Nadine M Piatak-Hackley
Nadine Piatak-Hackley is a Research Geologist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Biography
Nadine Piatak is a Research Geologist conducting investigations to better understand the geochemical processes that control the source, transport, and fate of trace elements associated with mineral deposits and mines. Her work has involved determining the geochemical characteristics of different types of mine waste as well as waters and stream sediments influenced by mining or by natural mineral weathering providing insight into near-surface processes that impact aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and, potentially, human health. Additionally, she is investigating the life cycles of byproduct critical elements such as germanium and gallium. This work involves understanding the partitioning of byproduct elements during natural and anthropogenic processes. Aspects of this work include examining the geochemistry that leads to enrichment of byproduct critical elements in certain types ore deposits and understanding how mineralogical hosts and speciation influence their recovery efficiencies during ore-processing and refining.
Education:
- M.S. Geology, The Ohio State University, 2000
- B.S. Geology, The Ohio State University, 1998
Professional Work Experience:
- USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, 2020 - Present.
- USGS Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center, 2001 - 2020.
Science and Products
Research Mineralogy - X-ray Diffraction Lab
The primary goal of this project is to ensure the availability of state-of-the-art mineralogical analyses and, when needed, development of new analytical methods that can be applied to topical studies in Energy and Minerals Mission Area, as well as the other mission areas.
The project includes mineralogy by X-ray diffraction (XRD), qualitative and semi-quantitative x-ray fluorescence...
Emerging Geoenvironmental Issues Related to Proposed Mining in the Lake Superior Region
We are studying environmental issues related to mining, and potential mining, in the Great Lakes region, continuing the study of characterizing baseline geochemistry of several watersheds in Minnesota and Michigan, examining the potential for aquatic toxicity from metals, and examining the acid-neutralizing and acid-generating potentials of mine waste, and the environmental, and possible human...
Sources, Forms, Extractability of Metals in Non-Ore Deposit Sources
This project explored potential recovery and environmental consequences of metals in mining and mineral processing wastes as a function of ore deposit geology, and in debris from demolished or burned buildings.
Macro and Micro Analytical Methods Development
The Macro and Micro Analytical Methods Development Project (MMAMD) provides access to the expertise of highly experienced research scientists and state of the art analytical instrumentation to develop new and unique analytical capabilities to solve complex problems beyond routine analysis.
Environmental (hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur) stable isotope data from the Elizabeth copper mine Superfund site, Vermont, USA
Stable hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and sulfur (S) isotope data were collected from the Elizabeth copper mine Superfund site, South Strafford, Vermont. Sample media include surface water (H and O), groundwater (H and O), dissolved sulfate (O and S), and sulfide minerals in bulk mill tailings samples.
Evaluating the utility of principal component analysis on EDS x-ray maps to determine bulk mineralogy
Due to advances in EDS technology, electron microscopy techniques have become an important tool to determine the relative abundance of mineral phases. However, few studies have directly compared EDS X‐ray mineralogy with traditional techniques for assessing bulk mineralogy and elemental composition. We show that analysing a limited area (~ 0....
Spaleta, Karen; Hayes, Sarah M.; Newberry, Rainer; Piatak, Nadine M. Micrometer-scale characterization of solid mine waste aids in closure due diligence
Precious- and base-metal mining often occurs in deposits with high acid-generating potential, resulting in mine waste that contains metals in forms of varying bioavailability, and therefore toxicity. The solids that host these metals are often noncrystalline, nanometer to micrometer in size, or undetectable by readily available analytical...
Bryn E. Kimball; Jamieson, Heather E.; Seal, Robert R.; Dobosz, Agatha; Piatak, Nadine M.
Hydrologic balance, water quality, chemical-mass balance, and geochemical modeling of hyperalkaline ponds at Big Marsh, Chicago, Illinois, 2016–17
Hyperalkaline (pH greater than 12) ponds and groundwater exist at Big Marsh near Lake Calumet, Chicago, Illinois, a site used by the steel industry during the mid-1900s to deposit steel- and iron-making waste, in particular, slag. The hyperalkaline ponds may pose a hazard to human health and the environment. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), in...
Gahala, Amy M.; Seal, Robert R.; Piatak, Nadine M. Geochemical characterization of iron and steel slag and its potential to remove phosphate and neutralize acid
Iron and steel slags from legacy and modern operations in the Chicago-Gary area of Illinois and Indiana, USA, are predominantly composed of Ca (10 - 44 wt. % CaO), Fe, (0.3 - 28 wt. % FeO), and Si (10 - 44 wt. % SiO2), with generally lesser amounts of Al (< 1 15 wt. % Al2O3), Mg (2 11 wt. % MgO), and Mn (0.3 9 wt. % MnO). Mineralogy is...
