Jean M Morrison
Jean Morrison is a Research Geologist with the Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 16
Earth Mapping Resources Initiative protocols—Sampling hard-rock mine waste and perpetual mine water sources Earth Mapping Resources Initiative protocols—Sampling hard-rock mine waste and perpetual mine water sources
Supporting the overarching goal to evaluate critical minerals nationwide, the mine waste characterization effort in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Mapping Resources Initiative has created a series of protocols to standardize sampling carried out under this effort by the participating State geological surveys and their cooperators. The protocols are based on published, reviewed...
Authors
Kate Campbell, Robert Seal, Nadine Piatak, Jaime S. Azain, Jean Morrison, Sarah White, Andrew Manning, Katherine Walton-Day, JoAnn Holloway, Bronwen Wang
Chromium in minerals and selected aquifer materials Chromium in minerals and selected aquifer materials
Between 1952 and 1964, hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), was released into groundwater from a Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) compressor station in Hinkley, California, in the western Mojave Desert 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. In 2015, the extent of anthropogenic Cr(VI) in groundwater in Hinkley and Water Valleys was uncertain, but some Cr(VI) in groundwater may be...
Authors
Krishangi Groover, John Izbicki, William Benzel, Jean Morrison, Andrea Foster
Incorporating streambank wells in stream mass loading studies to more effectively identify sources of solutes in stream water Incorporating streambank wells in stream mass loading studies to more effectively identify sources of solutes in stream water
Stream synoptic sampling studies that include flow estimates derived from the stream tracer dilution method are now commonly performed to identify sources and processes controlling solute transport to streams. However, a limitation of this mass-loading approach is its inability to identify the side of the stream on which a source is located in the common case where loading is largely...
Authors
Andrew Manning, Robert Runkel, Jean Morrison, Richard Wanty, Katherine Walton-Day
Using stream-side groundwater discharge for geochemical exploration in mountainous terrain Using stream-side groundwater discharge for geochemical exploration in mountainous terrain
Groundwater chemistry has been predominantly used in geochemical exploration studies to identify mineralized targets concealed under transported cover in areas with gentle topography. Another potentially valuable ap-plication that has received little attention is using groundwater chemistry to identify deposits concealed within mountain ridges. A number of geochemical exploration studies...
Authors
Andrew Manning, Jean Morrison, Richard Wanty, Christopher T. Mills
Modifications to EPA Method 3060A to Improve Extraction of Cr(VI) from Chromium Ore Processing Residue-Contaminated Soils Modifications to EPA Method 3060A to Improve Extraction of Cr(VI) from Chromium Ore Processing Residue-Contaminated Soils
It has been shown that EPA Method 3060A does not adequately extract Cr(VI) from chromium ore processing residue (COPR). We modified various parameters of EPA 3060A toward understanding the transformation of COPR minerals in the alkaline extraction and improving extraction of Cr(VI) from NIST SRM 2701, a standard COPR-contaminated soil. Aluminum and Si were the major elements dissolved...
Authors
Christopher T. Mills, Carleton Bern, Ruth E. Wolf, Andrea Foster, Jean Morrison, William Benzel
Results of mineral, chemical, and sulfate isotopic analyses of water, soil, rocks, and soil extracts from the Pariette Draw Watershed, Uinta Basin, Utah Results of mineral, chemical, and sulfate isotopic analyses of water, soil, rocks, and soil extracts from the Pariette Draw Watershed, Uinta Basin, Utah
In 2010, Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Division of Water Quality (UDWQ, 2010) determined that water quality in Pariette Draw was in violation of Federal and State water quality criteria for total dissolved solids (TDS), selenium (Se), and boron (B). The measure of total dissolved solids is the sum of all the major ion concentrations in solution and in this case, the...
