Martin Goldhaber
Martin (Marty) Goldhaber is a Scientist Emeritus with the Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center and the John Wesley Powell John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis. His research focuses on the role of geology, hydrology, ecology, and land use in regional soil geochemistry.
Martin (Marty) Goldhaber grew up in Los Angeles California. After spending a year as a Post Doc at Yale, he joined the USGS in 1975. He was co-chair of the USGS Science Strategy team which identified key strategic directions for the USGS to follow over the next decade.
Marty is past President of the Geochemical Society. Marty has served on the editorial boards of Economic Geology, American Journal of Science, and Geochimica (two terms) and has served on advisory boards for the Geological Society of America, the Ocean Drilling Program, NASA, and NSF. His association with the Colorado School of Mines and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as adjunct professor resulted in the mentoring of thirteen masters and doctoral students. He is also on the faculty of the Minerals, Metals, Metalloids, and Toxicity program at SUNY Stony Brook. Marty’s research interests have evolved during his career. His early work was on the biogeochemistry of sulfur in modern marine sediments. After joining the USGS, he applied these perspectives on sulfur geochemistry toward understanding the origin of sediment-hosted ore deposits. This interest in ore genesis led to a focus on large scale crustal fluid flow processes that drive not only genesis of some ore types, but also impact the modern environment by enriching shallow crustal rocks with potentially toxic constituents. His research then evolved into understanding the environmental impacts of these crustal flow processes.
Education and Certifications
PhD in Geochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles (1973)
BS in Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles (1968)
Affiliations and Memberships*
Geological Society of America - Fellow
American Association for the Advancement of Science - Fellow
Society of Economic Geologists - Fellow
Geochemical Society
Honors and Awards
Presidential Rank Award
Department of the Interior Meritorious Service Award
Science and Products
Geomorphic controls on mercury accumulation in soils from a historically mined watershed, Central California Coast Range, USA
Weathering of the New Albany Shale, Kentucky: II. Redistribution of minor and trace elements
A regional soil and sediment geochemical study in northern California
Pilot studies for the North American Soil Geochemical Landscapes Project - Site selection, sampling protocols, analytical methods, and quality control protocols
Spatial and seasonal variations in mercury methylation and microbial community structure in a historic mercury mining area, Yolo County, California
A regional-scale study of chromium and nickel in soils of northern California, USA
Major- and trace-element concentrations in soils from northern California: Results from the Geochemical Landscapes Project pilot study
USGS goals for the coming decade
Crossing disciplines and scales to understand the critical zone
Simultaneous determination of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) using reversed-phased ion-pairing liquid chromatography with dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
Major- and trace-element concentrations in soils from two continental-scale transects of the United States and Canada
The geochemical and magnetic record of coal combustion products in West Virginia reservoir sediments and soils
Science and Products
- Science
- Maps
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 100
Geomorphic controls on mercury accumulation in soils from a historically mined watershed, Central California Coast Range, USA
Historic Hg mining in the Cache Creek watershed in the Central California Coast Range has contributed to the downstream transport of Hg to the San Francisco Bay-Delta. Different aspects of Hg mobilization in soils, including pedogenesis, fluvial redistribution of sediment, volatilization and eolian transport were considered. The greatest soil concentrations (>30 mg Hg kg-1) in Cache Creek are assoAuthorsJ.M. Holloway, M. B. Goldhaber, J.M. MorrisonWeathering of the New Albany Shale, Kentucky: II. Redistribution of minor and trace elements
During weathering, elements enriched in black shale are dispersed in the environment by aqueous and mechanical transport. Here a unique evaluation of the differential release, transport, and fate of Fe and 15 trace elements during progressive weathering of the Devonian New Albany Shale in Kentucky is presented. Results of chemical analyses along a weathering profile (unweathered through progressivAuthorsM.L.W. Tuttle, G. N. Breit, M. B. GoldhaberA regional soil and sediment geochemical study in northern California
Regional-scale variations in soil geochemistry were investigated in a 20,000-km2 study area in northern California that includes the western slope of the Sierra Nevada, the southern Sacramento Valley and the northern Coast Ranges. Over 1300 archival soil samples collected from the late 1970s to 1980 in El Dorado, Placer, Sutter, Sacramento, Yolo and Solano counties were analyzed for 42 elements byAuthorsM. B. Goldhaber, J.M. Morrison, J.M. Holloway, R. B. Wanty, D.R. Helsel, D. B. SmithPilot studies for the North American Soil Geochemical Landscapes Project - Site selection, sampling protocols, analytical methods, and quality control protocols
