Heather L. Parks
Heather is a Geologist at the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. She received a BS in Geology from Eastern Washington University in 2009. She joined the USGS in 2008 and is currently at the Spokane, WA center location.
Professional Experience
2008 to present, Geologist, USGS, Spokane, WA
Education and Certifications
B.S. in Geology, Eastern Washington University, 2009
Science and Products
Below are science projects related to Heather's work
Mineral Resource Assessment Training
Critical commodity studies, Stillwater Complex, Montana and Duluth Complex, Minnesota
Spatial data files associated with the identification of new data for the sagebrush focal area mineral resource assessment in Nevada
Stillwater Complex, Montana—logs of core drilled by Stillwater Mining Company and Anaconda Copper Corp. in the Stillwater Mine area, 1983 to 1989
Surfaces representing the basal mineralized zone in the South Kawishiwi, Bathtub, and Partridge River Intrusions, Duluth Complex, Minnesota
Stillwater Complex, Montana: Logs of core drilled by Chrome Corporation of America in the Mountain View area, 1988 to 1990
Structural measurements and their calculated surface traces, South Kawishiwi area, Duluth Complex, Minnesota
Spatial data associated with tungsten skarn resource assessment of the Northern Rocky Mountains, Montana and Idaho
Thin section images of hand samples from the Crocodile Lake and Cucumber Lake Intrusions, Duluth Complex, Minnesota
Thin section images of drill core and hand samples from the South Kawishiwi Intrusion, Duluth Complex, Minnesota
Thin section images of drill core and hand samples from the Stillwater Mine area, Stillwater Complex, Montana
Thin section images of xenoliths from north of the Stillwater Complex, Montana
Stillwater Complex, Montana: Logs of core drilled by Anaconda in the Nye Basin area, 1968 to 1982
Thin section images of drill core from the Chrome Lake area in the Stillwater Complex, Montana
Electromagnetic and magnetic imaging of the Stillwater Complex, Montana, USA
Tungsten resources of the northern Rocky Mountains, Montana and Idaho— A synthesis and quantitative assessment of skarn-hosted resources
Grade and tonnage model for tungsten skarn deposits—2020 update
Mapping the 3-D extent of the Stillwater Complex, Montana—Implications for potential platinum group element exploration and development
The surface trace tool — Modeling complex planar interactions using ArcGIS
Assessment of undiscovered copper resources of the world, 2015
Platinum-group elements
The platinum-group elements (PGEs)—platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium—are metals that have similar physical and chemical properties and tend to occur together in nature. PGEs are indispensable to many industrial applications but are mined in only a few places. The availability and accessibility of PGEs could be disrupted by economic, environmental, political, and social e
Geology and mineral resources of the North-Central Montana Sagebrush Focal Area: Chapter D in Mineral resources of the Sagebrush Focal Areas of Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming
Geology and mineral resources of the Southwestern and South-Central Wyoming Sagebrush Focal Area, Wyoming, and the Bear River Watershed Sagebrush Focal Area, Wyoming and Utah: Chapter E in Mineral resources of the Sagebrush Focal Areas of Idaho, Monta
Spatial database for a global assessment of undiscovered copper resources: Chapter Z in Global mineral resource assessment
As part of the first-ever U.S. Geological Survey global assessment of undiscovered copper resources, data common to several regional spatial databases published by the U.S. Geological Survey, including one report from Finland and one from Greenland, were standardized, updated, and compiled into a global copper resource database. This integrated collection of spatial databases provides location, ge
Qualitative assessment of selected areas of the world for undiscovered sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits: Chapter Y in Global mineral resource assessment
Assessment of undiscovered copper resources associated with the Permian Kupferschiefer, Southern Permian Basin, Europe
Science and Products
- Science
Below are science projects related to Heather's work
Mineral Resource Assessment Training
The USGS Mineral Resources Program conducts mineral resource assessments and is training USGS scientists in how to conduct these assessments for future work. As a practical exercise, the scientists will conduct an assessment for tungsten in the U.S.Critical commodity studies, Stillwater Complex, Montana and Duluth Complex, Minnesota
Scientific research can make our resource assessments of critical minerals more effective. This project focuses on the Stillwater Complex, Montana, which has rocks enriched in platinum-group elements (PGE), chromium, cobalt, and nickel. Project objectives are to update databases, evaluate new mapping techniques, document new styles of mineralization, and document and support research on the... - Data