Piatak, Nadine M.; Seal, Robert R.; Hoppe, Darryl Andre; Green, Carlin J.; Buszka, Paul M. Environmental characteristics and utilization potential of metallurgical slag
Slag, an abundant byproduct from the pyrometallurgical processing of ores, can be an environmental liability or a valuable resource. The most common environmental impact of slag is from the leaching of potentially toxic elements, acidity, or alkalinity that may impact nearby soils and surface water and groundwater. Factors that influence its...
De Vivo, Benedetto; Belkin, Harvey E.; Lima, Annamaria; Piatak, Nadine M.
Barite (Barium)
Barite (barium sulfate, BaSO4) is vital to the oil and gas industry because it is a key constituent of the mud used to drill oil and gas wells. Elemental barium is an additive in optical glass, ceramic glazes, and other products. Within the United States, barite is produced mainly from mines in Nevada. Imports in 2011 (the latest year for which...
Schulz, Klaus J.; DeYoung,, John H.; Seal, Robert R.; Bradley, Dwight C.; Johnson, Craig A.; Piatak, Nadine M.; Miller, M. Michael
Beryllium
Beryllium is a mineral commodity that is used in a variety of industries to make products that are essential for the smooth functioning of a modern society. Two minerals, bertrandite (which is supplied domestically) and beryl (which is currently supplied solely by imports), are necessary to ensure a stable supply of high-purity beryllium metal,...
Schulz, Klaus J.; DeYoung,, John H.; Seal, Robert R.; Bradley, Dwight C.; Foley, Nora K.; Jaskula, Brian W.; Piatak, Nadine M.; Schulte, Ruth F.
Environmental considerations related to mining of nonfuel minerals
Throughout most of human history, environmental stewardship during mining has not been a priority partly because of the lack of applicable laws and regulations and partly because of ignorance about the effects that mining can have on the environment. In the United States, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, in conjunction with related...
Schulz, Klaus J.; DeYoung,, John H.; Seal, Robert R.; Bradley, Dwight C.; Seal, Robert R. ; Piatak, Nadine M.; Kimball, Bryn E.; Hammarstrom, Jane M.
Fluorine
Fluorine compounds are essential in numerous chemical and manufacturing processes. Fluorspar is the commercial name for fluorite (isometric CaF2), which is the only fluorine mineral that is mined on a large scale. Fluorspar is used directly as a fluxing material and as an additive in different manufacturing processes. It is the source of fluorine...
Schulz, Klaus J.; DeYoung,, John H.; Seal, Robert R.; Bradley, Dwight C.; Hayes, Timothy S.; Miller, M. Michael; Orris, Greta J.; Piatak, Nadine M.
Niobium and tantalum
Niobium and tantalum are transition metals that are almost always found together in nature because they have very similar physical and chemical properties. Their properties of hardness, conductivity, and resistance to corrosion largely determine their primary uses today. The leading use of niobium (about 75 percent) is in the production of high-...
Schulz, Klaus J.; DeYoung,, John H.; Seal, Robert R.; Bradley, Dwight C.; Schulz, Klaus J.; Piatak, Nadine M.; Papp, John F.
Titanium
Titanium is a mineral commodity that is essential to the smooth functioning of modern industrial economies. Most of the titanium produced is refined into titanium dioxide, which has a high refractive index and is thus able to impart a durable white color to paint, paper, plastic, rubber, and wallboard. Because of their high strength-to-weight...
Schulz, Klaus J.; DeYoung,, John H.; Seal, Robert R.; Bradley, Dwight C.; Woodruff, Laurel G.; Bedinger, George M.; Piatak, Nadine M.
Zirconium and hafnium
Zirconium and hafnium are corrosion-resistant metals that are widely used in the chemical and nuclear industries. Most zirconium is consumed in the form of the main ore mineral zircon (ZrSiO4, or as zirconium oxide or other zirconium chemicals. Zirconium and hafnium are both refractory lithophile elements that have nearly identical charge, ionic...
Schulz, Klaus J.; DeYoung,, John H.; Seal, Robert R. ; Bradley, Dwight C.; Jones, James V.; Piatak, Nadine M.; Bedinger, George M.