Josh Coyan is a Research Geologist at the Geology, Mineral, Energy, and Geophysics (GMEG) Science Center. He received a M.S. and Ph.D. in geology from Arizona State University. Since joining the USGS in 2016, Josh has devoted his career to studying resource assessments and specializes in geostatistics.
Presently Josh's research focuses on predicting and understanding the distribution of critical minerals and valuable resources on Earth, Mars, and the Lunar surface!
Josh is a geologist who works at the USGS Spokane Office, Spokane, Washington. He provides expertise in, structural geology, statistics, two-, three-, and four- dimension modeling, and machine learning. His recent work includes a tungsten resource assessment in the Great Basin, platinum group elements in the Duluth Complex of the Mid-Continent Rift, and subsurface geometry in southwest Montana.
He is also a co-investigator for the Solar System Exploration Research Virtual Institute (SSERVI), Resources for Exploration & Science of OUR Cosmic Environment (RESOURCE) project and NASAs Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) project.
Professional Experience
2016 - Present, Research Geologist, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Spokane WA.
2011-2016 Exploration and Development Geologist, Chevron Corporation, Houston, TX.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. degree, Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, 2011.
M.S. degree, Geology, Arizona State University, 2005.
B.S. degree, Geology, Arizona State University, 2003.
Affiliations and Memberships*
Companhia de Pesquisa de Recursos Minerais (Geological Survey of Brazil)
Geological Survey of Canada, Geoscience Australia
Goskomzemgeodezkadastr (Geological Survey of Uzbekistan)
NASA Ames
Solar System Exploration Resource Virtual Institute (SSERVI)
Science and Products
MinFrame - Methodological infrastructure needed for resource assessment, modeling, and evaluation
Mineral Resource Assessment Training
Development of Assessment Techniques and Analysis Project II (DATAP II)
Science and Products
- Science
MinFrame - Methodological infrastructure needed for resource assessment, modeling, and evaluation
Assessing the mineral resources of the United States represents a core function of the Energy and Minerals Mission Area since the inception of the U.S. Geological Survey under the Organic Act of 1879. As reaffirmed by the Energy Policy Act of 2020, assessment of identified and undiscovered resources of critical mineral commodities continues to form a focal point of the Mineral Resources Program...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.Development of Assessment Techniques and Analysis Project II (DATAP II)
The Development of Assessment Techniques and Analysis Project (DATAPII) objective is to modernize the application and development of USGS mineral resource and integrated multiresource assessment methodologies and capacity that are applicable at a variety of spatial and temporal scales, and national and international in scope. - Data
- Publications
*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