Filter Total Items: 26
Spatial data files associated with the identification of new data for the sagebrush focal area mineral resource assessment in Nevada
In summer 2021, the Bureau of Land Management - Nevada (BLM NV) requested that the U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program (USGS MRP), acting through the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center (GMEGSC) and other collaborating USGS Science Centers, conduct a scoping study to: 1) discover mineral resource data and relevant publications that have been released since the pubStillwater Complex, Montana—logs of core drilled by Stillwater Mining Company and Anaconda Copper Corp. in the Stillwater Mine area, 1983 to 1989
This dataset includes TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) images of graphic drill core logs showing associated drill core information, a TIFF image of the explanation for the lithology and structure sections of the logs, an Esri shapefile of the locations of the drill holes, and 12 .csv files of tabular data that were compiled from handwritten drill core logs. The drill core is from the Stillwater MinSurfaces representing the basal mineralized zone in the South Kawishiwi, Bathtub, and Partridge River Intrusions, Duluth Complex, Minnesota
This dataset includes five Esri grids representing the copper-nickel-platinum group element (Cu-Ni-PGE) mineralized zone found in the South Kawishiwi, Bathtub, and Partridge River intrusions, Duluth Complex, Minnesota. The data are also presented in .csv format to provide an open-source file type. We are using the term "basal mineralized zone" (bmz) as an informal term representing the mineralizedStillwater Complex, Montana: Logs of core drilled by Chrome Corporation of America in the Mountain View area, 1988 to 1990
This dataset includes TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) images of graphic drill core logs showing associated drill core information, a TIFF image of the explanation for the lithology and structure sections of the logs, an Esri shapefile of the locations of the drill holes, and 17 individual .csv files of tabular data that were compiled from handwritten drill core logs. The drill core is from the MouStructural measurements and their calculated surface traces, South Kawishiwi area, Duluth Complex, Minnesota
This dataset includes a point shapefile representing structural measurements taken from a study area near the South Kawishiwi Intrusion in the Duluth Complex, Minnesota and a line shapefile representing the surface traces of the structural measurements. The structural measurements point file consists of a compilation of data from multiple published and unpublished sources. The surface trace file wSpatial data associated with tungsten skarn resource assessment of the Northern Rocky Mountains, Montana and Idaho
A mineral resource assessment was performed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to assess the potential of undiscovered skarn-hosted tungsten resources in the Northern Rocky Mountain region of eastern Idaho and western Montana. This region has seen moderate tungsten trioxide (WO3) production in the past from a variety of mineralization styles including skarn, vein and replacement, and wolframite-Thin section images of hand samples from the Crocodile Lake and Cucumber Lake Intrusions, Duluth Complex, Minnesota
This dataset includes photographic images of thin sections created from hand samples collected from the Crocodile Lake and Cucumber Lake Intrusions, Duluth Complex, Minnesota, along with a shapefile representing the locations of the samples. The samples were collected in order to define copper-nickel-platinum-group element resources associated with the Crocodile Lake and Cucumber Lake Intrusions iThin section images of drill core and hand samples from the South Kawishiwi Intrusion, Duluth Complex, Minnesota
This dataset includes photographic images of thin sections created from hand samples and drill core sourced from the South Kawishiwi Intrusion, Duluth Complex, Minnesota, along with two shapefiles representing the locations of the samples and drill hole collars. The samples were collected and core was drilled in order to define copper-nickel-platinum-group element resources associated with the SouThin section images of drill core and hand samples from the Stillwater Mine area, Stillwater Complex, Montana
This dataset includes photographic images of thin sections created from hand samples and drill core from the Stillwater Complex, Montana, along with a shapefile representing the locations of the underground samples and drill hole collars. The samples were collected and core was drilled in order to define platinum-group element resources associated with the J-M Reef at the Stillwater Mine in the StThin section images of xenoliths from north of the Stillwater Complex, Montana
