Robert R. Seal
Robert (Bob) Seal is a Research Geologist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 28
Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Hajigak iron deposit: 2020 field season Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Hajigak iron deposit: 2020 field season
These data include geochemical analyses of rock and water samples collected from the Hajigak iron deposit, Bamyan and Wardak Provinces, Afghanistan in 2020.
Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Aynak copper deposit: 2020 field season Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Aynak copper deposit: 2020 field season
These data include geochemical analyses of rock, mine waste, and water samples collected from the Aynak copper deposit, Logar Province, Afghanistan in 2020.
Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Balkhab copper deposit: 2019 field season Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Balkhab copper deposit: 2019 field season
These data include geochemical analyses of rock, mine waste, soil, sediment, and water samples collected from the Balkhab copper deposit, Sar-e Pol Province, Afghanistan in 2019.
Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite from Central and East Tennessee mining districts, the Red Dog mining district (AK), and the Metaline mining district (WA) Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite from Central and East Tennessee mining districts, the Red Dog mining district (AK), and the Metaline mining district (WA)
Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite (ZnS) were collected on samples from current or past mining operations in the USA with a specific focus on germanium (Ge), a byproduct critical mineral recovered from sphalerite. Data and methods reported are part of a research study published in the 'Related External Resources' section below.
Trace element composition and molecular-scale speciation characterization of sphalerite from Central and East Tennessee mining districts, Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA) Trace element composition and molecular-scale speciation characterization of sphalerite from Central and East Tennessee mining districts, Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA)
Germanium (Ge) is an element deemed critical globally, and used in electronics, communication, and defense applications. The supply of Ge is limited and as demand for it increases, its criticality increases. Germanium is exclusively recovered as a byproduct of either coal mining or zinc (Zn) mining, and the main mineral hosting Ge in Zn deposits is sphalerite (ZnS). However, the...
Molecular-scale speciation of germanium and copper within sphalerite from Central Tennessee mining district (TN), Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA) Molecular-scale speciation of germanium and copper within sphalerite from Central Tennessee mining district (TN), Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA)
Oxidation state and bonding environment of Ge and Cu in ZnS and Zn mineral concentrates from a variety of sources [Central Tennessee mining district (TN), Metaline mining district, (WA), and Red Dog mine (AK)] were determined by linear combination fits from x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis. Sphalerites from the East Tennessee mining district contained Ge in concentrations...
Filter Total Items: 97
Environmental geochemistry of an epigenetic Pb-Zn-Ag deposit at the abandoned Cecilia mine, Puno region, Peru Environmental geochemistry of an epigenetic Pb-Zn-Ag deposit at the abandoned Cecilia mine, Puno region, Peru
The abandoned Cecilia Pb-Zn-Ag mine is located at the headwaters of the Lake Titicaca watershed in the Altiplano of Peru. The site is characterized by three months of high precipitation and nine months of limited precipitation. The environmental geochemical characterization of the abandoned mine was done to evaluate environmental risks at the site from mine wastes and mine drainage, and...
Authors
S. Palomino, Robert R. Seal,, F. Garcia, M. Ochoa, D. Machaca, A. Condorhuaman, M. Valencia
Germanium redistribution during weathering of Zn mine wastes: Implications for environmental mobility and recovery of a critical mineral Germanium redistribution during weathering of Zn mine wastes: Implications for environmental mobility and recovery of a critical mineral
Germanium (Ge) is a metal used in emerging energy technologies, communications, and defense, and has been deemed critical by the United States due to its essential applications and scarce supply. Germanium is recovered as a byproduct of zinc (Zn) sulfides, and mining and processing of these materials lead to waste that could act both as a source of extractable Ge and a source for...
