Richard is a Scientist Emeritus with the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He focuses on the application of gravity, magnetic, and other geophysical methods to address a variety of earth science issues in the Western United States.
After graduation from Stanford, he served as Assistant Professor in the School of Oceanography at OSU. He joined the USGS in 1975, becoming Senior Scientist six years before retiring from the USGS in 2016. As an Emeritus Research Geophysicist, Richard uses potential-field (gravity and magnetic) and other geophysical methods to help address national earth science issues in the Western United States. His recent research focuses on mapping and characterizing hazardous faults in the Cascadia subduction zone, assessing mineral resources in the Basin and Range, and estimating ground-water resources of the arid southwest US.
Professional Experience
2016-present, Research Geophysicist Emeritus, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
2010-2016, Senior Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
1975-2010, Research Geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA
2005-2006, Chief, Geophysical Unit of Menlo Park (GUMP), U.S. Geological Survey
1990-1993, Adjunct Professor, School of Oceanography, Oregon State University
1988-1991, Chief, Crustal Dynamics Section, Branch of Geophysics, U.S. Geological Survey
1978-1979, 1986-1987, Consulting Professor, Department of Geophysics, Stanford University
1973-1975, Assistant Professor, School of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
1972-1973, Research Associate, School of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
1972, Research Associate, Stanford University
Education and Certifications
Ph.D., Geophysics, Stanford University, 1972
M.S., Geophysics, Stanford University, 1971
B.S., General Science, Oregon State University, 1968
Affiliations and Memberships*
USGS Innovation Center Advisory Group (ICAG), 2016-present
CSIRO (Australia) Deep Earth Imaging Advisory Panel, 2016-2020
President and President-Elect, Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Section, AGU, 2008-2012
AGU Council, 2008-2012
Assoc. Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research, 1987-1990
Assoc. Editor, Reviews of Geophysics and Space Physics, 1985-1988
Assoc. Editor, U.S. National Report (GP Section) to the IUGG, 1985-1987
Honors and Awards
Fellow, American Geophysical Union, 2003
Fellow, Geological Society of America, 1987
Meritorious Service Award, Dept. of Interior, 1994
Shoemaker Award for Communications Product Excellence
Science and Products
Pacific Northwest Geologic Mapping: Northern Pacific Border, Cascades and Columbia
The Pacific Northwest is an area created by active and complex geological processes. On its path to the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River slices through a chain of active volcanoes located along the western margin of the U.S. in Washington, Oregon, and northern California. These volcanoes rest above the active Cascadia subduction zone, which is the boundary where the oceanic tectonic plate dives...
High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Cle Elum Area, Washington
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of central Washington centered approximately 22 km west-southwest of Ellensburg. The survey includes the cities of Ellensburg, Cle Elum, and Yakima and is referred to as the Cle Elum aeromagnetic survey. The Cle Elum aeromagnetic survey extends from the Columbia Plateau westward to the eastern Cascade Range and illu
High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey Over the New Madrid Seismic Zone, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey over parts of Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee, an area centered about 100 km north of Memphis, Tennessee. The survey covers parts of the southern arm of the New Madrid seismic zone, the northwestern margin of the Reelfoot rift, the Blytheville arch, and the Commerce geophysical lineament (reference: Langenheim, V.E., and Hi
High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Greater Spokane Area, Washington and Idaho
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of eastern Washington and northwestern Idaho centered approximately at Spokane, Washington, and referred to as the Spokane aeromagnetic survey. The survey includes the cities of Spokane and Cheney, numerous smaller communities, and Fairchild Air Force Base. Magnetic anomalies reflect Miocene rocks of the Columbia Ri
High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Wenatchee Area, Washington
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of central Washington, an area that includes the city of Wenatchee and the towns of Entiat, Chelan, and Leavenworth. The Wenatchee aeromagnetic survey extends westward from the Columbia Plateau to the Cascade Range, and covers a part of the Columbia River and Lake Chelan. The survey was conducted between October 17
