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
Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality investigation. 2. Low-flow (2001) and snowmelt (2002) synoptic/tracer water chemistry for the Red River, New Mexico
Surface and ground water geochemistry near the Donlin Creek gold deposit, southwestern Alaska
Chemical analyses of ground and surface waters, Ester Dome, central Alaska, 2000-2001
A new cation-exchange method for accurate field speciation of hexavalent chromium
Metal interferences and their removal prior to the determination of As(T) and As(III) in acid mine waters by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry
A new cation-exchange method for accurate field speciation of hexavalent chromium
Trace, minor and major element data for ground water near Fairbanks, Alaska, 1999-2000
Water-chemistry data for selected springs, geysers, and streams in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1999-2000
Water-Chemistry and On-Site Sulfur-Speciation Data for Selected Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1996-1998
Rapid arsenite oxidation by Thermus aquaticus and Thermus thermophilus: Field and laboratory investigations
New method for the direct determination of dissolved Fe(III) concentration in acid mine waters
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Questa baseline and pre-mining ground-water quality investigation. 2. Low-flow (2001) and snowmelt (2002) synoptic/tracer water chemistry for the Red River, New Mexico
Water analyses are reported for 259 samples collected from the Red River, New Mexico, and its tributaries during low-flow(2001) and spring snowmelt (2002) tracer studies. Water samples were collected along a 20-kilometer reach of the Red River beginning just east of the town of Red River and ending at the U.S. Geological Survey streamflow-gaging station located east of Questa, New Mexico. TAuthorsR. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, Judy I. Steiger, Briant A. Kimball, Philip L. VerplanckSurface and ground water geochemistry near the Donlin Creek gold deposit, southwestern Alaska
No abstract available.AuthorsS. H. Mueller, M.L. Goldfarb, L.A. Munk, R. Sanzolone, P. Lamothe, M. Adams, Paul H. Briggs, R. Blaine McCleskey, P. M. TheodorakosChemical analyses of ground and surface waters, Ester Dome, central Alaska, 2000-2001
Water analyses are reported for ground and surface waters collected at 33 sites on and near Ester Dome, Fairbanks area, central Alaska during 2000-2001. This interdisciplinary study focused on documenting the temporal and spatial chemical variations in arsenic concentrations to elucidate the processes that lead to elevated arsenic concentrations in ground water. Field parameters and water analysesAuthorsP. L. Verplanck, S. H. Mueller, E. K. Youcha, R. J. Goldfarb, R.F. Sanzolone, R. Blaine McCleskey, Paul H. Briggs, M. Roller, M. Adams, D. Kirk NordstromA new cation-exchange method for accurate field speciation of hexavalent chromium
A new cation-exchange method for field speciation of Cr(VI) has been developed to meet present stringent regulatory standards and to overcome the limitations of existing methods. The new method allows measurement of Cr(VI) concentrations as low as 0.05 micrograms per liter, storage of samples for at least several weeks prior to analysis, and use of readily available analytical instrumentation. TheAuthorsJames W. Ball, R. Blaine McCleskeyMetal interferences and their removal prior to the determination of As(T) and As(III) in acid mine waters by hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry
Hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometry (HGAAS) is a sensitive and selective method for the determination of total arsenic (arsenic(III) plus arsenic(V)) and arsenic(III); however, it is subject to metal interferences for acid mine waters. Sodium borohydride is used to produce arsine gas, but high metal concentrations can suppress arsine production. This report investigates inAuthorsR. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, James W. BallA new cation-exchange method for accurate field speciation of hexavalent chromium
A new method for field speciation of Cr(VI) has been developed to meet present stringent regulatory standards and to overcome the limitations of existing methods. The method consists of passing a water sample through strong acid cation-exchange resin at the field site, where Cr(III) is retained while Cr(VI) passes into the effluent and is preserved for later determination. The method is simple, raAuthorsJ. W. Ball, R. Blaine McCleskeyTrace, minor and major element data for ground water near Fairbanks, Alaska, 1999-2000
No abstract available.AuthorsS. H. Mueller, R. J. Goldfarb, G. L. Farmer, R. Sanzolone, M. Adams, P. M. Theodorakos, S.A. Richmond, R. Blaine McCleskeyWater-chemistry data for selected springs, geysers, and streams in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1999-2000
Sixty-seven water analyses are reported for samples collected from 44 hot springs and their overflow drainages and two ambient-temperature acid streams in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) during 1990-2000. Thirty-seven analyses are reported for 1999, 18 for June of 2000, and 12 for September of 2000. These water samples were collected and analyzed as part of research investigations in YNP on miAuthorsJames W. Ball, R. Blaine McCleskey, D. Kirk Nordstrom, JoAnn M. Holloway, Philip L. Verplanck, Sabin A. SturtevantWater-Chemistry and On-Site Sulfur-Speciation Data for Selected Springs in Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, 1996-1998
Fifty-eight water analyses are reported for samples collected from 19 hot springs and their overflow drainages and one ambient-temperature acid stream in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) during 1996-98. These water samples were collected and analyzed as part of research investigations on microbially mediated sulfur oxidation in stream waters and sulfur redox speciation in hot springs in YNP andAuthorsJames W. Ball, D. Kirk Nordstrom, R. Blaine McCleskey, Martin A.A. Schoonen, Yong XuRapid arsenite oxidation by Thermus aquaticus and Thermus thermophilus: Field and laboratory investigations
Thermus aquaticus and Thermus thermophilus, common inhabitants of terrestrial hot springs and thermally polluted domestic and industrial waters, have been found to rapidly oxidize arsenite to arsenate. Field investigations at a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park revealed conserved total arsenic transport and rapid arsenite oxidation occurring within the drainage channel. This environment wasAuthorsT.M. Gihring, G.K. Druschel, R. Blaine McCleskey, R.J. Hamers, J.F. BanfieldNew method for the direct determination of dissolved Fe(III) concentration in acid mine waters
A new method for direct determination of dissolved Fe(III) in acid mine water has been developed. In most present methods, Fe(III) is determined by computing the difference between total dissolved Fe and dissolved Fe(II). For acid mine waters, frequently Fe(II) ≫ Fe(III); thus, accuracy and precision are considerably improved by determining Fe(III) concentration directly. The new method utilizes tAuthorsT.B. To, D. Kirk Nordstrom, K.M. Cunningham, J. W. Ball, R. Blaine McCleskey - News