Authors
Sarah Jane White, Nadine M. Piatak, Ryan J. McAleer, Sarah M. Hayes, Robert R. Seal,, Laurel A. Schaider, James P. Shine
Geoenvironmental model for roll-type uranium deposits in the Texas Gulf Coast Geoenvironmental model for roll-type uranium deposits in the Texas Gulf Coast
Geoenvironmental models were formulated by the U.S. Geological Survey in the 1990s to describe potential environmental effects of extracting different types of ore deposits in different geologic and climatic regions. This paper presents a geoenvironmental model for roll-front (roll-type) uranium deposits in the Texas Coastal Plain. The model reviews descriptive and quantitative...
Authors
Katherine Walton-Day, Johanna Blake, Robert R. Seal,, Tanya J. Gallegos, Jean Dupree, Kent D Becher
USGS Critical Minerals Review: 2021 USGS Critical Minerals Review: 2021
In 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) continued to play a central role in understanding and anticipating potential supply chain disruptions by defining and quantitatively evaluating mineral criticality. In addition, the USGS continued to evaluate new sources of domestic critical minerals by conducting mineral resource assessments, mapping and surveying regions prospective for...
Authors
Steven M. Fortier, Nedal T. Nassar, Garth E. Graham, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Warren C. Day, Jeffrey L. Mauk, Robert R. Seal,
Economic geology and environmental characteristics of antimony deposits Economic geology and environmental characteristics of antimony deposits
Antimony is commonly listed as a critical mineral, particularly in the United States and European Union [1]. Its criticality, or supply risk, is derived from a combination of economic vulnerability, disruption potential of supply, and trade exposure [2].Disruption potential relates a country’s ability and willingness to supply a commodity. Commodities for which supply is concentrated in...
Authors
Robert R. Seal,
USGS 2020 critical minerals review USGS 2020 critical minerals review
Concerns about the lack of domestic production and availability of essential mineral raw materials were a recurring theme throughout the 20th century, particularly in the periods around armed conflicts (Congressional Research Service, 2019). These concerns resulted in the designation of particular minerals as “strategic” or “critical,” terms that commonly depend on the perspective of the...
Authors
Steven M. Fortier, Nedal T. Nassar, Karen D. Kelley, Graham W. Lederer, Jeffrey L. Mauk, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Warren C. Day, Robert R. Seal,
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 28
Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Hajigak iron deposit: 2020 field season Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Hajigak iron deposit: 2020 field season
These data include geochemical analyses of rock and water samples collected from the Hajigak iron deposit, Bamyan and Wardak Provinces, Afghanistan in 2020.
Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Aynak copper deposit: 2020 field season Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Aynak copper deposit: 2020 field season
These data include geochemical analyses of rock, mine waste, and water samples collected from the Aynak copper deposit, Logar Province, Afghanistan in 2020.
Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Balkhab copper deposit: 2019 field season Pre-mining environmental baseline characterization of the Balkhab copper deposit: 2019 field season
These data include geochemical analyses of rock, mine waste, soil, sediment, and water samples collected from the Balkhab copper deposit, Sar-e Pol Province, Afghanistan in 2019.
Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite from Central and East Tennessee mining districts, the Red Dog mining district (AK), and the Metaline mining district (WA) Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite from Central and East Tennessee mining districts, the Red Dog mining district (AK), and the Metaline mining district (WA)
Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite (ZnS) were collected on samples from current or past mining operations in the USA with a specific focus on germanium (Ge), a byproduct critical mineral recovered from sphalerite. Data and methods reported are part of a research study published in the 'Related External Resources' section below.
Trace element composition and molecular-scale speciation characterization of sphalerite from Central and East Tennessee mining districts, Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA) Trace element composition and molecular-scale speciation characterization of sphalerite from Central and East Tennessee mining districts, Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA)
Germanium (Ge) is an element deemed critical globally, and used in electronics, communication, and defense applications. The supply of Ge is limited and as demand for it increases, its criticality increases. Germanium is exclusively recovered as a byproduct of either coal mining or zinc (Zn) mining, and the main mineral hosting Ge in Zn deposits is sphalerite (ZnS). However, the...
