Tyler Kane is a geochemist exploring the fundamentals of redox cycling and mineralogy to better predict the movement of metals throughout the environment.
Tyler began working with the USGS shortly after receiving a bachelor’s degree from the department of geological sciences at the University of Colorado in his hometown of Boulder, Colorado. Under the guidance of George Aiken, Tyler learned laboratory techniques to isolate and measure elusive dissolved organic carbon species from natural waters. In 2015 Tyler focused his attention to the biogeochemical behavior of redox-active metals by returning to CU Boulder for a master’s degree while simultaneously helping to maintain X-ray capabilities of the Biogeochemistry and Mineralogy of Redox-active Environmental Systems (BMRES) laboratory. Tyler continues to investigate the fundamental processes that control metal mobility through the environment using X-ray mineralogical and elemental analyses, aqueous geochemistry, laboratory experimentation, and geochemical models.
Education and Certifications
M.S. - University of Colorado, Geological Sciences, Boulder, CO, 2018
B.A. - University of Colorado, Geological Sciences (summa cum laude), Boulder, CO, 2013
Science and Products
An updated X-ray diffractogram library of geologic materials
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern library presented here is intended for qualitative or quantitative mineralogical analysis of geologic materials. The original collection of 169 reference diffractograms was released by Eberl (2003) as a part of RockJock, a USGS program for quantitative analysis of mineralogy, which included patterns of many of the major rock-forming minerals needed to analyze a
X-ray diffraction data of sediment samples from Hastings, Nebraska
X-ray diffraction (XRD) data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 2015 and 2016 on sediment core samples collected near Hastings, Nebraska, by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) to inform aquifer sediment composition, mineralogical composition of operationally defined size fractions, and geochemical modeling. The sediment cores were collected near Hastings, Nebraska, and
Geochemical and mineralogical analyses of uranium ores from the Hack II and Pigeon deposits, solution-collapse breccia pipes, Grand Canyon region, Mohave and Coconino Counties, Arizona, USA
This data release compiles the whole-rock geochemistry, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy analyses of samples collected from the uranium ore bodies of two mined-out deposits in the Grand Canyon region of northwestern Arizona - the Hack II and Pigeon deposits. The samples are grab samples of ore collected underground at each mine by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) during the mid-1980s, w
X-Ray diffraction data for bulk sediment and clay separations taken from cores from Bristol Dry Lake, California and geothermal springs from Paoha Island (Mono Lake), California
X-Ray diffraction (XRD) data for bulk sediment and clay separations taken from cores from Bristol Dry Lake, California and geothermal springs from Paoha Island (Mono Lake), California. The data were collected for two separate projects: (1) determining the source of lithium in Bristol Dry Lake (BDL), and (2) determining the mechanism of sinter formation on Paoha Island, Mono Lake. The data from BDL
Geochemical, mineralogical, and grain-size data for in-situ solid materials and suspended sediment at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, Nevada County, California
This dataset includes data for in-situ solid materials and suspended sediments from surface-water samples, as well as surface-water chemistry from samples collected during storm events at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, Nevada County, California. In-situ solid samples were collected during 2015 along six vertical transects along the cliff walls of the mine pit. Surface-water samples were col
Radionuclides in surface water and groundwater
Unique among all the contaminants that adversely affect surface- and groundwater quality, radioactive compounds pose a double threat from toxicity and ionizing radiation. The high energy potential of many of these materials makes them both useful and hazardous. The unique properties of radioactive materials make them invaluable for medical and energy applications. However, mining, production, use,
Li and Ca enrichment in the Bristol Dry Lake brine compared to brines from Cadiz and Danby Dry Lakes, Barstow-Bristol Trough, California, USA
Relatively few discharging playas in western United States extensional basins have high concentrations of lithium (Li) and calcium (Ca) in the basin-center brines. However, the source of both these ions is not well understood, and it is not clear why basins in close proximity within the same extensional trough have notably different concentrations of Li and Ca. In the Barstow-Bristol Trough, Calif
Mineralization dynamics of metakaolin-based alkali-activated cements
This paper investigates the early-age dynamics of mineral formation in metakaolin-based alkali-activated cements. The effects of silica availability and alkali content on mineral formation were investigated via X-ray diffraction and solid-state 29Si magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 2, 7, 14, and 28 days. Silica availability was controlled by using either liquid- (imm
A synthesis of terrestrial mercury in the western United States: Spatial distribution defined by land cover and plant productivity
A synthesis of published vegetation mercury (Hg) data across 11 contiguous states in the western United States showed that aboveground biomass concentrations followed the order: leaves (26 μg kg− 1) ~ branches (26 μg kg− 1) > bark (16 μg kg− 1) > bole wood (1 μg kg− 1). No spatial trends of Hg in aboveground biomass distribution were detected, which likely is due to very sparse data coverage and d