This dataset includes photographic images of thin sections made from xenolith samples collected from the Sliderock Mountain and Susie Peak plutons, Montana, along with a shapefile representing the locations of the samples. The plutons are located north of the Stillwater Complex, Montana, which is exposed along the northern side of the Beartooth Mountains in Montana. To the north of the StillwaterStillwater Complex, Montana: Logs of core drilled by Anaconda in the Nye Basin area, 1968 to 1982
This dataset includes TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) images of graphic drill core logs showing associated drill core information, a TIFF image of the explanation for the lithology and structure sections of the logs, an Esri shapefile of the locations of the drill holes, and fourteen individual .csv files of tabular data that were compiled from handwritten drill core logs. The drill core is from tThin section images of drill core from the Chrome Lake area in the Stillwater Complex, Montana
This dataset includes photographic images of thin sections of drill core from the Stillwater Complex, Montana, along with a shapefile representing the locations of the drill holes. The core was drilled in order to study contact-type copper and nickel sulfide mineralization in the Stillwater Complex. The images of the entire thin section, both in plane- and cross-polarized light, were taken using a - Publications
Filter Total Items: 17
Electromagnetic and magnetic imaging of the Stillwater Complex, Montana, USA
Modelling and analysis of helicopter electromagnetic data result in resistivity and susceptibility models and derivatives of magnetic data that characterise shallow parts of the Stillwater Complex, critical for aiding exploration and expansion of globally scarce critical and battery mineral resources that include platinum group elements, nickel, copper and chromium. The magnetic susceptibly modelsAuthorsCarol A. Finn, Michael L. Zientek, Benjamin r. Bloss, Heather L. Parks, Justin ModrooTungsten resources of the northern Rocky Mountains, Montana and Idaho— A synthesis and quantitative assessment of skarn-hosted resources
Mineral resource assessments performed by the U.S. Geological Survey provide a synthesis of available information about the location of known and suspected mineral deposits. This study focuses on skarn-hosted tungsten resources in the northern Rocky Mountain region of east-central Idaho and western Montana which have seen moderate tungsten trioxide production in the past from a variety of mineraliAuthorsAllen K. Andersen, Margaret A. Goldman, Mitchell M. Bennett, Connie L. Dicken, Philip J. Brown, Heather L. ParksGrade and tonnage model for tungsten skarn deposits—2020 update
This report presents an updated grade and tonnage model for tungsten skarn deposits. As a critical component of the U.S. Geological Survey’s three-part form of quantitative mineral resource assessment, robust grade and tonnage models are essential to transforming mineral resource assessments into effective tools for decision makers. Using the best data available at the time of publication, this reAuthorsCarlin J. Green, Graham W. Lederer, Heather L. Parks, Michael L. ZientekMapping the 3-D extent of the Stillwater Complex, Montana—Implications for potential platinum group element exploration and development
Geophysical models characterize the exposed and interpreted buried extent of the Stillwater Complex, critical for understanding the origin of the layered mafic intrusion and its associated high-grade platinum group element resources. The 3D models, constrained by gravity, magnetic, xenolith, seismic, borehole, and rock property data indicate that the likely maximum extent of the Stillwater ComplexAuthorsCarol A. Finn, Michael L. Zientek, Heather L. Parks, Dana E. PetersonThe surface trace tool — Modeling complex planar interactions using ArcGIS
The surface trace tool comprises a Python script written for ArcGIS that will determine the line of intersection between a planar feature and a surface. Specifically, this tool was designed for geologic applications where geologic planar-feature orientations are reported as strike and dip, and the intersecting surface is the ground. The tool output will show how planar geologic layers intersect wiAuthorsDrew B. Adams, Heather L. ParksAssessment of undiscovered copper resources of the world, 2015
The U.S. Geological Survey completed the first-ever global assessment of undiscovered copper resources for the two most significant sources of global copper supply: porphyry copper deposits and sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits. The geology-based study identified 236 areas for undiscovered copper in 11 regions of the world. Estimated amounts of undiscovered copper resources are reportedAuthorsJane M. Hammarstrom, Michael L. Zientek, Heather L. Parks, Connie L. DickenPlatinum-group elements