High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Hanford Area, Washington
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of south-central Washington centered approximately 30 km east of Yakima and referred to as the Hanford aeromagnetic survey. The survey includes the city of Richland, numerous smaller communities, and the Hanford Site (https://www.hanford.gov). The Hanford aeromagnetic survey extends from the Columbia Plateau westwar
High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Centralia Area, Southwest Washington
The data in this release originate from a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of the Centralia and Chehalis area of southwestern Washington. The survey was conducted between September 22 and October 22, 2015, by Eon Geosciences, Inc, working under contract to the U.S. Geological Survey. The covered region extends from the Cascade Range in the east to Willapa Bay in the west, and includes the cities
High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Skykomish Area, Washington
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of north-central Washington. The survey is centered approximately 120 km northwest of Yakima and includes the small town of Skykomish. The Skykomish aeromagnetic survey covers a part of the central Cascade Range of Washington, the western portion of the Jurassic ophiolitic Ingalls tectonic complex, and the Cretaceou
High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Pasco Area, Washington and Oregon
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of south-central Washington and north-central Oregon. The survey extends from the Blue Mountains westward to the Cascade Range and covers the Oregon cities of The Dalles, Hermiston, and Milton Freewater and the Washington cities of Richland, Pasco, Kennewick, and Walla Walla. Data were acquired during the summer of
Filter Total Items: 23
A tunnel runs through it — An inside view of the Tualatin Mountains, Oregon
The Tualatin Mountains form a northwest-striking ridge about 350 m high that separates Portland, Oregon, from the cities of the Tualatin Valley to the west. Known informally as the Portland Hills, the ridge is a late Cenozoic anticline, bounded by reverse faults that dip toward the anticlinal axis. The anticline is a broad, open fold consisting chiefly of Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group, with
A tunnel runs through it: an inside view of the Tualatin Mountains, Oregon
The Tualatin Mountains form a northwest-striking ridge about 350 m high that separates Portland, Oregon, from the cities of the Tualatin Valley to the west. Known informally as the Portland Hills, the ridge is a late Cenozoic anticline, bounded by reverse faults that dip toward the anticlinal axis. The anticline is a broad, open fold consisting chiefly of Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group, with
Earthquake hazards and lifelines in the Interstate 5 urban corridor: Cottage Grove to Woodburn, Oregon
The Interstate 5 highway (I-5) corridor, which stretches from Mexico to Canada, is both the main economic artery of the Pacific Northwest and home to the majority of Oregonians and Washingtonians. Accordingly, most regional utility and transportation systems have major components located within the I-5 corridor. For the purposes of this map, we refer to these essential systems as lifeline systems.
Earthquake hazards and lifelines in the Interstate 5 urban corridor: Woodburn, Oregon, to Centralia, Washington
The Interstate 5 highway (I-5) corridor, which stretches from Mexico to Canada, is both the main economic artery of the Pacific Northwest and home to the majority of Oregonians and Washingtonians. Accordingly, most regional utility and transportation systems have major components located within the I-5 corridor. For the purposes of this map, we refer to these essential systems as lifeline systems.
Earthquake Hazards and lifelines in the Interstate 5 urban corridor - Woodburn, Oregon, to Centralia, Washington
The Interstate 5 highway (I-5) corridor, which stretches from Mexico to Canada, is both the main economic artery of the Pacific Northwest and home to the majority of Oregonians and Washingtonians. Accordingly, most regional utility and transportation systems have major components located within the I-5 corridor. For the purposes of this map, we refer to these essential systems as lifeline systems.
Earthquake hazards and lifelines in the Interstate 5 Urban Corridor - Cottage Grove to Woodburn, Oregon
The Interstate 5 highway (I-5) corridor, which stretches from Mexico to Canada, is both the main economic artery of the Pacific Northwest and home to the majority of Oregonians and Washingtonians. Accordingly, most regional utility and transportation systems have major components located within the I-5 corridor. For the purposes of this map, we refer to these essential systems as lifeline systems.
