Gregg A Swayze, Ph.D.
Gregg Swayze is a Scientist Emeritus in Denver. Gregg received a Doctorate in Geology from the University of Colorado in 1997. Since joining the USGS in 1985, Gregg has devoted his career to studying Remote Sensing and specializes in Imaging Spectroscopy. Presently, his science focuses on environmental and mineral exploration applications of imaging spectroscopy.
Research Interests
Over the years, Gregg has developed methods to spectrally map acid-mine drainage in Leadville, Colorado, naturally-occurring asbestos in the foothills of California, insulation asbestos in the World Trade Center dust, and oil emulsions formed during the 2010 BP oil spill. He has also developed a portable spectral fingerprinting technique to identify asbestos-bearing vermiculite in attic insulation. Gregg has used his imaging spectroscopy experience with relict hydrothermal systems in Nevada and Hawaii to help map similar mineral deposits on the surface of Mars with the NASA CRISM orbital spectrometer. His most recent focus is on spectrally mapping REE-bearing minerals at the Mt. Pass Mine in California. He was recently selected as a Co-Investigator of the NASA/JPL Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) team with the goal of putting an imaging spectrometer on the International Space Station to map the mineralogy of dust source regions on a global basis.
Professional Experience
1985 to present, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. degree/Geology, University of Colorado, 1997
M.S. degree/Geology, Colorado School of Mines, 1985
B.S. degree/Geology, Grand Valley State University, 1982
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Colorado Scientific Society
Society of Economic Geologists
Science and Products
Spectral properties of Ca-sulfates: Gypsum, bassanite, and anhydrite
Asphaltene content and composition as a measure of Deepwater Horizon oil spill losses within the first 80 days
Spectroscopy from Space
Mapping advanced argillic alteration at Cuprite, Nevada, using imaging spectroscopy
Science applications of a multispectral microscopic imager for the astrobiological exploration of Mars
Prolonged magmatic activity on Mars inferred from the detection of felsic rocks
State of the art satellite and airborne marine oil spill remote sensing: Application to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
Aqueous mineralogy and stratigraphy at and around the proposed Mawrth Vallis MSL Landing Site: New insights into the aqueous history of the region
Columbus crater and other possible groundwater-fed paleolakes of Terra Sirenum, Mars
Satellite and airborne oil spill remote sensing: State of the art and application to the BP DeepWater Horizon oil spill
Evidence for low-grade metamorphism, hydrothermal alteration, and diagenesis on Mars from phyllosilicate mineral assemblages
A method for quantitative mapping of thick oil spills using imaging spectroscopy
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Filter Total Items: 71
Spectral properties of Ca-sulfates: Gypsum, bassanite, and anhydrite
This study of the spectral properties of Ca-sulfates was initiated to support remote detection of these minerals on Mars. Gypsum, bassanite, and anhydrite are the currently known forms of Ca-sulfates. They are typically found in sedimentary evaporites on Earth, but can also form via reaction of acidic fluids associated with volcanic activity. Reflectance, emission, transmittance, and Raman spectraAuthorsJanice L. Bishop, Melissa D. Lane, M. Darby Dyar, Sara J. King, Adrian J. Brown, Gregg A. SwayzeAsphaltene content and composition as a measure of Deepwater Horizon oil spill losses within the first 80 days
The composition and content of asphaltenes in spilled and original wellhead oils from the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) incident provide information on the amount of original oil lost and the processes most responsible for the losses within the first 80 days of the active spill. Spilled oils were collected from open waters, coastal waters and coastal sediments during the incident. Asphaltenes are the moAuthorsM. D. Lewan, A. Warden, R.F. Dias, Z.K. Lowry, T.L. Hannah, P. G. Lillis, R.F. Kokaly, T.M. Hoefen, G.A. Swayze, C.T. Mills, S.H. Harris, G.S. PlumleeSpectroscopy from Space
This chapter reviews detection of materials on solid and liquid (lakes and ocean) surfaces in the solar system using ultraviolet to infrared spectroscopy from space, or near space (high altitude aircraft on the Earth), or in the case of remote objects, earth-based and earth-orbiting telescopes. Point spectrometers and imaging spectrometers have been probing the surfaces of our solar system for decAuthorsRoger N. Clark, Gregg A. Swayze, Robert R. Carlson, Will Grundy, Keith NollMapping advanced argillic alteration at Cuprite, Nevada, using imaging spectroscopy
