R. Blaine McCleskey
Blaine McCleskey is a Research Chemist for the USGS Water Resources Mission Area.
Blaine McCleskey started his career with the U.S. Geological Survey in 1997 as a chemist in the National Research Program. In 2010, he obtained a Ph.D. from the University of Colorado where he developed a method to calculate the electrical conductivity of natural waters from its chemical composition. He is currently involved in several research projects in Yellowstone National Park, a wildfire affected watershed, and acid mine drainage sites.
Education
B.S. - Biochemistry, College of Charleston, SC, 1995
M.S. - Environmental Studies (Science track), University of Charleston, SC, 1997
Ph.D. - Environmental Engineering (Hydrologic Sciences Program), University of Colorado, 2010
Blaine McCleskey also runs and maintains the USGS Redox Chemistry Laboratory, where analytical methods for determining the redox distributions of iron, arsenic, chromium, and antimony have been developed (see puplished methods below). In addition, the lab supports many USGS projects by providing iron, arsenic, chromium, antimony, and selenium redox determinations. The lab is equipped with an ICP-AES, IC, GFAAS, HGAAS, UV-VIS spectrophotometer, and an autotitrator and we are capable of determining most inorganic constituents and specialize in difficult matrices (acid mine waters, geothermal waters, and saline waters).
Science and Products
Water chemistry of surface waters affected by the Fourmile Canyon wildfire, Colorado, 2010-2011
A new method of calculating electrical conductivity with applications to natural waters
Water chemistry and electrical conductivity database for rivers in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
A new method of calculating electrical conductivity with applications to natural waters
Simultaneous oxidation of arsenic and antimony at low and circumneutral pH, with and without microbial catalysis
Comparison of electrical conductivity calculation methods for natural waters
Electrical conductivity of electrolytes applicable to natural waters from 0 to 100 degrees C
Spring runoff water-chemistry data from the Standard Mine and Elk Creek, Gunnison County, Colorado, 2010
Ammonium in thermal waters of Yellowstone National Park: Processes affecting speciation and isotope fractionation
Fluoride geochemistry of thermal waters in Yellowstone National Park: I. Aqueous fluoride speciation
Vibrational, X-ray absorption, and Mössbauer spectra of sulfate minerals from the weathered massive sulfide deposit at Iron Mountain, California
Source and fate of inorganic solutes in the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA: I. Low-flow discharge and major solute chemistry
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Water chemistry of surface waters affected by the Fourmile Canyon wildfire, Colorado, 2010-2011
In September 2010, the Fourmile Canyon fire burned about 23 percent of the Fourmile Creek watershed in Boulder County, Colo. Water-quality sampling of Fourmile Creek began within a month after the wildfire to assess its effects on surface-water chemistry. Water samples were collected from five sites along Fourmile Creek (above, within, and below the burned area) monthly during base flow, twice weeAuthorsR. Blaine McCleskey, Jeffrey H. Writer, Sheila F. MurphyA new method of calculating electrical conductivity with applications to natural waters
A new method is presented for calculating the electrical conductivity of natural waters that is accurate over a large range of effective ionic strength (0.0004–0.7 mol kg-1), temperature (0–95 °C), pH (1–10), and conductivity (30–70,000 μS cm-1). The method incorporates a reliable set of equations to calculate the ionic molal conductivities of cations and anions (H+, Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, NH4+, Mg2+,AuthorsR. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Joseph N. Ryan, James W. BallWater chemistry and electrical conductivity database for rivers in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Chloride flux has been used to estimate heat flow in volcanic environments since the method was developed in New Zealand by Ellis and Wilson (1955). The method can be applied effectively at Yellowstone, because nearly all of the water discharged from its thermal features enters one of four major rivers (the Madison, Yellowstone, Snake, and Falls Rivers) that drain the park, and thus integration ofAuthorsLaura E. Clor, R. Blaine McCleskey, Mark A. Huebner, Jacob B. Lowenstern, Henry P. Heasler, Dan L. Mahony, Tim Maloney, William C. EvansA new method of calculating electrical conductivity with applications to natural waters