Geologic map of the Hidden Hills Ranch Quadrangle, Clark County, Nevada
The prominent structural feature in the Pahrump Valley is the right-lateral Pahrump-Stewart Valley fault system (PSV) (Anderson and others, 1995b), which is the central segment of the State Line fault system as defined by Blakely and others (1998). The main trace of this fault system, as shown in figure 1A, strikes northwest along the California-Nevada state line through Pahrump and Stewart Valley
Geologic map of the Mound Spring quadrangle, Nye and Clark Counties, Nevada, and Inyo County, California
The Mound Spring quadrangle, the southwestern-most 7.5' quadrangle of the area of the Las Vegas 1:100,000-scale quadrangle, is entirely within the Pahrump Valley, spanning the Nevada/California State line. New geologic mapping of the predominantly Quaternary materials is combined with new studies of gravity and geochronology in this quadrangle. Eleven predominantly fine-grained units are delinea
Isostatic gravity map of the Death Valley ground-water model area, Nevada and California
An isostatic gravity map of the Death Valley groundwater model area was prepared from over 40,0000 gravity stations as part of an interagency effort by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Energy to help characterize the geology and hydrology of southwest Nevada and parts of California.
Map showing depth to pre-Cenozoic basement in the Death Valley ground-water model area, Nevada and California
A depth to basement map of the Death Valley groundwater model area was prepared using over 40,0000 gravity stations as part of an interagency effort by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Energy to help characterize the geology and hydrology of southwest Nevada and parts of California.
Aeromagnetic map of the Death Valley ground-water model area, Nevada and California
No abstract available.
Interpretive geologic cross sections for the Death Valley regional flow system and surrounding areas, Nevada and California
This report presents a network of 28 geologic cross sections that portray subsurface geologic relations within the Death Valley regional ground-water system, a ground-water basin that encompasses a 3? x 3? area (approximately 70,000 km2) in southern Nevada and eastern California. The cross sections transect that part of the southern Great Basin that includes Death Valley, the Nevada Test Site, and
Filter Total Items: 117
Arc versus river: The geology of the Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is the Columbia River’s long-held yet evolving passage through the volcanic arc of the Cascade Range. The globally unique setting of a continental-scale river bisecting an active volcanic arc at the leading edge of a major plate boundary creates a remarkable setting where dynamic volcanic and tectonic processes interact with diverse and energetic fluvial processes. This th
Authors
Jim E. O'Connor, Ray Wells, Scott E. K. Bennett, Charles M. Cannon, Lydia M. Staisch, James L Anderson, Anthony Francis Pivarunas, Gabriel Wells Gordon, Richard J. Blakely, Mark E. Stelten, Russell C. Evarts
Northward migration of the Oregon forearc on the Gales Creek fault
The Gales Creek fault (GCF) is a 60-km-long, northwest-striking dextral fault system (west of Portland, Oregon) that accommodates northward motion and uplift of the Oregon Coast Range. New geologic mapping and geophysical models confirm inferred offsets from earlier geophysical surveys and document ∼12 km of right-lateral offset of a basement high in Eocene Siletz River Volcanics since ca. 35 Ma a
Authors
Ray Wells, Richard J. Blakely, Sean Bemis
Descriptive models for epithermal gold-silver deposits
Epithermal gold-silver deposits are vein, stockwork, disseminated, and replacement deposits that are mined primarily for their gold and silver contents; some deposits also contain substantial resources of lead, zinc, copper, and (or) mercury. These deposits form in the uppermost parts of the crust, at depths less than about 1,500 meters below the water table, and at temperatures below about 300 °C
Authors
David John, Peter G. Vikre, Edward A. du Bray, Richard J. Blakely, David L. Fey, Barnaby W. Rockwell, Jeffrey L. Mauk, Eric D. Anderson, Frederick Graybeal
By
Ecosystems Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Central Energy Resources Science Center
Crustal structure and quaternary acceleration of deformation rates in central Washington revealed by stream profile inversion, potential field geophysics, and structural geology of the Yakima folds