The platinum-group elements (PGEs)—platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium—are metals that have similar physical and chemical properties and tend to occur together in nature. PGEs are indispensable to many industrial applications but are mined in only a few places. The availability and accessibility of PGEs could be disrupted by economic, environmental, political, and social e
AuthorsMichael L. Zientek, Patricia J. Loferski, Heather L. Parks, Ruth F. Schulte, Robert R. SealGeology and mineral resources of the North-Central Montana Sagebrush Focal Area: Chapter D in Mineral resources of the Sagebrush Focal Areas of Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming
SummaryThe U.S. Department of the Interior has proposed to withdraw approximately 10 million acres of Federal lands from mineral entry (subject to valid existing rights) from 12 million acres of lands defined as Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming (for further discussion on the lands involved see Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5089–A). The purpoAuthorsJeffrey L. Mauk, Michael L. Zientek, B. Carter Hearn, Heather L. Parks, M. Christopher Jenkins, Eric D. Anderson, Mary Ellen Benson, Donald I. Bleiwas, Jacob DeAngelo, Paul Denning, Connie L. Dicken, Ronald M. Drake, Gregory L. Fernette, Helen W. Folger, Stuart A. Giles, Jonathan M. G. Glen, Matthew Granitto, Jon E. Haacke, John D. Horton, Karen D. Kelley, Joyce A. Ober, Barnaby W. Rockwell, Carma A. San Juan, Elizabeth S. Sangine, Peter N. Schweitzer, Brian N. Shaffer, Steven M. Smith, Colin F. Williams, Douglas B. YagerByEnergy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, National Minerals Information CenterGeology and mineral resources of the Southwestern and South-Central Wyoming Sagebrush Focal Area, Wyoming, and the Bear River Watershed Sagebrush Focal Area, Wyoming and Utah: Chapter E in Mineral resources of the Sagebrush Focal Areas of Idaho, Monta
SummaryThe U.S. Department of the Interior has proposed to withdraw approximately 10 million acres of Federal lands from mineral entry (subject to valid existing rights) from 12 million acres of lands defined as Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming (for further discussion on the lands involved see Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5089–A). The purpoAuthorsAnna B. Wilson, Timothy S. Hayes, Mary Ellen Benson, Douglas B. Yager, Eric D. Anderson, Donald I. Bleiwas, Jacob DeAngelo, Connie L. Dicken, Ronald M. Drake, Gregory L. Fernette, Stuart A. Giles, Jonathan M. G. Glen, Jon E. Haacke, John D. Horton, Heather L. Parks, Barnaby W. Rockwell, Colin F. WilliamsSpatial database for a global assessment of undiscovered copper resources: Chapter Z in Global mineral resource assessment
As part of the first-ever U.S. Geological Survey global assessment of undiscovered copper resources, data common to several regional spatial databases published by the U.S. Geological Survey, including one report from Finland and one from Greenland, were standardized, updated, and compiled into a global copper resource database. This integrated collection of spatial databases provides location, ge
AuthorsConnie L. Dicken, Pamela Dunlap, Heather L. Parks, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Michael L. ZientekQualitative assessment of selected areas of the world for undiscovered sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits: Chapter Y in Global mineral resource assessment
A qualitative mineral resource assessment of sediment-hosted stratabound copper mineralized areas for undiscovered copper deposits was performed for 10 selected areas of the world. The areas, in alphabetical order, are (1) Belt-Purcell Basin, United States and Canada; (2) Benguela and Cuanza Basins, Angola; (3) Chuxiong Basin, China; (4) Dongchuan Group rocks, China; (5) Egypt–Israel–Jordan Rift,AuthorsMichael L. Zientek, Niki E. Wintzer, Timothy S. Hayes, Heather L. Parks, Deborah A. Briggs, J. Douglas Causey, Shyla A. Hatch, M. Christopher Jenkins, David J. WilliamsAssessment of undiscovered copper resources associated with the Permian Kupferschiefer, Southern Permian Basin, Europe
This study synthesizes available information and estimates the location and quantity of undiscovered copper associated with a late Permian bituminous shale, the Kupferschiefer, of the Southern Permian Basin in Europe. The purpose of this study is to (1) delineate permissive areas (tracts) where undiscovered reduced-facies sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposits could occur within 2.5 kilometerAuthorsMichael L. Zientek, Sławomir Oszczepalski, Heather L. Parks, James D. Bliss, Gregor Borg, Stephen E. Box, Paul Denning, Timothy S. Hayes, Volker Spieth, Cliff D. Taylor