of tin and tungsten reflect metallogenic eras of the Mesozoic The mineral chemistry networks of tin and tungsten reflect metallogenic eras of the Mesozoic

Continental remobilization is a crucial driver of metallogenesis and the formation of ore deposits. Some of the world’s largest mineral deposits of the economically valuable elements tin (Sn), tungsten (W), gold (Au), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) formed during the Mesozoic Era. Additionally, the chemistry and distribution of the elements Sn and W have been investigated in...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, Shaunna M. Morrison, Amber Hatter
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Top-down targeted network analysis of critical mineral commodities applied to international geochemistry database Top-down targeted network analysis of critical mineral commodities applied to international geochemistry database

The global demand for critical mineral commodities is rapidly increasing, making domestic production an important factor in supporting the economy and national security. Large scale, publicly available geochemical databases allow for the application of data informatics methods to interrogate critical mineral commodities data for correlations in deposit formation and distribution...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, Joshua Mark Rosera, Graham W. Lederer
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Metaproteomics and metagenomics reveal microbial pathways of organic matter degradation and methanogenesis in a marginally producing natural gas well Metaproteomics and metagenomics reveal microbial pathways of organic matter degradation and methanogenesis in a marginally producing natural gas well

The expansion of natural gas production and utilization worldwide has led to the decline of many once-productive wells, eventually resulting in costly well-plugging and unused infrastructure. However, in areas like the Michigan basin, MI, where the majority of natural gas is biogenically produced, microbial communities could potentially be stimulated to generate additional methane...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, Sara L. Caldwell Eldridge, Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski, Matthew S. Varonka, Anna Martini, Michael Carley, James Schramski, Haiyan Zheng, Elliott P. Barnhart
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Enhanced microplastic fragmentation along human built structures in an urban waterway Enhanced microplastic fragmentation along human built structures in an urban waterway

Plastic pollution and microplastic (MP, 1 µm to 5 mm) generation are growing problems affecting the global community and a wide range of natural and disturbed environments. Urban and suburban waterways are directly impacted by plastic pollution due to their proximity to population centers and many different types single use plastic waste sources. In this study, plastic waste accumulation...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, Liam Pittman, Megan Heminghaus, Daniel Heintzelman, Amber Hatter
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

The early Earth as an analogue for exoplanetary biogeochemistry The early Earth as an analogue for exoplanetary biogeochemistry

Planet Earth has evolved over the past 4.5 billion years from an entirely anoxic planet with possibly a different tectonic regime to the oxygenated world with horizontal plate tectonics that we know today. For most of this time, Earth has been inhabited by a purely microbial biosphere albeit with seemingly increasing complexity over time. A rich record of this geobiological evolution...
Authors
Eva Stüeken, Stephanie Olson, Elisha Kelly Moore, Bradford Foley
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Characterizing sulfur redox state and geochemical implications in deep-time using mineral chemistry network analysis Characterizing sulfur redox state and geochemical implications in deep-time using mineral chemistry network analysis

Sulfur (S) is a central element in global biogeochemical cycling and Earth’s redox evolution. Minerals that contain S are an important record of local environmental conditions at the time of their formation based on chemical speciation and redox. However, the oxidation state of S for hundreds of different S-containing minerals and thousands of S-containing mineral localities is unknown...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, Joseph Diedolf, Shaunna M. Morrison, Daniel Hummer
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Uranium redox and deposition transitions embedded in deep-time geochemical models and mineral chemistry networks Uranium redox and deposition transitions embedded in deep-time geochemical models and mineral chemistry networks

Uranium (U) is an important global energy resource and a redox sensitive trace element that reflects changing environmental conditions and geochemical cycling. The redox evolution of U mineral chemistry can be interrogated to understand the formation and distribution of U deposits and the redox processes involved in U geochemistry throughout Earth history. In this study, geochemical...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, J. Li, Ao Zhang, Jihua Hao, Shaunna M. Morrison, Daniel Hummer, Nathan Yee
By
Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (ver. 3.0, December 2023) Viewer U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (ver. 3.0, December 2023) Viewer

The U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database Viewer (ver. 3.0) provides access to an updated compilation of geochemical and related information for water from oil and gas wells in the United States. The information includes identification and location information, well descriptions, dates, rock properties, physical properties of the water, organic chemistry and more.
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Brine Research Instrumentation and Experimental (BRInE) Laboratory

Science and Products

AGGER Project - Immature Tasmanite

Advancements in Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology of Energy Resources (AGGER)

The AGGER project’s purpose is to advance the understanding of geologic energy sources, generation, composition, movement, and production potential, including resource recovery from energy wastes.
By
Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Eastern Energy and Environmental Laboratory (EEEL)
Advancements in Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology of Energy Resources (AGGER)

Advancements in Geochemistry and Geomicrobiology of Energy Resources (AGGER)

The AGGER project’s purpose is to advance the understanding of geologic energy sources, generation, composition, movement, and production potential, including resource recovery from energy wastes.
Learn More

U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (ver. 3.0, December 2023) U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (ver. 3.0, December 2023)

During hydrocarbon production, water is typically co-produced from the geologic formations producing oil and gas. Understanding the composition of these produced waters is important to help investigate the regional hydrogeology, the source of the water, the efficacy of water treatment and disposal plans, potential economic benefits of mineral commodities in the fluids, and the safety of...
By
Energy Resources Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Lower Mississippi-Gulf Water Science Center, Brine Research Instrumentation and Experimental (BRInE) Laboratory