Post‐Miocene tectonic uplift along fault‐cored anticlines within central Washington produced the Yakima Fold Province, a region of active NNE‐SSW shortening in the Cascadian backarc. The relative timing and rate of deformation along individual structures is coarsely defined yet imperative for seismic hazard assessment. In this work, we use geomorphic and geophysical mapping, stream profile inversi
Authors
Lydia M. Staisch, Richard J. Blakely, Harvey Kelsey, Richard Styron, Brian L. Sherrod
Miocene−Pleistocene deformation of the Saddle Mountains: Implications for seismic hazard in central Washington, USA
The Yakima fold province, located in the backarc of the Cascadia subduction zone, is a region of active strain accumulation and deformation distributed across a series of fault-cored folds. The geodetic network in central Washington has been used to interpret large-scale N-S shortening and westward-increasing strain; however, geodetic data are unable to resolve shortening rates across individual s
Authors
Lydia M. Staisch, Harvey Kelsey, Brian L. Sherrod, Andreas Möller, James B. Paces, Richard J. Blakely, Richard Styron
The story of a Yakima fold and how it informs Late Neogene and Quaternary backarc deformation in the Cascadia subduction zone, Manastash anticline, Washington, USA
The Yakima folds of central Washington, USA, are prominent anticlines that are the primary tectonic features of the backarc of the northern Cascadia subduction zone. What accounts for their topographic expression and how much strain do they accommodate and over what time period? We investigate Manastash anticline, a north vergent fault propagation fold typical of structures in the fold province. F
Authors
Harvey M. Kelsey, Tyler C. Ladinsky, Lydia M. Staisch, Brian L. Sherrod, Richard J. Blakely, Thomas Pratt, William Stephenson, Jackson K. Odum, Elmira Wan
Evaluating spatial and temporal relationships between an earthquake cluster near Entiat, central Washington, and the large December 1872 Entiat earthquake
We investigate spatial and temporal relations between an ongoing and prolific seismicity cluster in central Washington, near Entiat, and the 14 December 1872 Entiat earthquake, the largest historic crustal earthquake in Washington. A fault scarp produced by the 1872 earthquake lies within the Entiat cluster; the locations and areas of both the cluster and the estimated 1872 rupture surface are com
Authors
Thomas M. Brocher, Richard J. Blakely, Brian L. Sherrod
Cascadia subduction tremor muted by crustal faults
Deep, episodic slow slip on the Cascadia subduction megathrust of western North America is accompanied by low-frequency tremor in a zone of high fluid pressure between 30 and 40 km depth. Tremor density (tremor epicenters per square kilometer) varies along strike, and lower tremor density statistically correlates with upper plate faults that accommodate northward motion and rotation of forearc blo
Authors
Ray Wells, Richard J. Blakely, Aaron G. Wech, Patricia A. McCrory, Andrew Michael
By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Earthquake Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Subduction Zone Science
Active faulting on the Wallula fault zone within the Olympic-Wallowa lineament, Washington State, USA
The Wallula fault zone is an integral feature of the Olympic-Wallowa lineament, an ∼500-km-long topographic lineament oblique to the Cascadia plate boundary, extending from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to Walla Walla, Washington. The structure and past earthquake activity of the Wallula fault zone are important because of nearby infrastructure, and also because the fault zone defines part o
Authors
Brian L. Sherrod, Richard J. Blakely, John P. Lasher, Andrew P. Lamb, Shannon A. Mahan, Franklin F. Foit, Elizabeth Barnett
Seismic imaging beneath an InSAR anomaly in eastern Washington State: Shallow faulting associated with an earthquake swarm in a low-hazard area
In 2001, a rare swarm of small, shallow earthquakes beneath the city of Spokane, Washington, caused ground shaking as well as audible booms over a five‐month period. Subsequent Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data analysis revealed an area of surface uplift in the vicinity of the earthquake swarm. To investigate the potential faults that may have caused both the earthquakes and th
Authors
William J. Stephenson, Jackson K. Odum, Charles W. Wicks, Thomas L. Pratt, Richard J. Blakely
High-resolution seismic reflection imaging of growth folding and shallow faults beneath the Southern Puget Lowland, Washington State