Molecular-scale speciation of germanium and copper within sphalerite from Central Tennessee mining district (TN), Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA) Molecular-scale speciation of germanium and copper within sphalerite from Central Tennessee mining district (TN), Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA)
Oxidation state and bonding environment of Ge and Cu in ZnS and Zn mineral concentrates from a variety of sources [Central Tennessee mining district (TN), Metaline mining district, (WA), and Red Dog mine (AK)] were determined by linear combination fits from x-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analysis. Sphalerites from the East Tennessee mining district contained Ge in concentrations...
Filter Total Items: 97
Environmental geochemistry of an epigenetic Pb-Zn-Ag deposit at the abandoned Cecilia mine, Puno region, Peru Environmental geochemistry of an epigenetic Pb-Zn-Ag deposit at the abandoned Cecilia mine, Puno region, Peru
The abandoned Cecilia Pb-Zn-Ag mine is located at the headwaters of the Lake Titicaca watershed in the Altiplano of Peru. The site is characterized by three months of high precipitation and nine months of limited precipitation. The environmental geochemical characterization of the abandoned mine was done to evaluate environmental risks at the site from mine wastes and mine drainage, and...
Authors
S. Palomino, Robert R. Seal,, F. Garcia, M. Ochoa, D. Machaca, A. Condorhuaman, M. Valencia
Germanium redistribution during weathering of Zn mine wastes: Implications for environmental mobility and recovery of a critical mineral Germanium redistribution during weathering of Zn mine wastes: Implications for environmental mobility and recovery of a critical mineral
Germanium (Ge) is a metal used in emerging energy technologies, communications, and defense, and has been deemed critical by the United States due to its essential applications and scarce supply. Germanium is recovered as a byproduct of zinc (Zn) sulfides, and mining and processing of these materials lead to waste that could act both as a source of extractable Ge and a source for...
Authors
Sarah Jane White, Nadine M. Piatak, Ryan J. McAleer, Sarah M. Hayes, Robert R. Seal,, Laurel A. Schaider, James P. Shine
Geoenvironmental model for roll-type uranium deposits in the Texas Gulf Coast Geoenvironmental model for roll-type uranium deposits in the Texas Gulf Coast
Geoenvironmental models were formulated by the U.S. Geological Survey in the 1990s to describe potential environmental effects of extracting different types of ore deposits in different geologic and climatic regions. This paper presents a geoenvironmental model for roll-front (roll-type) uranium deposits in the Texas Coastal Plain. The model reviews descriptive and quantitative...
Authors
Katherine Walton-Day, Johanna Blake, Robert R. Seal,, Tanya J. Gallegos, Jean Dupree, Kent D Becher
USGS Critical Minerals Review: 2021 USGS Critical Minerals Review: 2021
In 2021, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) continued to play a central role in understanding and anticipating potential supply chain disruptions by defining and quantitatively evaluating mineral criticality. In addition, the USGS continued to evaluate new sources of domestic critical minerals by conducting mineral resource assessments, mapping and surveying regions prospective for...
Authors
Steven M. Fortier, Nedal T. Nassar, Garth E. Graham, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Warren C. Day, Jeffrey L. Mauk, Robert R. Seal,
Economic geology and environmental characteristics of antimony deposits Economic geology and environmental characteristics of antimony deposits
Antimony is commonly listed as a critical mineral, particularly in the United States and European Union [1]. Its criticality, or supply risk, is derived from a combination of economic vulnerability, disruption potential of supply, and trade exposure [2].Disruption potential relates a country’s ability and willingness to supply a commodity. Commodities for which supply is concentrated in...
Authors
Robert R. Seal,
USGS 2020 critical minerals review USGS 2020 critical minerals review
Concerns about the lack of domestic production and availability of essential mineral raw materials were a recurring theme throughout the 20th century, particularly in the periods around armed conflicts (Congressional Research Service, 2019). These concerns resulted in the designation of particular minerals as “strategic” or “critical,” terms that commonly depend on the perspective of the...
Authors
Steven M. Fortier, Nedal T. Nassar, Karen D. Kelley, Graham W. Lederer, Jeffrey L. Mauk, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Warren C. Day, Robert R. Seal,