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
Geochemical Signatures and Environmental Impacts of Ore and Trace Mineralization in the Southern Midcontinent
Characterizing landscape genomics and reconstructing pathways to plant ecological specialization and speciation
Backgrounds and Baselines
Arsenic in stream sediments of northern Alabama
Distribution of a suite of elements including arsenic and mercury in Alabama coal
The Modern Geological Survey; a model for research, innovation, synthjesis: A USGS perspective
Drought-induced recharge promotes long-term storage of porewater salinity beneath a prairie wetland
Using halogens (Cl, Br, I) to understand the hydrogeochemical evolution of drought-derived saline porewater beneath a prairie wetland
The interacting roles of climate, soils, and plant production on soil microbial communities at a continental scale
Grand challenges for integrated USGS science — A workshop report
Changes in pond water levels and surface extent due to climate variability alter solute sources to closed-basin Prairie-Pothole wetland ponds, 1979 to 2012
Controls on the geochemical evolution of Prairie Pothole Region lakes and wetlands over decadal time scales
Soil formation: Chapter 6
Powell Center Newsletter, Volume 2, Issue 1
Chemical and biotic characteristics of prairie lakes and large wetlands in south-central North Dakota—Effects of a changing climate
Weathering and transport of chromium and nickel from serpentinite in the Coast Range ophiolite to the Sacramento Valley, California, USA
Hydrogeochemistry of prairie pothole region wetlands: Role of long-term critical zone processes
Science and Products
- Science
Geochemical Signatures and Environmental Impacts of Ore and Trace Mineralization in the Southern Midcontinent
The overall project objective is a comprehensive analysis of the natural and anthropogenic consequences of extensive ore and trace mineralization in the southern midcontinent of the U.S. with a focus on Missouri. This will be conducted at two scales: 1) landscape and 2) process-level. 1) Landscape scale using geospatial and machine learning techniques to combine multiple geochemical and geologic...Characterizing landscape genomics and reconstructing pathways to plant ecological specialization and speciation
This proposal brings together biologists and geoscientists to evaluate the evolution of stress tolerance and adaptation to extreme environments in plants. Stress tolerance has been studied mainly from a physiological perspective using laboratory and field experiments. In contrast, this project will take a combined environmental and evolutionary perspective using national public databases and a “biBackgrounds and Baselines
This project developed a geochemical information base through studies ranging in scale from site-specific to regional and national. - Maps
Arsenic in stream sediments of northern Alabama
OVERVIEW OF ARSENIC IN STREAM SEDIMENTS The overall range of arsenic in the NURE stream sediments was from 0.3 to 44 mg/kg sediment (ppm) As in the sample data set. The mean value was 4.3 ppm with a standard deviation of 4.1 ppm. For comparison, the crustal abundance of arsenic is 1.8 ppm (Taylor, 1964). Shale is higher, with average values of 15 ppm. Coal samples from the entire USGS National CoaDistribution of a suite of elements including arsenic and mercury in Alabama coal
Arsenic and other elements are unusually abundant in Alabama coal. This conclusion is based on chemical analyses of coal in the U.S. Geological Survey's National Coal Resources Data System (NCRDS; Bragg and others, 1994). According to NCRDS data, the average concentration of arsenic in Alabama coal (72 ppm) is three times higher than is the average for all U.S. coal (24 ppm). Of the U.S. coal anal - Publications
Filter Total Items: 100
The Modern Geological Survey; a model for research, innovation, synthjesis: A USGS perspective
Geological Surveys have long filled the role of providing Earth system science data and knowledge. These functions are increasingly complicated by accelerating environmental and societal change. Here we describe the USGS response to these evolving conditions. Underpinning the USGS approach is the recognition that many of the issues facing the U.S. and the world involve the interaction among geolAuthorsSuzette Kimball, Martin B. Goldhaber, Jill S. Baron, Victor F. LabsonDrought-induced recharge promotes long-term storage of porewater salinity beneath a prairie wetland
Subsurface storage of sulfate salts allows closed-basin wetlands in the semiarid Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America to maintain moderate surface water salinity (total dissolved solids [TDS] from 1 to 10 g L−1), which provides critical habitat for communities of aquatic biota. However, it is unclear how the salinity of wetland ponds will respond to a recent shift in mid-continental climaAuthorsZeno F Levy, Donald O. Rosenberry, Robert Moucha, David M. Mushet, Martin B. Goldhaber, James W. LaBaugh, Anthony J Fiorentino, Donald I. SiegelUsing halogens (Cl, Br, I) to understand the hydrogeochemical evolution of drought-derived saline porewater beneath a prairie wetland
Numerous closed-basin prairie wetlands throughout the Prairie Pothole Region (PPR) of North America maintain moderate surface pond salinities (total dissolved solids [TDS] from 1 to 10 g L− 1) under semiarid climate by accumulation of gypsum and saline lenses of sulfate-rich porewater (TDS > 10 g L− 1) in wetland sediments during droughts. In order to understand the hydrogeochemical origin and comAuthorsZeno F. Levy, Christopher T. Mills, Zunli Lu, Martin B. Goldhaber, Donald O. Rosenberry, David M. Mushet, Laura K. Lautz, Xiaoli Zhou, Donald I. SiegelThe interacting roles of climate, soils, and plant production on soil microbial communities at a continental scale