Marine seismic reflection data from southern Puget Sound, Washington, were collected to investigate the nature of shallow structures associated with the Tacoma fault zone and the Olympia structure. Growth folding and probable Holocene surface deformation were imaged within the Tacoma fault zone beneath Case and Carr Inlets. Shallow faults near potential field anomalies associated with the Olympia
Authors
Jackson K. Odum, William J. Stephenson, Thomas L. Pratt, Richard J. Blakely
Basement domain map of the conterminous United States and Alaska
The basement-domain map is a compilation of basement domains in the conterminous United States and Alaska designed to be used at 1:5,000,000-scale, particularly as a base layer for national-scale mineral resource assessments. Seventy-seven basement domains are represented as eighty-three polygons on the map. The domains are based on interpretations of basement composition, origin, and architecture
Authors
Karen Lund, Stephen E. Box, Christopher S. Holm-Denoma, Carma A. San Juan, Richard J. Blakely, Richard W. Saltus, Eric D. Anderson, Ed DeWitt
Science and Products
- Science
Pacific Northwest Geologic Mapping: Northern Pacific Border, Cascades and Columbia
The Pacific Northwest is an area created by active and complex geological processes. On its path to the Pacific Ocean, the Columbia River slices through a chain of active volcanoes located along the western margin of the U.S. in Washington, Oregon, and northern California. These volcanoes rest above the active Cascadia subduction zone, which is the boundary where the oceanic tectonic plate dives... - Data
High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Cle Elum Area, Washington
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of central Washington centered approximately 22 km west-southwest of Ellensburg. The survey includes the cities of Ellensburg, Cle Elum, and Yakima and is referred to as the Cle Elum aeromagnetic survey. The Cle Elum aeromagnetic survey extends from the Columbia Plateau westward to the eastern Cascade Range and illuHigh-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey Over the New Madrid Seismic Zone, Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey over parts of Missouri, Arkansas, and Tennessee, an area centered about 100 km north of Memphis, Tennessee. The survey covers parts of the southern arm of the New Madrid seismic zone, the northwestern margin of the Reelfoot rift, the Blytheville arch, and the Commerce geophysical lineament (reference: Langenheim, V.E., and HiHigh-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Greater Spokane Area, Washington and Idaho
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of eastern Washington and northwestern Idaho centered approximately at Spokane, Washington, and referred to as the Spokane aeromagnetic survey. The survey includes the cities of Spokane and Cheney, numerous smaller communities, and Fairchild Air Force Base. Magnetic anomalies reflect Miocene rocks of the Columbia RiHigh-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Wenatchee Area, Washington
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of central Washington, an area that includes the city of Wenatchee and the towns of Entiat, Chelan, and Leavenworth. The Wenatchee aeromagnetic survey extends westward from the Columbia Plateau to the Cascade Range, and covers a part of the Columbia River and Lake Chelan. The survey was conducted between October 17High-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Hanford Area, Washington
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of south-central Washington centered approximately 30 km east of Yakima and referred to as the Hanford aeromagnetic survey. The survey includes the city of Richland, numerous smaller communities, and the Hanford Site (https://www.hanford.gov). The Hanford aeromagnetic survey extends from the Columbia Plateau westwarHigh-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Centralia Area, Southwest Washington
The data in this release originate from a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of the Centralia and Chehalis area of southwestern Washington. The survey was conducted between September 22 and October 22, 2015, by Eon Geosciences, Inc, working under contract to the U.S. Geological Survey. The covered region extends from the Cascade Range in the east to Willapa Bay in the west, and includes the citiesHigh-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Skykomish Area, Washington
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of north-central Washington. The survey is centered approximately 120 km northwest of Yakima and includes the small town of Skykomish. The Skykomish aeromagnetic survey covers a part of the central Cascade Range of Washington, the western portion of the Jurassic ophiolitic Ingalls tectonic complex, and the CretaceouHigh-Resolution Aeromagnetic Survey of the Pasco Area, Washington and Oregon
