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Mark Bultman

Mark is a Research Geologist with Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He received a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Since joining the USGS in 1987, he has worked on interpretations of geophysical data for mineral and water resource issues, medical geology, and mineral resource assessments. 

While his research, presently, is focused on extending mapped geology beneath cover and geophysical modeling of basins, Mark has expertise in geophysical interpretations of magnetic, gravity, and transient electromagnetic data in basins, identification of concealed lithology based on textural analysis of geophysical data, modeling the geologic/geophysical signatures of concealed mineral deposits, acquisition of ground-based magnetic, gravity, and transient electromagnetic data, modeling the soil habitat of Coccidioides sp. (etiological agent of valley fever), mineral resource assessments of public lands, and high performance computing.

Professional Experience

  • 1988 - Present, Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, VA

  • 1987 - 1988, Research Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D., Geology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1986

  • M.S., Environmental Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1983

  • B.S., Geology and Geophysics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1979

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • Geological Society of America

  • American Geophysical Union

Science and Products

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USGS science for a changing world

Concealed Rare Earth Element (REE) Terranes in the Southern Basin and Range Geologic Province

We are working to develop an understanding of the types, sizes, and spatial distribution of rare-earth element (REE) related deposits in the Southern Basin and Range geologic province to help ensure the availability of REEs to industry in the United States. Geologic, geophysical, and geochemical data acquired will be used to develop permissive tracts for REE related deposits and to define areas of...
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Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
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Concealed Rare Earth Element (REE) Terranes in the Southern Basin and Range Geologic Province

We are working to develop an understanding of the types, sizes, and spatial distribution of rare-earth element (REE) related deposits in the Southern Basin and Range geologic province to help ensure the availability of REEs to industry in the United States. Geologic, geophysical, and geochemical data acquired will be used to develop permissive tracts for REE related deposits and to define areas of...
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Image shows the Great Basin with a mountain in the background

Great Basin Metallogeny and Regional Structure - New Interpretations of Magnetic and Gravity Data

This project incorporates new geophysical technologies developed at the Tucson office of the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center over the last 20 years for assessing mineral deposits concealed by basin sediments. These technologies include: textural classification of magnetic and magnetotelluric data and methods to characterize bedrock/basement lithologies, improved lineament...
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Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
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Great Basin Metallogeny and Regional Structure - New Interpretations of Magnetic and Gravity Data

This project incorporates new geophysical technologies developed at the Tucson office of the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center over the last 20 years for assessing mineral deposits concealed by basin sediments. These technologies include: textural classification of magnetic and magnetotelluric data and methods to characterize bedrock/basement lithologies, improved lineament...
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Sopori Wash sub-basin gravity data, Pima and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona

This data release contains new Earths gravity data from the Sopori Wash sub-basin in Pima and Santa Cruz Counties, Arizona. Data were acquired in January and March of 2017.
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Aeromagnetic and aeroradiometric data acquired over parts of the Trans-Pecos region of West Texas and Southern New Mexico

The Trans-Pecos region of West Texas and Southern New Mexico contains a series of rare earth element (REE) enriched ~ 34-36 Ma intrusive rhyolites and syenites. One such intrusive in the Sierra Blanca Mountains, Texas, hosts the Round Top REE deposit which is one of the few REE deposits in the U.S. with an economic evaluation and is scheduled to go into production in 2025. In addition, Alkaline ig
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Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Geologic map and hydrogeologic investigations of the upper Santa Cruz River basin, southern Arizona

This report includes an updated geologic map and cross sections of the upper Santa Cruz River basin, southern Arizona. The map and cross sections describe the geometry, thickness, and structure of the Miocene to Holocene units which form the main aquifers in the basin. The report also includes results of new hydrogeologic studies including (1) mapping and defining depth to bedrock based on geophys
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Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Geologic map of the Rio Rico and Nogales 7.5’ quadrangles, Santa Cruz County, Arizona

The Rio Rico and Nogales (Arizona) 1:24,000-scale quadrangles are located in the Basin and Range Province of southern Arizona, and the southern edge of the map is the international border with Sonora, Mexico.  The major urban area is Nogales, a bi-national city known as “the gateway to Mexico.”  Rocks exposed in the map area range in age from Jurassic through Quaternary.  Major physiographic, geol
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Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center
Filter Total Items: 14

Geologic framework and hydrogeology of the Rio Rico and Nogales 7.5’ quadrangles, upper Santa Cruz Basin, Arizona, with three-dimensional hydrogeologic model

Rapid population growth and declining annual recharge to aquifers in the upper Santa Cruz Basin area of southern Arizona, have increased the demand for additional groundwater resources. This demand is predicted to escalate in the future because of higher temperatures, longer droughts, less aquifer recharge, and decreased river and stream base flow. We conducted geologic studies to help evaluate an
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William R. Page, Mark W. Bultman, D. Paco VanSistine, Christopher M. Menges, Floyd Gray, Michael P. Pantea
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Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Bedrock morphology and structure, upper Santa Cruz Basin, south-central Arizona, with transient electromagnetic survey data

The upper Santa Cruz Basin is an important groundwater basin containing the regional aquifer for the city of Nogales, Arizona. This report provides data and interpretations of data aimed at better understanding the bedrock morphology and structure of the upper Santa Cruz Basin study area which encompasses the Rio Rico and Nogales 1:24,000-scale U.S. Geological Survey quadrangles. Data used in this
Authors
Mark W. Bultman, William R. Page
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Hydrogeologic investigations of the Miocene Nogales Formation in the Nogales Area, Upper Santa Cruz Basin, Arizona