A new method is presented for calculating the electrical conductivity of natural waters that is accurate over a large range of effective ionic strength (0.0004–0.7 mol kg−1), temperature (0–95 °C), pH (1–10), and conductivity (30–70,000 μS cm−1). The method incorporates a reliable set of equations to calculate the ionic molal conductivities of cations and anions (H+, Li+, Na+, K+, Cs+, NH4+, Mg2+,AuthorsR. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, J. N. Ryan, J. W. BallSimultaneous oxidation of arsenic and antimony at low and circumneutral pH, with and without microbial catalysis
Arsenic and Sb are common mine-water pollutants and their toxicity and fate are strongly influenced by redox processes. In this study, simultaneous Fe(II), As(III) and Sb(III) oxidation experiments were conducted to obtain rates under laboratory conditions similar to those found in the field for mine waters of both low and circumneutral pH. Additional experiments were performed under abiotic steriAuthorsMaria P. Asta, D. Kirk Nordstrom, R. Blaine McCleskeyComparison of electrical conductivity calculation methods for natural waters
The capability of eleven methods to calculate the electrical conductivity of a wide range of natural waters from their chemical composition was investigated. A brief summary of each method is presented including equations to calculate the conductivities of individual ions, the ions incorporated, and the method's limitations. The ability of each method to reliably predict the conductivity depends oAuthorsR. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Joseph N. RyanElectrical conductivity of electrolytes applicable to natural waters from 0 to 100 degrees C
The electrical conductivities of 34 electrolyte solutions found in natural waters ranging from (10-4 to 1) mol•kg-1 in concentration and from (5 to 90) °C have been determined. High-quality electrical conductivity data for numerous electrolytes exist in the scientific literature, but the data do not span the concentration or temperature ranges of many electrolytes in natural waters. Methods fAuthorsR. Blaine McCleskeySpring runoff water-chemistry data from the Standard Mine and Elk Creek, Gunnison County, Colorado, 2010
Water samples were collected approximately every two weeks during the spring of 2010 from the Level 1 portal of the Standard Mine and from two locations on Elk Creek. The objective of the sampling was to: (1) better define the expected range and timing of variations in pH and metal concentrations in Level 1 discharge and Elk Creek during spring runoff; and (2) further evaluate possible mechanismsAuthorsAndrew H. Manning, Philip L. Verplanck, Alisa Mast, Joseph Marsik, R. Blaine McCleskeyAmmonium in thermal waters of Yellowstone National Park: Processes affecting speciation and isotope fractionation
Dissolved inorganic nitrogen, largely in reduced form (NH4(T)≈NH4(aq)++NH3(aq)o), has been documented in thermal waters throughout Yellowstone National Park, with concentrations ranging from a few micromolar along the Firehole River to millimolar concentrations at Washburn Hot Springs. Indirect evidence from rock nitrogen analyses and previous work on organic compounds associated with Washburn HotAuthorsJ.M. Holloway, D. Kirk Nordstrom, J.K. Böhlke, R. Blaine McCleskey, J. W. BallFluoride geochemistry of thermal waters in Yellowstone National Park: I. Aqueous fluoride speciation
Thermal water samples from Yellowstone National Park (YNP) have a wide range of pH (1–10), temperature, and high concentrations of fluoride (up to 50 mg/l). High fluoride concentrations are found in waters with field pH higher than 6 (except those in Crater Hills) and temperatures higher than 50 °C based on data from more than 750 water samples covering most thermal areas in YNP from 1975 to 2008.AuthorsY. Deng, D. Kirk Nordstrom, R. Blaine McCleskeyVibrational, X-ray absorption, and Mössbauer spectra of sulfate minerals from the weathered massive sulfide deposit at Iron Mountain, California
The Iron Mountain Mine Superfund site in California is a prime example of an acid mine drainage (AMD) system with well developed assemblages of sulfate minerals typical for such settings. Here we present and discuss the vibrational (infrared), X-ray absorption, and M??ssbauer spectra of a number of these phases, augmented by spectra of a few synthetic sulfates related to the AMD phases. The mineraAuthorsJuraj Majzlan, Charles N. Alpers, Christian Bender Koch, R. Blaine McCleskey, Satish B.C. Myneni, John M. NeilSource and fate of inorganic solutes in the Gibbon River, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, USA: I. Low-flow discharge and major solute chemistry
The Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) is an important natural resource and habitat for fisheries and wildlife. However, the Gibbon River differs from most other mountain rivers because its chemistry is affected by several geothermal sources including Norris Geyser Basin, Chocolate Pots, Gibbon Geyser Basin, Beryl Spring, and Terrace Spring. Norris Geyser Basin is one of the most dynaAuthorsR. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, David D. Susong, James W. Ball, JoAnn M. Holloway - News