This data release provides access to a low-altitude, aeromagnetic survey of a part of south-central Washington and north-central Oregon. The survey extends from the Blue Mountains westward to the Cascade Range and covers the Oregon cities of The Dalles, Hermiston, and Milton Freewater and the Washington cities of Richland, Pasco, Kennewick, and Walla Walla. Data were acquired during the summer of - Maps
Filter Total Items: 23
A tunnel runs through it — An inside view of the Tualatin Mountains, Oregon
The Tualatin Mountains form a northwest-striking ridge about 350 m high that separates Portland, Oregon, from the cities of the Tualatin Valley to the west. Known informally as the Portland Hills, the ridge is a late Cenozoic anticline, bounded by reverse faults that dip toward the anticlinal axis. The anticline is a broad, open fold consisting chiefly of Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group, withA tunnel runs through it: an inside view of the Tualatin Mountains, Oregon
The Tualatin Mountains form a northwest-striking ridge about 350 m high that separates Portland, Oregon, from the cities of the Tualatin Valley to the west. Known informally as the Portland Hills, the ridge is a late Cenozoic anticline, bounded by reverse faults that dip toward the anticlinal axis. The anticline is a broad, open fold consisting chiefly of Miocene Columbia River Basalt Group, withEarthquake hazards and lifelines in the Interstate 5 urban corridor: Cottage Grove to Woodburn, Oregon
The Interstate 5 highway (I-5) corridor, which stretches from Mexico to Canada, is both the main economic artery of the Pacific Northwest and home to the majority of Oregonians and Washingtonians. Accordingly, most regional utility and transportation systems have major components located within the I-5 corridor. For the purposes of this map, we refer to these essential systems as lifeline systems.Earthquake hazards and lifelines in the Interstate 5 urban corridor: Woodburn, Oregon, to Centralia, Washington
The Interstate 5 highway (I-5) corridor, which stretches from Mexico to Canada, is both the main economic artery of the Pacific Northwest and home to the majority of Oregonians and Washingtonians. Accordingly, most regional utility and transportation systems have major components located within the I-5 corridor. For the purposes of this map, we refer to these essential systems as lifeline systems.Earthquake Hazards and lifelines in the Interstate 5 urban corridor - Woodburn, Oregon, to Centralia, Washington
The Interstate 5 highway (I-5) corridor, which stretches from Mexico to Canada, is both the main economic artery of the Pacific Northwest and home to the majority of Oregonians and Washingtonians. Accordingly, most regional utility and transportation systems have major components located within the I-5 corridor. For the purposes of this map, we refer to these essential systems as lifeline systems.Earthquake hazards and lifelines in the Interstate 5 Urban Corridor - Cottage Grove to Woodburn, Oregon
The Interstate 5 highway (I-5) corridor, which stretches from Mexico to Canada, is both the main economic artery of the Pacific Northwest and home to the majority of Oregonians and Washingtonians. Accordingly, most regional utility and transportation systems have major components located within the I-5 corridor. For the purposes of this map, we refer to these essential systems as lifeline systems.Geologic map of the Hidden Hills Ranch Quadrangle, Clark County, Nevada
The prominent structural feature in the Pahrump Valley is the right-lateral Pahrump-Stewart Valley fault system (PSV) (Anderson and others, 1995b), which is the central segment of the State Line fault system as defined by Blakely and others (1998). The main trace of this fault system, as shown in figure 1A, strikes northwest along the California-Nevada state line through Pahrump and Stewart ValleyGeologic map of the Mound Spring quadrangle, Nye and Clark Counties, Nevada, and Inyo County, California
The Mound Spring quadrangle, the southwestern-most 7.5' quadrangle of the area of the Las Vegas 1:100,000-scale quadrangle, is entirely within the Pahrump Valley, spanning the Nevada/California State line. New geologic mapping of the predominantly Quaternary materials is combined with new studies of gravity and geochronology in this quadrangle. Eleven predominantly fine-grained units are delineaIsostatic gravity map of the Death Valley ground-water model area, Nevada and California