In 2004, the US Geological Survey (USGS) and the Geological Survey of Canada sampled and chemically analyzed soils along two transects across Canada and the USA in preparation for a planned soil geochemical survey of North America. This effort was a pilot study to test and refine sampling protocols, analytical methods, quality control protocols, and field logistics for the continental survey. A toAuthorsD. B. Smith, L. G. Woodruff, R. M. O'Leary, W. F. Cannon, R. G. Garrett, J. E. Kilburn, M. B. GoldhaberSpatial and seasonal variations in mercury methylation and microbial community structure in a historic mercury mining area, Yolo County, California
The relationships between soil parent lithology, nutrient concentrations, microbial biomass and community structure were evaluated in soils from a small watershed impacted by historic Hg mining. Upland and wetland soils, stream sediments and tailings were collected and analyzed for nutrients (DOC, SO4=, NO3-), Hg, MeHg, and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA). Stream sediment was derived from serpentiAuthorsJ.M. Holloway, M. B. Goldhaber, K.M. Scow, R.E. DrenovskyA regional-scale study of chromium and nickel in soils of northern California, USA
A soil geochemical survey was conducted in a 27,000-km2 study area of northern California that includes the Sierra Nevada Mountains, the Sacramento Valley, and the northern Coast Range. The results show that soil geochemistry in the Sacramento Valley is controlled primarily by the transport and weathering of parent material from the Coast Range to the west and the Sierra Nevada to the east. ChemicAuthorsJ.M. Morrison, M. B. Goldhaber, L. Lee, J.M. Holloway, R. B. Wanty, R.E. Wolf, J. F. RanvilleMajor- and trace-element concentrations in soils from northern California: Results from the Geochemical Landscapes Project pilot study
In 2004, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC), and the Mexican Geological Survey (Servicio Geologico Mexicano, or SGM) initiated pilot studies in preparation for a soil geochemical survey of North America called the Geochemical Landscapes Project. The purpose of this project is to provide a better understanding of the variability in chemical composition of soilAuthorsJean Morrison, Martin B. Goldhaber, JoAnn M. Holloway, David B. SmithUSGS goals for the coming decade
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) proposes six strategic directions for managing ecosystems along with modernization of observation networks of land, water, and biological resources.AuthorsM.D. Myers, M. A. Ayers, Jill Baron, P.R. Beauchemin, Martin B. Goldhaber, Deborah R. Hutchinson, James W. LaBaugh, Roger G. Sayre, Steven E. Schwarzbach, Eugene S. Schweig, June M. Thormodsgard, Charles van Riper, W. WildeCrossing disciplines and scales to understand the critical zone
The Critical Zone (CZ) is the system of coupled chemical, biological, physical, and geological processes operating together to support life at the Earth's surface. While our understanding of this zone has increased over the last hundred years, further advance requires scientists to cross disciplines and scales to integrate understanding of processes in the CZ, ranging in scale from the mineral-watAuthorsS.L. Brantley, M. B. Goldhaber, Ragnarsdottir K. ValaSimultaneous determination of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) using reversed-phased ion-pairing liquid chromatography with dynamic reaction cell inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
A method for the simultaneous determination of Cr(iii) and Cr(vi) species in waters, soil leachates and synthetic bio-fluids is described. The method uses reversed-phase ion-pairing liquid chromatography to separate the chromium species and a dynamic reaction cell (DRC??) equipped ICP-MS for detection of chromium. Separation of the chromium species is carried out in less than 2 min. Cr(iii) is comAuthorsR.E. Wolf, J.M. Morrison, M. B. GoldhaberMajor- and trace-element concentrations in soils from two continental-scale transects of the United States and Canada
This report contains major- and trace-element concentration data for soil samples collected from 265 sites along two continental-scale transects in North America. One of the transects extends from northern Manitoba to the United States-Mexico border near El Paso, Tex. and consists of 105 sites. The other transect approximately follows the 38th parallel from the Pacific coast of the United States nAuthorsDavid B. Smith, William F. Cannon, Laurel G. Woodruff, Robert G. Garrett, Rodney Klassen, James E. Kilburn, John D. Horton, Harley D. King, Martin B. Goldhaber, Jean MorrisonThe geochemical and magnetic record of coal combustion products in West Virginia reservoir sediments and soils
Western West Virginia lies downwind from numerous coal-fired power plants along the Ohio River Valley. To test whether geochemical and mineralogical impacts from these power plants are detectable on the West Virginia landscape, we obtained reservoir cores, soils, and rocks from two separate sites in West Virginia, one in Harrison County (Hinkel and Deegan Reservoirs) and the other in Roane CountyAuthorsMartin B. Goldhaber, Ted Callender, Richard L. Reynolds - News
*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