Mineral maps based on Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS) data were used to study late Miocene advanced argillic alteration at Cuprite, Nevada. Distributions of Fe-bearing minerals, clays, micas, sulfates, and carbonates were mapped using the Tetracorder spectral-shape matching system. The Al content of white micas increases toward altered areas and near intrusive rocks. AlunitAuthorsGregg A. Swayze, Roger N. Clark, Alexander F.H. Goetz, K. Eric Livo, George N. Breit, Fred A. Kruse, Stephen J. Sutley, Lawrence W. Snee, Heather A. Lowers, James L. Post, Roger E. Stoffregen, Roger P. AshleyScience applications of a multispectral microscopic imager for the astrobiological exploration of Mars
Future astrobiological missions to Mars are likely to emphasize the use of rovers with in situ petrologic capabilities for selecting the best samples at a site for in situ analysis with onboard lab instruments or for caching for potential return to Earth. Such observations are central to an understanding of the potential for past habitable conditions at a site and for identifying samples most likeAuthorsJorge Nunez, Jack Farmer, R. Glenn Sellar, Gregg A. Swayze, Diana L. BlaneyProlonged magmatic activity on Mars inferred from the detection of felsic rocks
Rocks dominated by the silicate minerals quartz and feldspar are abundant in Earth’s upper continental crust. Yet felsic rocks have not been widely identified on Mars, a planet that seems to lack plate tectonics and the associated magmatic processes that can produce evolved siliceous melts on Earth. If Mars once had a feldspar-rich crust that crystallized from an early magma ocean such as that onAuthorsJames J. Wray, Sarah T. Hansen, Josef Dufek, Gregg A. Swayze, Scott L. Murchie, Frank P. Seelos, John R. Skok, Rossman P. Irwin, Mark S. GhiorsoState of the art satellite and airborne marine oil spill remote sensing: Application to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill
The vast and persistent Deepwater Horizon (DWH) spill challenged response capabilities, which required accurate, quantitative oil assessment at synoptic and operational scales. Although experienced observers are a spill response's mainstay, few trained observers and confounding factors including weather, oil emulsification, and scene illumination geometry present challenges. DWH spill and impact mAuthorsIra Leifer, William J. Lehr, Debra Simecek-Beatty, Eliza Bradley, Roger N. Clark, Philip E. Dennison, Yongxiang Hu, Scott Matheson, Cathleen E Jones, Benjamin Holt, Molly Reif, Dar A. Roberts, Jan Svejkovsky, Gregg A. Swayze, Jennifer M. WozencraftAqueous mineralogy and stratigraphy at and around the proposed Mawrth Vallis MSL Landing Site: New insights into the aqueous history of the region
In this work, we have confirmed the mineralogical stratigraphy previously inferred by other authors, but also demonstrate the presence of additional minerals, including a possible acid-leaching product near the top of the sequence, an Mh-OH bearing phyllosilicate at the to of the sequence, and potentially a Ca-sulfate at the bottom of the phyllosilicate sequence. The latter has important implicatiAuthorsEldar Z. Noe Dobrea, Joseph Michalski, Gregg SwayzeColumbus crater and other possible groundwater-fed paleolakes of Terra Sirenum, Mars
Columbus crater in the Terra Sirenum region of the Martian southern highlands contains light‐toned layered deposits with interbedded sulfate and phyllosilicate minerals, a rare occurrence on Mars. Here we investigate in detail the morphology, thermophysical properties, mineralogy, and stratigraphy of these deposits; explore their regional context; and interpret the crater's aqueous history. HydratAuthorsJ.J. Wray, R.E. Milliken, Colin M. Dundas, Gregg A. Swayze, J. C. Andrews-Hanna, A.M. Baldridge, M. Chojnacki, J.L. Bishop, B.L. Ehlmann, S.L. Murchie, Roger N. Clark, F.P. Seelos, L.L. Tornabene, S. W. SquyresSatellite and airborne oil spill remote sensing: State of the art and application to the BP DeepWater Horizon oil spill
No abstract available.AuthorsI. Leifer, R. Clark, C. Jones, B. Holt, J. Svejkovsky, Gregg A. SwayzeEvidence for low-grade metamorphism, hydrothermal alteration, and diagenesis on Mars from phyllosilicate mineral assemblages
The enhanced spatial and spectral resolution provided by the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has led to the discovery of numerous hydrated silicate minerals on Mars, particularly in the ancient, cratered crust comprising the southern highlands. Phases recently identified using visible/near-infrared spectra include: smectite, chlAuthorsBethany L. Ehlmann, John F Mustard, Roger N. Clark, Gregg A. Swayze, Scott L. MurchieA method for quantitative mapping of thick oil spills using imaging spectroscopy
In response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, a method of near-infrared imaging spectroscopic analysis was developed to map the locations of thick oil floating on water. Specifically, this method can be used to derive, in each image pixel, the oil-to-water ratio in oil emulsions, the sub-pixel areal fraction, and its thicknesses and volume within the limits of light penetraAuthorsRoger N. Clark, Gregg A. Swayze, Ira Leifer, K. Eric Livo, Raymond F. Kokaly, Todd Hoefen, Sarah Lundeen, Michael Eastwood, Robert O. Green, Neil Pearson, Charles Sarture, Ian McCubbin, Dar Roberts, Eliza Bradley, Denis Steele, Thomas Ryan, Roseanne Dominguez - Web Tools
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