An isostatic gravity map of the Death Valley groundwater model area was prepared from over 40,0000 gravity stations as part of an interagency effort by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Energy to help characterize the geology and hydrology of southwest Nevada and parts of California.Map showing depth to pre-Cenozoic basement in the Death Valley ground-water model area, Nevada and California
A depth to basement map of the Death Valley groundwater model area was prepared using over 40,0000 gravity stations as part of an interagency effort by the U.S. Geological Survey and the U.S. Department of Energy to help characterize the geology and hydrology of southwest Nevada and parts of California.Aeromagnetic map of the Death Valley ground-water model area, Nevada and California
No abstract available.Interpretive geologic cross sections for the Death Valley regional flow system and surrounding areas, Nevada and California
This report presents a network of 28 geologic cross sections that portray subsurface geologic relations within the Death Valley regional ground-water system, a ground-water basin that encompasses a 3? x 3? area (approximately 70,000 km2) in southern Nevada and eastern California. The cross sections transect that part of the southern Great Basin that includes Death Valley, the Nevada Test Site, and - Publications
Filter Total Items: 117
Arc versus river: The geology of the Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is the Columbia River’s long-held yet evolving passage through the volcanic arc of the Cascade Range. The globally unique setting of a continental-scale river bisecting an active volcanic arc at the leading edge of a major plate boundary creates a remarkable setting where dynamic volcanic and tectonic processes interact with diverse and energetic fluvial processes. This thAuthorsJim E. O'Connor, Ray Wells, Scott E. K. Bennett, Charles M. Cannon, Lydia M. Staisch, James L Anderson, Anthony Francis Pivarunas, Gabriel Wells Gordon, Richard J. Blakely, Mark E. Stelten, Russell C. EvartsNorthward migration of the Oregon forearc on the Gales Creek fault
The Gales Creek fault (GCF) is a 60-km-long, northwest-striking dextral fault system (west of Portland, Oregon) that accommodates northward motion and uplift of the Oregon Coast Range. New geologic mapping and geophysical models confirm inferred offsets from earlier geophysical surveys and document ∼12 km of right-lateral offset of a basement high in Eocene Siletz River Volcanics since ca. 35 Ma aAuthorsRay Wells, Richard J. Blakely, Sean BemisDescriptive models for epithermal gold-silver deposits
Epithermal gold-silver deposits are vein, stockwork, disseminated, and replacement deposits that are mined primarily for their gold and silver contents; some deposits also contain substantial resources of lead, zinc, copper, and (or) mercury. These deposits form in the uppermost parts of the crust, at depths less than about 1,500 meters below the water table, and at temperatures below about 300 °CAuthorsDavid John, Peter G. Vikre, Edward A. du Bray, Richard J. Blakely, David L. Fey, Barnaby W. Rockwell, Jeffrey L. Mauk, Eric D. Anderson, Frederick GraybealByEcosystems Mission Area, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Western Fisheries Research Center, Central Energy Resources Science CenterCrustal structure and quaternary acceleration of deformation rates in central Washington revealed by stream profile inversion, potential field geophysics, and structural geology of the Yakima folds
Post‐Miocene tectonic uplift along fault‐cored anticlines within central Washington produced the Yakima Fold Province, a region of active NNE‐SSW shortening in the Cascadian backarc. The relative timing and rate of deformation along individual structures is coarsely defined yet imperative for seismic hazard assessment. In this work, we use geomorphic and geophysical mapping, stream profile inversiAuthorsLydia M. Staisch, Richard J. Blakely, Harvey Kelsey, Richard Styron, Brian L. SherrodMiocene−Pleistocene deformation of the Saddle Mountains: Implications for seismic hazard in central Washington, USA
The Yakima fold province, located in the backarc of the Cascadia subduction zone, is a region of active strain accumulation and deformation distributed across a series of fault-cored folds. The geodetic network in central Washington has been used to interpret large-scale N-S shortening and westward-increasing strain; however, geodetic data are unable to resolve shortening rates across individual sAuthorsLydia M. Staisch, Harvey Kelsey, Brian L. Sherrod, Andreas Möller, James B. Paces, Richard J. Blakely, Richard StyronThe story of a Yakima fold and how it informs Late Neogene and Quaternary backarc deformation in the Cascadia subduction zone, Manastash anticline, Washington, USA