Diverging mineral chemistry of iron and nickel throughout Earth’s changing redox conditions reveals foundation for their evolution as protein cofactors Diverging mineral chemistry of iron and nickel throughout Earth’s changing redox conditions reveals foundation for their evolution as protein cofactors

Iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni) were both foundational to early metabolism, yet their biological trajectories diverged as Earth’s surface redox state changed. Here, we integrate mineral chemistry network analysis, protein metal-site coordination-sphere analysis, and curated redox comparisons to test how geochemistry and metalloprotein architecture co-evolved. Mineral network analyses show...
Authors
Benjamin Jelen, Yarissa Peralta, Shaunna M. Morrison, Beth A. Christensen, Elisha Kelly Moore
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

The mineral chemistry networks of tin and tungsten reflect metallogenic eras of the Mesozoic The mineral chemistry networks of tin and tungsten reflect metallogenic eras of the Mesozoic

Continental remobilization is a crucial driver of metallogenesis and the formation of ore deposits. Some of the world’s largest mineral deposits of the economically valuable elements tin (Sn), tungsten (W), gold (Au), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) formed during the Mesozoic Era. Additionally, the chemistry and distribution of the elements Sn and W have been investigated in...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, Shaunna M. Morrison, Amber Hatter
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Top-down targeted network analysis of critical mineral commodities applied to international geochemistry database Top-down targeted network analysis of critical mineral commodities applied to international geochemistry database

The global demand for critical mineral commodities is rapidly increasing, making domestic production an important factor in supporting the economy and national security. Large scale, publicly available geochemical databases allow for the application of data informatics methods to interrogate critical mineral commodities data for correlations in deposit formation and distribution...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, Joshua Mark Rosera, Graham W. Lederer
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Metaproteomics and metagenomics reveal microbial pathways of organic matter degradation and methanogenesis in a marginally producing natural gas well Metaproteomics and metagenomics reveal microbial pathways of organic matter degradation and methanogenesis in a marginally producing natural gas well

The expansion of natural gas production and utilization worldwide has led to the decline of many once-productive wells, eventually resulting in costly well-plugging and unused infrastructure. However, in areas like the Michigan basin, MI, where the majority of natural gas is biogenically produced, microbial communities could potentially be stimulated to generate additional methane...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, Sara L. Caldwell Eldridge, Elizabeth J. Tomaszewski, Matthew S. Varonka, Anna Martini, Michael Carley, James Schramski, Haiyan Zheng, Elliott P. Barnhart
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Enhanced microplastic fragmentation along human built structures in an urban waterway Enhanced microplastic fragmentation along human built structures in an urban waterway

Plastic pollution and microplastic (MP, 1 µm to 5 mm) generation are growing problems affecting the global community and a wide range of natural and disturbed environments. Urban and suburban waterways are directly impacted by plastic pollution due to their proximity to population centers and many different types single use plastic waste sources. In this study, plastic waste accumulation...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, Liam Pittman, Megan Heminghaus, Daniel Heintzelman, Amber Hatter
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

The early Earth as an analogue for exoplanetary biogeochemistry The early Earth as an analogue for exoplanetary biogeochemistry

Planet Earth has evolved over the past 4.5 billion years from an entirely anoxic planet with possibly a different tectonic regime to the oxygenated world with horizontal plate tectonics that we know today. For most of this time, Earth has been inhabited by a purely microbial biosphere albeit with seemingly increasing complexity over time. A rich record of this geobiological evolution...
Authors
Eva Stüeken, Stephanie Olson, Elisha Kelly Moore, Bradford Foley
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Characterizing sulfur redox state and geochemical implications in deep-time using mineral chemistry network analysis Characterizing sulfur redox state and geochemical implications in deep-time using mineral chemistry network analysis

Sulfur (S) is a central element in global biogeochemical cycling and Earth’s redox evolution. Minerals that contain S are an important record of local environmental conditions at the time of their formation based on chemical speciation and redox. However, the oxidation state of S for hundreds of different S-containing minerals and thousands of S-containing mineral localities is unknown...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, Joseph Diedolf, Shaunna M. Morrison, Daniel Hummer
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Uranium redox and deposition transitions embedded in deep-time geochemical models and mineral chemistry networks Uranium redox and deposition transitions embedded in deep-time geochemical models and mineral chemistry networks

Uranium (U) is an important global energy resource and a redox sensitive trace element that reflects changing environmental conditions and geochemical cycling. The redox evolution of U mineral chemistry can be interrogated to understand the formation and distribution of U deposits and the redox processes involved in U geochemistry throughout Earth history. In this study, geochemical...
Authors
Elisha Kelly Moore, J. Li, Ao Zhang, Jihua Hao, Shaunna M. Morrison, Daniel Hummer, Nathan Yee
By
Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (ver. 3.0, December 2023) Viewer U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database (ver. 3.0, December 2023) Viewer

The U.S. Geological Survey National Produced Waters Geochemical Database Viewer (ver. 3.0) provides access to an updated compilation of geochemical and related information for water from oil and gas wells in the United States. The information includes identification and location information, well descriptions, dates, rock properties, physical properties of the water, organic chemistry and more.
By
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Brine Research Instrumentation and Experimental (BRInE) Laboratory

*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

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