Authors
Jean Morrison, Michele L. Tuttle, Juli Fahy
Weathering and transport of chromium and nickel from serpentinite in the Coast Range ophiolite to the Sacramento Valley, California, USA Weathering and transport of chromium and nickel from serpentinite in the Coast Range ophiolite to the Sacramento Valley, California, USA
A soil geochemical study in northern California was done to investigate the role that weathering and transport play in the regional distribution and mobility of geogenic Cr and Ni, which are both potentially toxic and carcinogenic. These elements are enriched in ultramafic rocks (primarily serpentinite) and the soils derived from them (1700–10,000 mg Cr per kg soil and 1300–3900 mg Ni...
Authors
Jean Morrison, Martin Goldhaber, Christopher T. Mills, George Breit, Robert Hooper, JoAnn Holloway, Sharon Diehl, James Ranville
Insights into controls on hexavalent chromium in groundwater provided by environmental tracers, Sacramento Valley, California, USA Insights into controls on hexavalent chromium in groundwater provided by environmental tracers, Sacramento Valley, California, USA
Environmental tracers are useful for determining groundwater age and recharge source, yet their application in studies of geogenic Cr(VI) in groundwater has been limited. Environmental tracer data from 166 wells located in the Sacramento Valley, northern California, were interpreted and compared to Cr concentrations to determine the origin and age of groundwater with elevated Cr(VI), and...
Authors
Andrew Manning, Christopher T. Mills, Jean Morrison, Lyndsay Ball
Hydrogeochemistry of prairie pothole region wetlands: Role of long-term critical zone processes Hydrogeochemistry of prairie pothole region wetlands: Role of long-term critical zone processes
This study addresses the geologic and hydrogeochemical processes operating at a range of scales within the prairie pothole region (PPR). The PPR is a 750,000 km2portion of north central North America that hosts millions of small wetlands known to be critical habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. At a local scale, we characterized the geochemical evolution of the 92-ha Cottonwood Lake...
Authors
Martin Goldhaber, Christopher T. Mills, Jean Morrison, Craig Stricker, David Mushet, James LaBaugh
Using stable isotopes to understand hydrochemical processes in and around a Prairie Pothole wetland in the Northern Great Plains, USA Using stable isotopes to understand hydrochemical processes in and around a Prairie Pothole wetland in the Northern Great Plains, USA
Millions of internally drained wetland systems in the Prairie Potholes region of the northern Great Plains (USA and Canada) provide indispensable habitat for waterfowl and a host of other ecosystem services. The hydrochemistry of these systems is complex and a crucial control on wetland function, flora and fauna. Wetland waters can have high concentrations of SO2-4 due to the oxidation...
Authors
Christopher T. Mills, Martin Goldhaber, Craig Stricker, JoAnn Holloway, Jean Morrison, Karl Ellefsen, Donald Rosenberry, Roland Thurston
The role of critical zone processes in the evolution of the Prairie Pothole Region wetlands The role of critical zone processes in the evolution of the Prairie Pothole Region wetlands
The Prairie Pothole Region, which occupies 900,000 km2 of the north central USA and south central Canada, is one of the most important ecosystems in North America. It is characterized by millions of small wetlands whose chemistry is highly variable over short distances. The study involved the geochemistry of surface sediments, wetland water, and groundwater in the Cottonwood Lakes area...
Authors
Martin Goldhaber, Christopher Mills, Craig Stricker, Jean Morrison
Chromium(VI) generation in vadose zone soils and alluvial sediments of the southwestern Sacramento Valley, California: a potential source of geogenic Cr(VI) to groundwater Chromium(VI) generation in vadose zone soils and alluvial sediments of the southwestern Sacramento Valley, California: a potential source of geogenic Cr(VI) to groundwater
Concentrations of geogenic Cr(VI) in groundwater that exceed the World Health Organization’s maximum contaminant level for drinking water (50 μg L−1) occur in several locations globally. The major mechanism for mobilization of this Cr(VI) at these sites is the weathering of Cr(III) from ultramafic rocks and its subsequent oxidation on Mn oxides. This process may be occurring in the...
