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Karen J. Spaleta, Ph.D.

Karen Spaleta is a Geologist for the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.

Dr. Karen J. Spaleta is a Geologist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA. Her expertise focuses on using geochemical analysis methods in support of evaluating critical mineral potential, specifically using X-ray spectroscopy tools. Prior to joining the USGS, Karen worked at the Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory and the Alaska Stable Isotope Facility at the University of Alaska Fairbanks specializing in elemental and isotopic analysis methods of X-ray and mass spectrometry.

Professional Experience

  • 2025–present: Geologist, USGS Geology, Energy and Minerals Science Center, Reston VA

  • 2018–2025: Deputy Director, Alaska Stable Isotope Facility, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

  • 2015–2018: Manager, Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

  • 2007–2015: ICP-MS Research Staff, Advanced Instrumentation Laboratory, University of Alaska Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK

  • 2006–2007: Assistant Research Scientist, IFSHE HIPAS Observatory, Two Rivers, AK

  • 2002–2006: Plasma Physics Instrumentation Technician, Nova Photonics, Princeton, NJ

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D. Geosciences, University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2022 

  • M.S. Physics, Rutgers University, 2002

  • B.S. Physics, Worcester Polytechnic Institute 2000

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • The Geochemical Society

  • Microscopy Society of America

Science and Products

Evaluating the utility of principal component analysis on EDS x-ray maps to determine bulk mineralogy Evaluating the utility of principal component analysis on EDS x-ray maps to determine bulk mineralogy

Due to advances in EDS technology, electron microscopy techniques have become an important tool to determine the relative abundance of mineral phases. However, few studies have directly compared EDS X‐ray mineralogy with traditional techniques for assessing bulk mineralogy and elemental composition. We show that analysing a limited area (~ 0.5–3.2 mm2) of fine‐grained metal extraction...
Authors
Karen Spaleta, Sarah M. Hayes, Rainer Newberry, Nadine M. Piatak
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Rowe, A., Bataille, C., Baleka, S., Combs, E., Crass, B., Fisher, D., Ghosh, S., Holmes, C. Krasinski, K., Lanoë, F., Murchie, T., Poinar, H., Potter, B., Rasic, J., Reuther, J., Smith, G., Spaleta, K. J., Wygal, B., Wooller, M. J. (2024) A female woolly mammoth’s lifetime movements end in an ancient Alaskan hunter-gatherer camp. Science Advances, 10 (3). doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adk08
Barker, A. J., Douglas, T. A., Spaleta, K. J., Trainor, T. P. (2023) Attenuation of Pb and Sb in shooting range soils by Fe amendments. Chemosphere, 318, 137899. doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137899
Leppi, J. C., Rinella, D. J., Wipfli, M. S., Brown, R. J., Spaleta, K. J., Whitman, M. S. (2022) Strontium isotopes reveal diverse life history variations, migration patterns, and habitat use for Broad Whitefish (Coregonus nasus) in Arctic, Alaska. PloS ONE 17(5): e0259921. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259921
Wooller, M. J., Bataille, C., Druckenmiller, P., Erickson, G. M., Groves, P., Haubenstock, N., Howe, T., Irrgeher, J., Mann, D., Moon, K., Potter, B. A., Prohaska, T., Rasic, J., Ruether, J., Shapiro, B., Spaleta, K. J., Willis, A. D. (2021) Lifetime mobility of an Arctic woolly mammoth. Science, 373, p.806-808. doi.org/10.1126/science.abg1134
Śliwiński, M. G., Latty, C. J. Spaleta, K. J., Taylor, R. J., Severin, K. P. (2020) Rapid, non-destructive analysis of calcium and strontium in eggshells by WD-XRF. Chemosphere, 251, 126253. doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126253
Gleason, C. M., Norcross, B. L., and Spaleta, K. J. (2015) Otolith chemistry discriminates water mass occupancy of Arctic fish in the Chukchi Sea. Marine and Freshwater Research, 67, p 967-979. doi.org/10.1071/MF15084
Śliwiński, M. G., Spaleta, K. J., Meyer, F. J., Hutton, E. M., Newberry, R. J., Trainor, T. P., Severin. K. P., Whalen, M. T. (2012) Making low concentration in-house pressed pellet trace element standards for carbonate rock analyses by WD-XRF, Chemical Geology, Volumes 298-299, p. 97-115. doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2011.12.027

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

Science and Products

Evaluating the utility of principal component analysis on EDS x-ray maps to determine bulk mineralogy Evaluating the utility of principal component analysis on EDS x-ray maps to determine bulk mineralogy

Due to advances in EDS technology, electron microscopy techniques have become an important tool to determine the relative abundance of mineral phases. However, few studies have directly compared EDS X‐ray mineralogy with traditional techniques for assessing bulk mineralogy and elemental composition. We show that analysing a limited area (~ 0.5–3.2 mm2) of fine‐grained metal extraction...
Authors
Karen Spaleta, Sarah M. Hayes, Rainer Newberry, Nadine M. Piatak
By
Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center

Non-USGS Publications**

Rowe, A., Bataille, C., Baleka, S., Combs, E., Crass, B., Fisher, D., Ghosh, S., Holmes, C. Krasinski, K., Lanoë, F., Murchie, T., Poinar, H., Potter, B., Rasic, J., Reuther, J., Smith, G., Spaleta, K. J., Wygal, B., Wooller, M. J. (2024) A female woolly mammoth’s lifetime movements end in an ancient Alaskan hunter-gatherer camp. Science Advances, 10 (3). doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adk08
Barker, A. J., Douglas, T. A., Spaleta, K. J., Trainor, T. P. (2023) Attenuation of Pb and Sb in shooting range soils by Fe amendments. Chemosphere, 318, 137899. doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137899
Leppi, J. C., Rinella, D. J., Wipfli, M. S., Brown, R. J., Spaleta, K. J., Whitman, M. S. (2022) Strontium isotopes reveal diverse life history variations, migration patterns, and habitat use for Broad Whitefish (Coregonus nasus) in Arctic, Alaska. PloS ONE 17(5): e0259921. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0259921
Wooller, M. J., Bataille, C., Druckenmiller, P., Erickson, G. M., Groves, P., Haubenstock, N., Howe, T., Irrgeher, J., Mann, D., Moon, K., Potter, B. A., Prohaska, T., Rasic, J., Ruether, J., Shapiro, B., Spaleta, K. J., Willis, A. D. (2021) Lifetime mobility of an Arctic woolly mammoth. Science, 373, p.806-808. doi.org/10.1126/science.abg1134
Śliwiński, M. G., Latty, C. J. Spaleta, K. J., Taylor, R. J., Severin, K. P. (2020) Rapid, non-destructive analysis of calcium and strontium in eggshells by WD-XRF. Chemosphere, 251, 126253. doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126253
Gleason, C. M., Norcross, B. L., and Spaleta, K. J. (2015) Otolith chemistry discriminates water mass occupancy of Arctic fish in the Chukchi Sea. Marine and Freshwater Research, 67, p 967-979. doi.org/10.1071/MF15084
Śliwiński, M. G., Spaleta, K. J., Meyer, F. J., Hutton, E. M., Newberry, R. J., Trainor, T. P., Severin. K. P., Whalen, M. T. (2012) Making low concentration in-house pressed pellet trace element standards for carbonate rock analyses by WD-XRF, Chemical Geology, Volumes 298-299, p. 97-115. doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2011.12.027

**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.

*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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