Michael L. Zientek, Ph.D
Michael L. Zientek is a research geologist at the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He received a PhD degree in geology from Stanford and a BS degree in geology from the University of Texas. Since joining the USGS in 1983, Michael has devoted his career to studying economic geology and mineral resource assessments and specializes in magmatic ore deposits.
Mike is an economic geologist who works at the USGS Spokane Office, Spokane, Washington. He provides expertise in economic geology, assessment methods, and analysis of global, national, and regional datasets needed to plan, conduct and direct research on a broad range of land-use and mineral-resource-related issues.
His recent resource assessment work includes the SaMiRA assessment for the BLM and the USGS Global Mineral Resource Assessment project.
Mike's research interests include the origin of magmatic ore deposits enriched in platinum-group elements, chromium, and nickel. As part of that effort, he organized and coordinated International Geological Correlation Programme Project 336 from 1992 to 1996, conducted topical studies on the Stillwater Complex in Montana and the Duluth Complex, Minnesota, and worked on projects in Albania, Russia, and Indonesia. He was the Scientist-in-Charge of the Spokane Field Office from 1994 to 1998.
Education and Certifications
PhD, Stanford University
BS, University of Texas
Science and Products
Dzhezkazgan and associated sandstone copper deposits of the Chu-Sarysu basin, Central Kazakhstan
Sandstone copper assessment of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, Central Kazakhstan: Chapter E in Global mineral resource assessment
Magmatic ore deposits in layered intrusions - Descriptive model for reef-type PGE and contact-type Cu-Ni-PGE deposits
Aggregation of estimated numbers of undiscovered deposits: an R-script with an example from the Chu Sarysu Basin, Kazakhtan: Chapter B in Global mineral resource assessment
Magmatic sulfide-rich nickel-copper deposits related to picrite and (or) tholeiitic basalt dike-sill complexes: A preliminary deposit model
An Index to PGE-Ni-Cr Deposits and Occurrences in Selected Mineral-Occurrence Databases
Relational database for the geology of the northern Rocky Mountains— Idaho, Montana, and Washington
A compilation of spatial digital databases for selected U.S. Geological Survey nonfuel mineral resource assessments for parts of Idaho and Montana
Copper-silver deposits of the Revett Formation, Montana and Idaho: Origin and resource potential
Geology and Nonfuel Mineral Deposits of Latin America and Canada
Geology and nonfuel mineral deposits of the United States
USGS Headwaters Province project, Idaho, Montana, and Washington - an overview of publications supporting land-use planning in the northern Rocky Mountains
Science and Products
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Dzhezkazgan and associated sandstone copper deposits of the Chu-Sarysu basin, Central Kazakhstan
Sandstone-hosted copper (sandstone Cu) deposits occur within a 200-km reach of the northern Chu-Sarysu basin of central Kazakhstan (Dzhezkazgan and Zhaman-Aibat deposits, and the Zhilandy group of deposits). The deposits consist of Cu sulfide minerals as intergranular cement and grain replacement in 10 ore-bearing members of sandstone and conglomerate within a 600- to 1,000-m thick Pennsylvanian fAuthorsStephen E. Box, Reimar Seltmann, Michael L. Zientek, Boris Syusyura, Robert A. Creaser, Alla DolgopolovaSandstone copper assessment of the Chu-Sarysu Basin, Central Kazakhstan: Chapter E in Global mineral resource assessment
Mineral resource assessments represent a synthesis of available information to estimate the location, quality, and quantity of undiscovered mineral resources in the upper part of the Earth’s crust. This report presents a probabilistic mineral resource assessment of undiscovered sandstone copper deposits within the late Paleozoic Chu-Sarysu Basin in central Kazakhstan by the U.S. Geological SurveyAuthorsStephen E. Box, Boris Syusyura, Timothy S. Hayes, Cliff D. Taylor, Michael L. Zientek, Murray W. Hitzman, Reimar Seltmann, Vladimir Chechetkin, Alla Dolgopolova, Pamela M. Cossette, John C. WallisMagmatic ore deposits in layered intrusions - Descriptive model for reef-type PGE and contact-type Cu-Ni-PGE deposits