Estimating mercury emissions resulting from wildfire in forests of the Western United States
Understanding the emissions of mercury (Hg) from wildfires is important for quantifying the global atmospheric Hg sources. Emissions of Hg from soils resulting from wildfires in the Western United States was estimated for the 2000 to 2013 period, and the potential emission of Hg from forest soils was assessed as a function of forest type and soil-heating. Wildfire released an annual average of 310
Science and Products
- Data
An updated X-ray diffractogram library of geologic materials
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern library presented here is intended for qualitative or quantitative mineralogical analysis of geologic materials. The original collection of 169 reference diffractograms was released by Eberl (2003) as a part of RockJock, a USGS program for quantitative analysis of mineralogy, which included patterns of many of the major rock-forming minerals needed to analyze aX-ray diffraction data of sediment samples from Hastings, Nebraska
X-ray diffraction (XRD) data were collected by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) in 2015 and 2016 on sediment core samples collected near Hastings, Nebraska, by the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL) to inform aquifer sediment composition, mineralogical composition of operationally defined size fractions, and geochemical modeling. The sediment cores were collected near Hastings, Nebraska, andGeochemical and mineralogical analyses of uranium ores from the Hack II and Pigeon deposits, solution-collapse breccia pipes, Grand Canyon region, Mohave and Coconino Counties, Arizona, USA
This data release compiles the whole-rock geochemistry, X-ray diffraction, and electron microscopy analyses of samples collected from the uranium ore bodies of two mined-out deposits in the Grand Canyon region of northwestern Arizona - the Hack II and Pigeon deposits. The samples are grab samples of ore collected underground at each mine by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) during the mid-1980s, wX-Ray diffraction data for bulk sediment and clay separations taken from cores from Bristol Dry Lake, California and geothermal springs from Paoha Island (Mono Lake), California
X-Ray diffraction (XRD) data for bulk sediment and clay separations taken from cores from Bristol Dry Lake, California and geothermal springs from Paoha Island (Mono Lake), California. The data were collected for two separate projects: (1) determining the source of lithium in Bristol Dry Lake (BDL), and (2) determining the mechanism of sinter formation on Paoha Island, Mono Lake. The data from BDLGeochemical, mineralogical, and grain-size data for in-situ solid materials and suspended sediment at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, Nevada County, California
This dataset includes data for in-situ solid materials and suspended sediments from surface-water samples, as well as surface-water chemistry from samples collected during storm events at Malakoff Diggins State Historic Park, Nevada County, California. In-situ solid samples were collected during 2015 along six vertical transects along the cliff walls of the mine pit. Surface-water samples were col - Publications
Radionuclides in surface water and groundwater
Unique among all the contaminants that adversely affect surface- and groundwater quality, radioactive compounds pose a double threat from toxicity and ionizing radiation. The high energy potential of many of these materials makes them both useful and hazardous. The unique properties of radioactive materials make them invaluable for medical and energy applications. However, mining, production, use,Li and Ca enrichment in the Bristol Dry Lake brine compared to brines from Cadiz and Danby Dry Lakes, Barstow-Bristol Trough, California, USA
Relatively few discharging playas in western United States extensional basins have high concentrations of lithium (Li) and calcium (Ca) in the basin-center brines. However, the source of both these ions is not well understood, and it is not clear why basins in close proximity within the same extensional trough have notably different concentrations of Li and Ca. In the Barstow-Bristol Trough, CalifMineralization dynamics of metakaolin-based alkali-activated cements
This paper investigates the early-age dynamics of mineral formation in metakaolin-based alkali-activated cements. The effects of silica availability and alkali content on mineral formation were investigated via X-ray diffraction and solid-state 29Si magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 2, 7, 14, and 28 days. Silica availability was controlled by using either liquid- (immA synthesis of terrestrial mercury in the western United States: Spatial distribution defined by land cover and plant productivity
A synthesis of published vegetation mercury (Hg) data across 11 contiguous states in the western United States showed that aboveground biomass concentrations followed the order: leaves (26 μg kg− 1) ~ branches (26 μg kg− 1) > bark (16 μg kg− 1) > bole wood (1 μg kg− 1). No spatial trends of Hg in aboveground biomass distribution were detected, which likely is due to very sparse data coverage and dEstimating mercury emissions resulting from wildfire in forests of the Western United States
Understanding the emissions of mercury (Hg) from wildfires is important for quantifying the global atmospheric Hg sources. Emissions of Hg from soils resulting from wildfires in the Western United States was estimated for the 2000 to 2013 period, and the potential emission of Hg from forest soils was assessed as a function of forest type and soil-heating. Wildfire released an annual average of 310