Authors
Christopher T. Mills, Jean Morrison, Martin Goldhaber, Karl Ellefsen
Processes Controlling Groundwater Quality in Uranium In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Mining
The project's primary objective is to evaluate the reducing capacity of an aquifer down-gradient of a roll-front ore zone to assess the mobility of uranium and other associated elements (e.g. arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, and sulfur). Assessing the reducing capacity of the aquifer requires characterization of the mineralogy, geochemistry, and microbiology and their variation across the aquifer.
Geochemical Signatures of Covered Mineral Deposits in the Northern Midcontinent
We are evaluating the potential of geochemical prospecting techniques that have shown promise in other covered terranes for mineral exploration in the northern midcontinent of the U.S. Novel components will be added to these methods with the objective of method advancement and improving our understanding of processes controlling the transmission of unique geochemical signatures from buried mineral...
Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Sediment from the East Mancos River, Colorado, 2023 Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Sediment from the East Mancos River, Colorado, 2023
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release contains data from stream water, groundwater, and stream sediment samples collected in August 2023 in the East Mancos River watershed in southwestern Colorado. Data were collected as part of a study aimed at identifying sources of elevated metal concentrations in the stream. Eighteen streambank wells were installed in pairs at nine...
Geochemical and Mineralogical Data from Legacy Mine Land Sites in Central Colorado, 2019 - 2020 Geochemical and Mineralogical Data from Legacy Mine Land Sites in Central Colorado, 2019 - 2020
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release contains data from stream water, groundwater/springs, and sediment samples collected from legacy mine land (LML) sites in central Colorado. The sites were selected using a GIS-based approach that integrated regional geological and geochemical datasets with known mine features and satellite data identifying hydrothermal alteration (ASTER) to...
Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Soil and Sediment from North Quartz Creek, Colorado Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Soil and Sediment from North Quartz Creek, Colorado
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release contains data from stream water, groundwater, and soil samples collected in 2019 and 2020 in the North Quartz Creek watershed in central Colorado. Fourteen streambank wells were installed in pairs at seven locations in August 2020 to capture the emerging groundwater from the left bank and right banks (relative to downstream-facing direction...
Grain size, mineralogic, and trace-element data from field samples near Hinkley, California Grain size, mineralogic, and trace-element data from field samples near Hinkley, California
This data release is part of a study examining the occurrence of chromium and natural and anthropogenic hexavalent Chromium, Cr(VI) in groundwater. Data will be used to estimate naturally-occurring background Cr(VI) concentrations upgradient, near the plume margins, and downgradient from a mapped Cr(VI) contamination plume near Hinkley, CA (Izbicki and Groover, 2016). The data release...
Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Ferricrete Samples from Handcart Gulch, Colorado Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Ferricrete Samples from Handcart Gulch, Colorado
This data release is part of a study examining the use of near-stream groundwater discharge as a tool for Geochemical Exploration. Handcart Gulch is an unmined alpine watershed in Montezuma Mining District in the Colorado Front Range. The streambed is cemented by deep ferricrete deposits. Stream water, groundwater, and ferricrete samples were collected and analyzed to constrain the...
Laboratory data from testing parameters of EPA Method 3060A on Soils Contaminated with Chromium Ore Processing Residue 2013-2016 Laboratory data from testing parameters of EPA Method 3060A on Soils Contaminated with Chromium Ore Processing Residue 2013-2016
It has been shown that EPA Method 3060A does not adequately extract Cr(VI) from solids containing chromium ore processing residue (COPR). We systematically tested modifications to prescribed parameters of EPA 3060A towards improving extraction efficiency of Cr(VI) from NIST SRM 2701, a standard COPR-contaminated soil from New Jersey (NJ). The alkaline extraction fluid leached Al, Si, and...