Layered, ultramafic to mafic intrusions are uncommon in the geologic record, but host magmatic ore deposits containing most of the world's economic concentrations of platinum-group elements (PGE) (figs. 1 and 2). These deposits are mined primarily for their platinum, palladium, and rhodium contents (table 1). Magmatic ore deposits are derived from accumulations of crystals of metallic oxides, or iAuthorsMichael L. ZientekAggregation of estimated numbers of undiscovered deposits: an R-script with an example from the Chu Sarysu Basin, Kazakhtan: Chapter B in Global mineral resource assessment
Mineral resource assessments completed by the U.S. Geological Survey during the past three decades express geologically based estimates of numbers of undiscovered mineral deposits as probability distributions. Numbers of undiscovered deposits of a given type are estimated in geologically defined regions. Using Monte Carlo simulations, these undiscovered deposit estimates are combined with tonnageAuthorsJohn H. Schuenemeyer, Michael L. Zientek, Stephen E. BoxMagmatic sulfide-rich nickel-copper deposits related to picrite and (or) tholeiitic basalt dike-sill complexes: A preliminary deposit model
Magmatic sulfide deposits containing nickel (Ni) and copper (Cu), with or without (±) platinum-group elements (PGEs), account for approximately 60 percent of the world’s Ni production and are active exploration targets in the United States and elsewhere. On the basis of their principal metal production, magmatic sulfide deposits in mafic rocks can be divided into two major types: those that are suAuthorsKlaus J. Schulz, Val W. Chandler, Suzanne W. Nicholson, Nadine M. Piatak, Robert R. Seal, Laurel G. Woodruff, Michael L. ZientekAn Index to PGE-Ni-Cr Deposits and Occurrences in Selected Mineral-Occurrence Databases
Databases of mineral deposits and occurrences are essential to conducting assessments of undiscovered mineral resources. In the USGS's (U.S. Geological Survey) global assessment of undiscovered resources of copper, potash, and the platinum-group elements (PGE), only a few mineral deposit types will be evaluated. For example, only porphyry-copper and sediment-hosted copper deposits will be considerAuthorsJ. Douglas Causey, John P. Galloway, Michael L. ZientekRelational database for the geology of the northern Rocky Mountains— Idaho, Montana, and Washington
A relational database was created to prepare and organize geologic map-unit and lithologic descriptions for input into a spatial database for the geology of the northern Rocky Mountains, a compilation of forty-three geologic maps for parts of Idaho, Montana, and Washington in U.S. Geological Survey Open File Report 2005-1235. Not all of the information was transferred to and incorporated in the spAuthorsJ. Douglas Causey, Michael L. Zientek, Arthur A. Bookstrom, Thomas P. Frost, Karl V. Evans, Anna B. Wilson, Bradley S. Van Gosen, David E. Boleneus, Rebecca A. PittsA compilation of spatial digital databases for selected U.S. Geological Survey nonfuel mineral resource assessments for parts of Idaho and Montana
This report compiles selected results from 13 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) mineral resource assessment studies conducted in Idaho and Montana into consistent spatial databases that can be used in a geographic information system. The 183 spatial databases represent areas of mineral potential delineated in these studies and include attributes on mineral deposit type, level of mineral potential, cerAuthorsMary H. Carlson, Michael L. Zientek, J. Douglas Causey, Helen Z. Kayser, Gregory T. Spanski, Anna B. Wilson, Bradley S. Van Gosen, Charles M. TrautweinCopper-silver deposits of the Revett Formation, Montana and Idaho: Origin and resource potential
The Revett Formation of northern Idaho and western Montana contains major stratabound copper-silver deposits near Troy, Rock Creek, and Rock Lake, Montana. To help the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) meet its goal of integrating geoscience information into the land-planning process, U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists recently completed a compilation of regional stratigraphy and mineralogy of theAuthorsThomas P. Frost, Michael L. ZientekGeology and Nonfuel Mineral Deposits of Latin America and Canada
No abstract available.AuthorsCharles G. Cunningham, Michael L. Zientek, Walter J. Bawiec, Greta J. OrrisGeology and nonfuel mineral deposits of the United States
No abstract available.AuthorsMichael L. Zientek, Greta J. OrrisUSGS Headwaters Province project, Idaho, Montana, and Washington - an overview of publications supporting land-use planning in the northern Rocky Mountains
No abstract available.AuthorsMichael L. Zientek, Karen Lund - News