Leland is a Geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center in Denver, Colorado.
Leland’s broad interests include how the spatial and temporal evolution of Earth’s subsurface influences the distribution of natural resources. More specifically, he is interested in synthesizing and interpreting wide varieties of data and field observations into robust subsurface models applicable to characterizing mineral deposits, energy or groundwater reservoirs, and natural hazards. Leland currently works with the National Geologic Synthesis Project developing a 3D subsurface model of the contiguous United States.
Prior to the USGS, Leland worked in a variety of industry roles including geotechnical engineering, hydrocarbon exploration, and Intrusion-Related / Carlin-type gold exploration from Southern Rocky Mountain basins to the Sierra Nevada. In 2019 he received his B.Sc. in Geological Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines, and in 2021 received an M.Sc. in Geological Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin where he was a Research Assistant with the Reservoir Characterization Research Laboratory.
Science and Products
National Geologic Synthesis
Science and Products
- Science
National Geologic Synthesis
The National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program (NCGMP) Strategic Plan of 2020 calls for the creation of a “variable-scale, national, integrated 2D and 3D geologic-framework model that enables the seamless construction of geologic maps within user-defined regions of interest across the United States by the year 2030” (USGS Open-File Report 2021-1013*). Congress recently directed NCGMP to “bring... - Data
- Publications