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 16
Earth Mapping Resources Initiative protocols—Sampling hard-rock mine waste and perpetual mine water sources Earth Mapping Resources Initiative protocols—Sampling hard-rock mine waste and perpetual mine water sources
Supporting the overarching goal to evaluate critical minerals nationwide, the mine waste characterization effort in the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Mapping Resources Initiative has created a series of protocols to standardize sampling carried out under this effort by the participating State geological surveys and their cooperators. The protocols are based on published, reviewed...
Authors
Kate Campbell, Robert Seal, Nadine Piatak, Jaime S. Azain, Jean Morrison, Sarah White, Andrew Manning, Katherine Walton-Day, JoAnn Holloway, Bronwen Wang
Chromium in minerals and selected aquifer materials Chromium in minerals and selected aquifer materials
Between 1952 and 1964, hexavalent chromium, Cr(VI), was released into groundwater from a Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) compressor station in Hinkley, California, in the western Mojave Desert 80 miles northeast of Los Angeles, California. In 2015, the extent of anthropogenic Cr(VI) in groundwater in Hinkley and Water Valleys was uncertain, but some Cr(VI) in groundwater may be...
Authors
Krishangi Groover, John Izbicki, William Benzel, Jean Morrison, Andrea Foster
Incorporating streambank wells in stream mass loading studies to more effectively identify sources of solutes in stream water Incorporating streambank wells in stream mass loading studies to more effectively identify sources of solutes in stream water
Stream synoptic sampling studies that include flow estimates derived from the stream tracer dilution method are now commonly performed to identify sources and processes controlling solute transport to streams. However, a limitation of this mass-loading approach is its inability to identify the side of the stream on which a source is located in the common case where loading is largely...
Authors
Andrew Manning, Robert Runkel, Jean Morrison, Richard Wanty, Katherine Walton-Day
Using stream-side groundwater discharge for geochemical exploration in mountainous terrain Using stream-side groundwater discharge for geochemical exploration in mountainous terrain
Groundwater chemistry has been predominantly used in geochemical exploration studies to identify mineralized targets concealed under transported cover in areas with gentle topography. Another potentially valuable ap-plication that has received little attention is using groundwater chemistry to identify deposits concealed within mountain ridges. A number of geochemical exploration studies...
Authors
Andrew Manning, Jean Morrison, Richard Wanty, Christopher T. Mills
Modifications to EPA Method 3060A to Improve Extraction of Cr(VI) from Chromium Ore Processing Residue-Contaminated Soils Modifications to EPA Method 3060A to Improve Extraction of Cr(VI) from Chromium Ore Processing Residue-Contaminated Soils
It has been shown that EPA Method 3060A does not adequately extract Cr(VI) from chromium ore processing residue (COPR). We modified various parameters of EPA 3060A toward understanding the transformation of COPR minerals in the alkaline extraction and improving extraction of Cr(VI) from NIST SRM 2701, a standard COPR-contaminated soil. Aluminum and Si were the major elements dissolved...
Authors
Christopher T. Mills, Carleton Bern, Ruth E. Wolf, Andrea Foster, Jean Morrison, William Benzel
Results of mineral, chemical, and sulfate isotopic analyses of water, soil, rocks, and soil extracts from the Pariette Draw Watershed, Uinta Basin, Utah Results of mineral, chemical, and sulfate isotopic analyses of water, soil, rocks, and soil extracts from the Pariette Draw Watershed, Uinta Basin, Utah
In 2010, Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) Division of Water Quality (UDWQ, 2010) determined that water quality in Pariette Draw was in violation of Federal and State water quality criteria for total dissolved solids (TDS), selenium (Se), and boron (B). The measure of total dissolved solids is the sum of all the major ion concentrations in solution and in this case, the...