Hydrogeologic investigations were conducted to evaluate the groundwater resource potential for the Miocene Nogales Formation in the Nogales area, southern Arizona. Results indicate that parts of the formation may provide new, deeper sources of groundwater for the area. Geologic mapping determined the hydrogeologic framework of the formation by defining lithologic, mineralogic, and stratigraphic ch
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William R. Page, Floyd Gray, Mark W. Bultman, Christopher M. Menges
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Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Geosciences and Environmental Change Science Center

Detailed interpretation of aeromagnetic data from the Patagonia Mountains area, southeastern Arizona

The induced magnetic field and the remanent magnetic field of rock masses are important to geologic modeling based on Earth’s magnetic field data. The orientation of the induced magnetic field is approximately parallel to the orientation of Earth’s geomagnetic field and its intensity can be derived from measured magnetic susceptibilities of rocks in a study area. The orientation and intensity of t
Authors
Mark W. Bultman
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Magnetic susceptibility data for some exposed bedrock in the western conterminous United States

In-place rock magnetic susceptibility measurements for 746 sites in the western conterminous United States are reported in a database. Of these 746 sites, 408 sites are in the Silverton Caldera area of the San Juan Mountains of southwestern Colorado. Of the 408 sites in the Silverton Caldera area, 106 sites are underground. The remaining 338 sites outside the Silverton Caldera area were on outcrop
Authors
Mark E. Gettings, Mark W. Bultman
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Investigation of the structure and lithology of bedrock concealed by basin fill, using ground-based magnetic-field-profile data acquired in the San Rafael Basin, southeastern Arizona

Data on the Earth’s total-intensity magnetic field acquired near ground level and at measurement intervals as small as 1 m include information on the spatial distribution of nearsurface magnetic dipoles that in many cases are unique to a specific lithology. Such spatial information is expressed in the texture (physical appearance or characteristics) of the data at scales of hundreds of meters to k
Authors
Mark W. Bultman
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Candidate-penetrative-fracture mapping of the Grand Canyon area, Arizona, from spatial correlation of deep geophysical features and surficial lineaments

Some aquifers of the southwestern Colorado Plateaus Province are deeply buried and overlain by several impermeable shale layers, and so recharge to the aquifer probably is mainly by seepage down penetrative-fracture systems. The purpose of this 2-year study, sponsored by the U.S. National Park Service, was to map candidate deep penetrative fractures over a 120,000-km2 area, using gravity and aerom
Authors
Mark E. Gettings, Mark W. Bultman

Time-domain electromagnetic signatures of polymetallic vein deposits in Cottonwood Canyon area, Santa Cruz County, Arizona

This report tests the usefulness of airborne time-domain electromagnetic (TEM) data on three mineral-resource-related issues: (1) to test whether known mineral deposits at or near the surface display any signal in the TEM data; 2) determine whether TEM data can be used to locate bedrock concealed by basin fill; and (3) if the exposed mineral deposits display a signal in the TEM data, to determine
Authors
Mark W. Bultman
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Operational guidelines (version 1.0) for geological fieldwork in areas endemic for Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever)

Coccidioidomycosis (Valley Fever) is a disease caused by the inhalation of the arthroconidia (spores) of Coccidioides immitis, a fungus that lives in the soils of southwestern United States. Although large numbers of people are exposed to the arthroconidia and are consequently infected, very few individuals contract the more serious forms of the disease. Earth scientists working in field areas whe
Authors
Frederick S. Fisher, Mark W. Bultman, Demosthenes Pappagianis
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

An interpretation of the 1997 airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey, Fort Huachuca vicinity, Cochise County, Arizona

In March of 1997, an airborne electromagnetic (AEM) survey of the Fort Huachuca Military Reservation and immediate surrounds was conducted. This survey was sponsored by the U.S. Army and contracted through the Geologic Division of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Data were gathered by Geoterrex-Dighem Ltd. of Ottawa, Canada. The survey aircraft is surrounded by a coil through which a large curre
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Mark W. Bultman, Mark E. Gettings, Jeff Wynn
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Geometry, structure, and concealed lithology of the San Rafael Basin, southeastern Arizona

The contiguous United States has been well explored for exposed conventional mineral deposits. Therefore, it is likely that many economically viable and strategically significant conventional undiscovered mineral deposits will be found in bedrock concealed beneath basin sediments. Mineral resource assessments must incorporate an understanding of the geometry, structure, and concealed lithology of
Authors
Mark W. Bultman
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Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Groundwater and Streamflow Information Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Data collection and reduction procedures for 1900 km of total intensity magnetic field data collected with a truck-mounted system in southeastern Arizona, southwestern Colorado, and northwestern Wyoming

No abstract available.
Authors
Paul E. Gettings, M. E. Gettings, Mark W. Bultman
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USGS partners with Arizona to map critical mineral potential with cutting-edge data

RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) will invest more than $3.1 million to map critical mineral resources in Arizona in partnership with...

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Media Alert: USGS Announces Low-Level Airplane Flights to Image Geology in New Mexico

Editor: In the public interest and in accordance with the Federal Aviation Administration regulations, the USGS is announcing this low-level airborne...

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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law helps map critical mineral resources in New Mexico

RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey will provide nearly $3.4 million to map critical-mineral resources in New Mexico in partnership with the New...

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Media Bulletin: Low-Flying Airplane and Helicopter Mapping Parts of West Texas and South-Central New Mexico to aid in Mapping Geology

Editor: In the public interest and in accordance with FAA regulations, the USGS is announcing this low-level airborne project. Your assistance in...

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Plumbing the Depths of the Great Basin

Vast mineral wealth has been discovered in the Great Basin since the 1800s. As each new generation of prospectors and geologists brings their cutting...

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Science and Products

*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