Summary
The preliminary screening process for
environmental hazards from copper,
lead, and zinc deposits is as follows:
- Information on probability of the
deposit types for which permissive
tracts have been defined in the
National Mineral Resource Assessment for the region under consideration are determined.
- Layers for similar deposit types are
combined.
- The number of undiscovered deposits
estimated for each tract is used to
evaluate the likelihood of occurrence
of undiscovered deposits in the area
under consideration.
- Geoenvironmental models for each
deposit type are examined to evaluate
potential environmental impacts from
mineral deposits or concentrations.
- Information on probability of the
occurrence of undiscovered deposits
is combined with information on the
level of potential environmental
impact of deposits or metal concentrations to determine the priority of
need for additional information.
Although the screening process is
simple, it must be based on sound
geological knowledge and expert judg
ment in order to provide a valid interpretation. The priorities set forth in this
example are only preliminary. The
process to determine where additional
information is needed for land use
planning requires further analysis and
must incorporate knowledge and judg
ment of land managers with experience
in the region.
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Contact:
Sandra H. B. Clark (shbclark@usgs.gov)
U.S. Geological Survey
Mineral Resource Surveys
954 National Center
Reston, VA 20192 USA
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