Authors
Jean Morrison, Michele L. Tuttle, Juli Fahy
Weathering and transport of chromium and nickel from serpentinite in the Coast Range ophiolite to the Sacramento Valley, California, USA Weathering and transport of chromium and nickel from serpentinite in the Coast Range ophiolite to the Sacramento Valley, California, USA
A soil geochemical study in northern California was done to investigate the role that weathering and transport play in the regional distribution and mobility of geogenic Cr and Ni, which are both potentially toxic and carcinogenic. These elements are enriched in ultramafic rocks (primarily serpentinite) and the soils derived from them (1700–10,000 mg Cr per kg soil and 1300–3900 mg Ni...
Authors
Jean Morrison, Martin Goldhaber, Christopher T. Mills, George Breit, Robert Hooper, JoAnn Holloway, Sharon Diehl, James Ranville
Insights into controls on hexavalent chromium in groundwater provided by environmental tracers, Sacramento Valley, California, USA Insights into controls on hexavalent chromium in groundwater provided by environmental tracers, Sacramento Valley, California, USA
Environmental tracers are useful for determining groundwater age and recharge source, yet their application in studies of geogenic Cr(VI) in groundwater has been limited. Environmental tracer data from 166 wells located in the Sacramento Valley, northern California, were interpreted and compared to Cr concentrations to determine the origin and age of groundwater with elevated Cr(VI), and...
Authors
Andrew Manning, Christopher T. Mills, Jean Morrison, Lyndsay Ball
Hydrogeochemistry of prairie pothole region wetlands: Role of long-term critical zone processes Hydrogeochemistry of prairie pothole region wetlands: Role of long-term critical zone processes
This study addresses the geologic and hydrogeochemical processes operating at a range of scales within the prairie pothole region (PPR). The PPR is a 750,000 km2portion of north central North America that hosts millions of small wetlands known to be critical habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. At a local scale, we characterized the geochemical evolution of the 92-ha Cottonwood Lake...
Authors
Martin Goldhaber, Christopher T. Mills, Jean Morrison, Craig Stricker, David Mushet, James LaBaugh
Using stable isotopes to understand hydrochemical processes in and around a Prairie Pothole wetland in the Northern Great Plains, USA Using stable isotopes to understand hydrochemical processes in and around a Prairie Pothole wetland in the Northern Great Plains, USA
Millions of internally drained wetland systems in the Prairie Potholes region of the northern Great Plains (USA and Canada) provide indispensable habitat for waterfowl and a host of other ecosystem services. The hydrochemistry of these systems is complex and a crucial control on wetland function, flora and fauna. Wetland waters can have high concentrations of SO2-4 due to the oxidation...
Authors
Christopher T. Mills, Martin Goldhaber, Craig Stricker, JoAnn Holloway, Jean Morrison, Karl Ellefsen, Donald Rosenberry, Roland Thurston
The role of critical zone processes in the evolution of the Prairie Pothole Region wetlands The role of critical zone processes in the evolution of the Prairie Pothole Region wetlands
The Prairie Pothole Region, which occupies 900,000 km2 of the north central USA and south central Canada, is one of the most important ecosystems in North America. It is characterized by millions of small wetlands whose chemistry is highly variable over short distances. The study involved the geochemistry of surface sediments, wetland water, and groundwater in the Cottonwood Lakes area...
Authors
Martin Goldhaber, Christopher Mills, Craig Stricker, Jean Morrison
Chromium(VI) generation in vadose zone soils and alluvial sediments of the southwestern Sacramento Valley, California: a potential source of geogenic Cr(VI) to groundwater Chromium(VI) generation in vadose zone soils and alluvial sediments of the southwestern Sacramento Valley, California: a potential source of geogenic Cr(VI) to groundwater
Concentrations of geogenic Cr(VI) in groundwater that exceed the World Health Organization’s maximum contaminant level for drinking water (50 μg L−1) occur in several locations globally. The major mechanism for mobilization of this Cr(VI) at these sites is the weathering of Cr(III) from ultramafic rocks and its subsequent oxidation on Mn oxides. This process may be occurring in the...