The Yakima folds of central Washington, USA, are prominent anticlines that are the primary tectonic features of the backarc of the northern Cascadia subduction zone. What accounts for their topographic expression and how much strain do they accommodate and over what time period? We investigate Manastash anticline, a north vergent fault propagation fold typical of structures in the fold province. FAuthorsHarvey M. Kelsey, Tyler C. Ladinsky, Lydia M. Staisch, Brian L. Sherrod, Richard J. Blakely, Thomas Pratt, William Stephenson, Jackson K. Odum, Elmira WanEvaluating spatial and temporal relationships between an earthquake cluster near Entiat, central Washington, and the large December 1872 Entiat earthquake
We investigate spatial and temporal relations between an ongoing and prolific seismicity cluster in central Washington, near Entiat, and the 14 December 1872 Entiat earthquake, the largest historic crustal earthquake in Washington. A fault scarp produced by the 1872 earthquake lies within the Entiat cluster; the locations and areas of both the cluster and the estimated 1872 rupture surface are comAuthorsThomas M. Brocher, Richard J. Blakely, Brian L. SherrodCascadia subduction tremor muted by crustal faults
Deep, episodic slow slip on the Cascadia subduction megathrust of western North America is accompanied by low-frequency tremor in a zone of high fluid pressure between 30 and 40 km depth. Tremor density (tremor epicenters per square kilometer) varies along strike, and lower tremor density statistically correlates with upper plate faults that accommodate northward motion and rotation of forearc bloAuthorsRay Wells, Richard J. Blakely, Aaron G. Wech, Patricia A. McCrory, Andrew MichaelByEnergy and Minerals Mission Area, Natural Hazards Mission Area, Earthquake Hazards Program, Energy Resources Program, Mineral Resources Program, National Laboratories Program, Science and Decisions Center, Earthquake Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Subduction Zone ScienceActive faulting on the Wallula fault zone within the Olympic-Wallowa lineament, Washington State, USA
The Wallula fault zone is an integral feature of the Olympic-Wallowa lineament, an ∼500-km-long topographic lineament oblique to the Cascadia plate boundary, extending from Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to Walla Walla, Washington. The structure and past earthquake activity of the Wallula fault zone are important because of nearby infrastructure, and also because the fault zone defines part oAuthorsBrian L. Sherrod, Richard J. Blakely, John P. Lasher, Andrew P. Lamb, Shannon A. Mahan, Franklin F. Foit, Elizabeth BarnettSeismic imaging beneath an InSAR anomaly in eastern Washington State: Shallow faulting associated with an earthquake swarm in a low-hazard area
In 2001, a rare swarm of small, shallow earthquakes beneath the city of Spokane, Washington, caused ground shaking as well as audible booms over a five‐month period. Subsequent Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) data analysis revealed an area of surface uplift in the vicinity of the earthquake swarm. To investigate the potential faults that may have caused both the earthquakes and thAuthorsWilliam J. Stephenson, Jackson K. Odum, Charles W. Wicks, Thomas L. Pratt, Richard J. BlakelyHigh-resolution seismic reflection imaging of growth folding and shallow faults beneath the Southern Puget Lowland, Washington State
Marine seismic reflection data from southern Puget Sound, Washington, were collected to investigate the nature of shallow structures associated with the Tacoma fault zone and the Olympia structure. Growth folding and probable Holocene surface deformation were imaged within the Tacoma fault zone beneath Case and Carr Inlets. Shallow faults near potential field anomalies associated with the OlympiaAuthorsJackson K. Odum, William J. Stephenson, Thomas L. Pratt, Richard J. BlakelyBasement domain map of the conterminous United States and Alaska
The basement-domain map is a compilation of basement domains in the conterminous United States and Alaska designed to be used at 1:5,000,000-scale, particularly as a base layer for national-scale mineral resource assessments. Seventy-seven basement domains are represented as eighty-three polygons on the map. The domains are based on interpretations of basement composition, origin, and architectureAuthorsKaren Lund, Stephen E. Box, Christopher S. Holm-Denoma, Carma A. San Juan, Richard J. Blakely, Richard W. Saltus, Eric D. Anderson, Ed DeWitt - News
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