Richard Blakely
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
Preliminary atlas of active shallow tectonic deformation in the Puget Lowland, Washington
Sedimentary basins reconnaissance using the magnetic Tilt-Depth method
Saddle Mountain fault deformation zone, Olympic Peninsula, Washington: Western boundary of the Seattle uplift
Mapping Curie temperature depth in the western United States with a fractal model for crustal magnetization
Finding concealed active faults: Extending the southern Whidbey Island fault across the Puget Lowland, Washington
The use of curvature in potential-field interpretation
Crustal controls on magmatic-hydrothermal systems: A geophysical comparison of White River, Washington, with Goldfield, Nevada
Testing the use of aeromagnetic data for the determination of Curie depth in California
Lifelines and earthquake hazards along the Interstate 5 Urban Corridor: Woodburn, Oregon to Centralia, Washington
Holocene fault scarps and shallow magnetic anomalies along the southern Whidbey Island fault zone near Woodinville, Washington
Ground-magnetic studies of the Amargosa Desert region, California and Nevada
Utility of aeromagnetic studies for mapping of potentially active faults in two forearc basins: Puget Sound, Washington, and Cook Inlet, Alaska
Science and Products
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Filter Total Items: 20
- Publications
Filter Total Items: 118
Preliminary atlas of active shallow tectonic deformation in the Puget Lowland, Washington
This atlas presents an up-to-date map compilation of the geological and geophysical observations that underpin interpretations of active, surface-deforming faults in the Puget Lowland, Washington. Shallow lowland faults are mapped where observations of deformation from paleoseismic, seismic-reflection, and potential-field investigations converge. Together, results from these studies strengthen theAuthorsElizabeth A. Barnett, Ralph A. Haugerud, Brian L. Sherrod, Craig S. Weaver, Thomas L. Pratt, Richard J. BlakelySedimentary basins reconnaissance using the magnetic Tilt-Depth method
We compute the depth to the top of magnetic basement using the Tilt-Depth method from the best available magnetic anomaly grids covering the continental USA and Australia. For the USA, the Tilt-Depth estimates were compared with sediment thicknesses based on drilling data and show a correlation of 0.86 between the datasets. If random data were used then the correlation value goes to virtually zeroAuthorsA. Salem, S. Williams, E. Samson, D. Fairhead, D. Ravat, R. J. BlakelySaddle Mountain fault deformation zone, Olympic Peninsula, Washington: Western boundary of the Seattle uplift
The Saddle Mountain fault, first recognized in the early 1970s, is now well mapped in the Hoodsport area, southeastern Olympic Peninsula (northwestern United States), on the basis of light detection and ranging (LIDAR) surveys, aerial photography, and trench excavations. Drowned trees and trench excavations demonstrate that the Saddle Mountain fault produced a MW 6.5–7.0 earthquake 1000–1300 yr agAuthorsRichard J. Blakely, Brian L. Sherrod, Jonathan F. Hughes, Megan L. Anderson, Ray E Wells, Craig S. WeaverMapping Curie temperature depth in the western United States with a fractal model for crustal magnetization
We have revisited the problem of mapping depth to the Curie temperature isotherm from magnetic anomalies in an attempt to provide a measure of crustal temperatures in the western United States. Such methods are based on the estimation of the depth to the bottom of magnetic sources, which is assumed to correspond to the temperature at which rocks lose their spontaneous magnetization. In this study,AuthorsC. Bouligand, J.M.G. Glen, R. J. BlakelyFinding concealed active faults: Extending the southern Whidbey Island fault across the Puget Lowland, Washington
The southern Whidbey Island fault zone (SWIF), as previously mapped using borehole data, potential field anomalies, and marine seismic reflection surveys, consists of three subparallel, northwest trending strands extending ∼100 km from near Vancouver Island to the northern Puget Lowland. East of Puget Sound, the SWIF makes landfall between the cities of Seattle and Everett but is concealed beneathAuthorsBrian L. Sherrod, Richard J. Blakely, Craig S. Weaver, Harvey M. Kelsey, Elizabeth Barnett, Lee Liberty, Karen L. Meagher, Kristin PapeThe use of curvature in potential-field interpretation
Potential-field anomalies can be transformed into special functions that form peaks and ridges over isolated sources. All special functions have a common mathematical form over an isolated source, which leads to a common equation for estimating the source depth from the peak value and the curvature at the peak. Model-specific special functions, usually calculated from a transformed version of a poAuthorsJeffrey Phillips, R. O. Hansen, Richard J. BlakelyCrustal controls on magmatic-hydrothermal systems: A geophysical comparison of White River, Washington, with Goldfield, Nevada
The White River altered area, Washington, and the Goldfield mining district, Nevada, are nearly contemporaneous Tertiary (ca. 20 Ma) calc-alkaline igneous centers with large exposures of shallow (<1 km depth) magmatic-hydrothermal, acid-sulfate alteration. Goldfield is the largest known high-sulfidation gold deposit in North America. At White River, silica is the only commodity exploited to date,AuthorsR. J. Blakely, D. A. John, S. E. Box, B. R. Berger, R. J. Fleck, R. P. Ashley, G.R. Newport, G.R. HeinemeyerTesting the use of aeromagnetic data for the determination of Curie depth in California
Using California as a test region, we have examined the feasibility of using Curie-isotherm depths, estimated from magnetic anomalies, as a proxy for lithospheric thermal structure. Our method follows previous studies by dividing a regional aeromagnetic database into overlapping subregions and analyzing the power-density spectrum of each subregion, but we have improved on previous studies in two iAuthorsH.E. Ross, R. J. Blakely, M.D. ZobackLifelines and earthquake hazards along the Interstate 5 Urban Corridor: Woodburn, Oregon to Centralia, Washington
The Interstate 5 highway corridor, stretching from Mexico to Canada, is not only the economic artery of the Pacific Northwest, but is also home to the majority of Oregonians and Washingtonians. Accordingly, most regional utility and transportation systems, such as railroads and electrical transmission lines, have major components in the I-5 corridor. The section of I-5 from Cottage Grove, Oregon,AuthorsE. A. Barnett, C. S. Weaver, K. L. Meagher, Z. Wang, I. P. Madin, M. Wang, R. A. Haugerud, R. E. Wells, R. J. Blakely, D. B. Ballantyne, M. DarienzoHolocene fault scarps and shallow magnetic anomalies along the southern Whidbey Island fault zone near Woodinville, Washington
No abstract available.AuthorsBrian L. Sherrod, Richard J. Blakely, Craig Weaver, Harvey Kelsey, Elizabeth Barnett, Ray WellsGround-magnetic studies of the Amargosa Desert region, California and Nevada
No abstract available.AuthorsRichard J. Blakely, John W. Hillhouse, Robert L. MorinUtility of aeromagnetic studies for mapping of potentially active faults in two forearc basins: Puget Sound, Washington, and Cook Inlet, Alaska
High-resolution aeromagnetic surveys over forearc basins can detect faults and folds in weakly magnetized sediments, thus providing geologic constraints on tectonic evolution and improved understanding of seismic hazards in convergent-margin settings. Puget Sound, Washington, and Cook Inlet, Alaska, provide two case histories. In each lowland region, shallow-source magnetic anomalies are related tAuthorsRichard W. Saltus, Richard J. Blakely, Peter J. Haeussler, Ray Wells - News
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government