Authors
Christopher T. Mills, Jean Morrison, Martin Goldhaber, Karl Ellefsen
Processes Controlling Groundwater Quality in Uranium In-Situ Recovery (ISR) Mining
The project's primary objective is to evaluate the reducing capacity of an aquifer down-gradient of a roll-front ore zone to assess the mobility of uranium and other associated elements (e.g. arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, and sulfur). Assessing the reducing capacity of the aquifer requires characterization of the mineralogy, geochemistry, and microbiology and their variation across the aquifer.
Geochemical Signatures of Covered Mineral Deposits in the Northern Midcontinent
We are evaluating the potential of geochemical prospecting techniques that have shown promise in other covered terranes for mineral exploration in the northern midcontinent of the U.S. Novel components will be added to these methods with the objective of method advancement and improving our understanding of processes controlling the transmission of unique geochemical signatures from buried mineral...
Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Sediment from the East Mancos River, Colorado, 2023 Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Sediment from the East Mancos River, Colorado, 2023
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release contains data from stream water, groundwater, and stream sediment samples collected in August 2023 in the East Mancos River watershed in southwestern Colorado. Data were collected as part of a study aimed at identifying sources of elevated metal concentrations in the stream. Eighteen streambank wells were installed in pairs at nine...
Geochemical and Mineralogical Data from Legacy Mine Land Sites in Central Colorado, 2019 - 2020 Geochemical and Mineralogical Data from Legacy Mine Land Sites in Central Colorado, 2019 - 2020
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release contains data from stream water, groundwater/springs, and sediment samples collected from legacy mine land (LML) sites in central Colorado. The sites were selected using a GIS-based approach that integrated regional geological and geochemical datasets with known mine features and satellite data identifying hydrothermal alteration (ASTER) to...
Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Soil and Sediment from North Quartz Creek, Colorado Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Soil and Sediment from North Quartz Creek, Colorado
This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release contains data from stream water, groundwater, and soil samples collected in 2019 and 2020 in the North Quartz Creek watershed in central Colorado. Fourteen streambank wells were installed in pairs at seven locations in August 2020 to capture the emerging groundwater from the left bank and right banks (relative to downstream-facing direction...
Grain size, mineralogic, and trace-element data from field samples near Hinkley, California Grain size, mineralogic, and trace-element data from field samples near Hinkley, California
This data release is part of a study examining the occurrence of chromium and natural and anthropogenic hexavalent Chromium, Cr(VI) in groundwater. Data will be used to estimate naturally-occurring background Cr(VI) concentrations upgradient, near the plume margins, and downgradient from a mapped Cr(VI) contamination plume near Hinkley, CA (Izbicki and Groover, 2016). The data release...
Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Ferricrete Samples from Handcart Gulch, Colorado Geochemistry and Environmental Tracer Data for Groundwater, Stream Water, and Ferricrete Samples from Handcart Gulch, Colorado
This data release is part of a study examining the use of near-stream groundwater discharge as a tool for Geochemical Exploration. Handcart Gulch is an unmined alpine watershed in Montezuma Mining District in the Colorado Front Range. The streambed is cemented by deep ferricrete deposits. Stream water, groundwater, and ferricrete samples were collected and analyzed to constrain the...
Laboratory data from testing parameters of EPA Method 3060A on Soils Contaminated with Chromium Ore Processing Residue 2013-2016 Laboratory data from testing parameters of EPA Method 3060A on Soils Contaminated with Chromium Ore Processing Residue 2013-2016
It has been shown that EPA Method 3060A does not adequately extract Cr(VI) from solids containing chromium ore processing residue (COPR). We systematically tested modifications to prescribed parameters of EPA 3060A towards improving extraction efficiency of Cr(VI) from NIST SRM 2701, a standard COPR-contaminated soil from New Jersey (NJ). The alkaline extraction fluid leached Al, Si, and...