Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center

• Geology - Compile digital, state-scale, geologic maps for the eastern US, and in support of topical studies, such as:
  • Northern Michigan and Wisconsin- for analysis of the tectonic setting of the Marquette Range Supergroup, in order to better delineate potential tracts for undiscovered mineral deposits.
  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain Province - for analysis of the distribution known industrial mineral resources, in order to more accurately determine the resource potential in the region.
    
  
  
• Geochemistry - The National Geochemical Survey project is developing a consistent national geochemical database of stream-sediment samples, and some soils where appropriate, across the United States; data is available online at web site http://tin.er.usgs.gov/geochem/doc/home.htm. Each sample has been analyzed for 42 elements including mercury, arsenic, and selenium. This new database is distributed within a grid with a cell size of 17 X 17 km. All samples are analyzed using the same techniques by the same lab, so the data can be analyzed and interpreted on a regional and national basis. The resulting data will be used to
  • produce geochemical maps;
  • determine background values for selected elements;
  • aid investigations of environmental and human health issues; and
  • forecast the nature and distribution of mineral resources.
  Contact: Andrew Grosz
  
  
• Geophysics - Terrestrial Radioactivity and Gamma-ray Exposure in the United States and Canada: U.S. Geological Open-File Report 2005-1413, by Joseph S. Duval, John M. Carson, Peter B. Holman, and Arthur G. Darnley.
  Also -Acquire gravity data for southern Wisconsin. See website http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/of02-493/ . These data, with the newly acquired aeromagnetic data for the same region, will be used to revise the geologic interpretation of the basement structures in this area. The structures may affect the distribution of mineralization and trace elements as well as groundwater flow.
  
  
• Mineral Deposit Database - We are updating records in the MRDS data base for the eastern region of the U.S., especially the records of significant mineral deposits, such as those identified in USGS Open-File Report 98-206, Database of Significant Deposits of Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, and Zinc in the United States. We will also use published deposit model summaries (USGS Bulletin 1693 and USGS Bulletin 2004) to assign correct deposit model types to each record, facilitating recognition of likely areas of undiscovered deposits.

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URL: http://minerals.usgs.gov/east/surveys/activities.html
Page Contact Information: Eastern Region Minerals Contact
Page Last Modified: 07-Jan-2013@16:22