Soil microbial communities control critical ecosystem processes such as decomposition, nutrient cycling, and soil organic matter formation. Continental scale patterns in the composition and functioning of microbial communities are related to climatic, biotic, and edaphic factors such as temperature and precipitation, plant community composition, and soil carbon, nitrogen, and pH. Although these reAuthorsMark P. Waldrop, JoAnn M. Holloway, David B. Smith, Martin B. Goldhaber, R. E. Drenovsky, K. M. Scow, R. Dick, Daniel M. Howard, Bruce K. Wylie, James B. GraceByEcosystems Mission Area, Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Climate Research and Development Program, Energy Resources Program, Land Change Science Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center , Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Wetland and Aquatic Research CenterGrand challenges for integrated USGS science — A workshop report
Executive SummaryThe U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) has a long history of advancing the traditional Earth science disciplines and identifying opportunities to integrate USGS science across disciplines to address complex societal problems. The USGS science strategy for 2007–2017 laid out key challenges in disciplinary and interdisciplinary arenas, culminating in a call for increased focus on a numbeAuthorsKaren E. Jenni, Martin B. Goldhaber, Julio L. Betancourt, Jill S. Baron, Sky Bristol, Mary Cantrill, Paul E. Exter, Michael J. Focazio, John W. Haines, Lauren E. Hay, Leslie Hsu, Victor F. Labson, Kevin D. Lafferty, K. A. Ludwig, Paul C. D. Milly, Toni L. Morelli, Suzette A. Morman, Nedal T. Nassar, Timothy R. Newman, Andrea C. Ostroff, Jordan S. Read, Sasha C. Reed, Carl D. Shapiro, Richard A. Smith, Ward E. Sanford, Terry L. Sohl, Edward G. Stets, Adam J. Terando, Donald E. Tillitt, Michael A. Tischler, Patricia L. Toccalino, David J. Wald, Mark P. Waldrop, Anne Wein, Jake F. Weltzin, Christian E. ZimmermanChanges in pond water levels and surface extent due to climate variability alter solute sources to closed-basin Prairie-Pothole wetland ponds, 1979 to 2012
Wetter conditions beginning in 1993 resulted in marked changes in water levels and surface extent of prairie-pothole region wetland ponds, including closed-basin wetlands in the Cottonwood Lake area of North Dakota, U.S.A. Pond water levels after 1993 were consistently 0.5 to 2 m higher than during 1979–1993 (≤ 1 m deep) in wetlands lacking surface or substantial groundwater outlets, and ponds ofAuthorsJames W. LaBaugh, David M. Mushet, Donald O. Rosenberry, Ned H. Euliss, Martin B. Goldhaber, Christopher T. Mills, Richard D. NelsonControls on the geochemical evolution of Prairie Pothole Region lakes and wetlands over decadal time scales
One hundred sixty-seven Prairie Pothole lakes, ponds and wetlands (largely lakes) previously analyzed chemically during the late 1960’s and early to mid-1970’s were resampled and reanalyzed in 2011–2012. The two sampling periods differed climatically. The earlier sampling took place during normal to slightly dry conditions, whereas the latter occurred during and immediately following exceptionallyAuthorsMartin B. Goldhaber, Christopher T. Mills, David M. Mushet, R. Blaine McCleskey, Jennifer RoverSoil formation: Chapter 6
Soil formation reflects the complex interaction of many factors, among the most important of which are (i) the nature of the soil parent material, (ii) regional climate, (iii) organisms, including humans, (iv) topography and (v) time. These processes operate in Earth's critical zone; the thin veneer of our planet where rock meets life. Understanding the operation of these soil-forming factors requAuthorsMartin B. Goldhaber, Steven A. BanwartPowell Center Newsletter, Volume 2, Issue 1
Bi-annual newsletter for the John Wesley Powell Center for Analysis and Synthesis, covering news through July of 2015AuthorsJill S. Baron, Marty GoldhaberChemical and biotic characteristics of prairie lakes and large wetlands in south-central North Dakota—Effects of a changing climate
The climate of the prairie pothole region of North America is known for variability that results in significant interannual changes in water depths and volumes of prairie lakes and wetlands; however, beginning in July 1993, the climate of the region shifted to an extended period of increased precipitation that has likely been unequaled in the preceding 500 years. Associated changing water volumesAuthorsDavid M. Mushet, Martin B. Goldhaber, Christopher T. Mills, Kyle I. McLean, Vanessa M. Aparicio, R. Blaine McCleskey, JoAnn M. Holloway, Craig A. StockwellWeathering and transport of chromium and nickel from serpentinite in the Coast Range ophiolite to the Sacramento Valley, California, USA
A soil geochemical study in northern California was done to investigate the role that weathering and transport play in the regional distribution and mobility of geogenic Cr and Ni, which are both potentially toxic and carcinogenic. These elements are enriched in ultramafic rocks (primarily serpentinite) and the soils derived from them (1700–10,000 mg Cr per kg soil and 1300–3900 mg Ni per kg soil)AuthorsJean Morrison, Martin B. Goldhaber, Christopher T. Mills, George N. Breit, Robert L. Hooper, JoAnn M. Holloway, Sharon F. Diehl, James F. RanvilleHydrogeochemistry of prairie pothole region wetlands: Role of long-term critical zone processes
This study addresses the geologic and hydrogeochemical processes operating at a range of scales within the prairie pothole region (PPR). The PPR is a 750,000 km2portion of north central North America that hosts millions of small wetlands known to be critical habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife. At a local scale, we characterized the geochemical evolution of the 92-ha Cottonwood Lake study areAuthorsMartin B. Goldhaber, Christopher T. Mills, Jean Morrison, Craig A. Stricker, David M. Mushet, James W. LaBaugh - 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