Mineral resource of the month: wollastonite
Robert Virta, Brad Van Gosen
2007, Geotimes (2007)
When asked about wollastonite, most people respond “wollasta-what?” That’s because the wollastonite industry in the United States is relatively small and not highly publicized. Furthermore, the general public does not have any direct contact with wollastonite despite its use in many consumer products, ranging from car brakes to paint....
Mineral resource of the month: kyanite
Michael J. Potter
2007, Geotimes (2007)
Kyanite and related minerals are used in making refractories, which are materials that can withstand high-temperature environments, generally in excess of 1,100 degrees Celsius. Refractories form an inner lining to furnaces, kilns and other containers with which molten metals and glass come into contact. Fifty to 70 percent of global...
Mineral resource of the month: steel
Michael D. Fenton
2007, Geotimes (2007)
About 96 million metric tons of steel was produced in the United States last year — more than any other metal. And the $3.46 billion of iron and steel scrap exported was also the highest of any metal scrap export, helping to reduce the U.S. trade deficit....
Fluorspar
M. Miller
2007, Mining Engineering (59) 30-32
Apart from some fluorspar by-product, there was no U.S. production of fluorspar in 2006. Imports were 553 kt, nearly 14 percent less than in 2005, and China was by far the largest supplier. China's changing export policy and high ocean freight rates indicate that delivered prices for fluorspar may increase...
Mineral resource of the month: zirconium and hafnium
Joseph Gambogi
2007, Geotimes (2007)
Zirconium and hafnium are corrosion-resistant metals that are grouped in the same family as titanium on the periodic table. The two elements commonly occur in oxide and silicate minerals and have significant economic importance in everything from ink, ceramics and golf shoes to nuclear fuel rods....
Applying the scientific method when assessing the influence of migratory birds on the dispersal of H5N1
Paul L. Flint
2007, Virology Journal (4)
Background The role of wild birds in the dispersal of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 continues to be the subject of considerable debate. However, some researchers functionally examining the same question are applying opposing null hypotheses when examining this issue. Discussion I describe the...
Kaolin
R.L. Virta
2007, Mining Engineering (59) 39-40
Part of the 2006 industrial minerals review. U.S. kaolin production was an estimated 7.74 Mt in 2006, with 7.1 Mt produced by Georgia. Imports increased from 262 kt in 2005 to about 303 kt in 2006, whereas exports decreased from 3.58 Mt in 2005 to 3.54 Mt in 2006. Inexpensive...
Petroleum systems of the San Joaquin Basin Province, California -- geochemical characteristics of oil types: Chapter 9 in Petroleum systems and geologic assessment of oil and gas in the San Joaquin Basin Province, California
Paul G. Lillis, Leslie B. Magoon
2007, Professional Paper 1713-9
New analyses of 120 oil samples combined with 139 previously published oil analyses were used to characterize and map the distribution of oil types in the San Joaquin Basin, California. The results show that there are at least four oil types designated MM, ET, EK, and CM. Most of the...
Construction aggregates
T.I. Nelson, W.P. Bolen
2007, Mining Engineering (59) 26-27
Construction aggregates, primarily stone, sand and gravel, are recovered from widespread naturally occurring mineral deposits and processed for use primarily in the construction industry. They are mined, crushed, sorted by size and sold loose or combined with portland cement or asphaltic cement to make concrete products to build roads, houses,...
EAARL Submarine Topography - Northern Florida Keys Reef Tract
John Brock, C. Wayne Wright, Amar Nayegandhi, Matt Patterson, Laurinda J. Travers, Iris Wilson
2007, Open-File Report 2007-1432
This Web site contains 32 Lidar-derived bare earth topography maps and GIS files for the Northern Florida Keys Reef Tract. These lidar-derived submarine topographic maps were produced as a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Coastal and Marine Geology Program, FISC St. Petersburg, Florida, the National Park Service (NPS)...
Mineral resource of the month: niobium (columbium)
John F. Papp
2007, Geotimes (2007)
It’s not just diamonds associated with conflict in Africa. Coltan, short for columbite-tantalite (a blend of niobium — also called columbium — and tantalum minerals), is linked with the recent conflicts in the Congo that involved several African countries. The metallic ore, which is processed to separate out niobium and...
Mineral resource of the month: talc
Robert Virta, Brad Van Gosen
2007, Geotimes (2007)
When most people think of talc, they probably think of talcum and baby powder. However, these uses of talc are quite minor compared to its wide variety of applications in manufacturing. The leading use of talc is in the production of ceramics, where it acts as a source of magnesium...
Exploration review
D.R. Wilburn
2007, Mining Engineering (59) 37-47
This summary of international mineral exploration activities for 2006 draws upon available information from literature, industry and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) specialists. The summary provides data on exploration budgets by region and mineral commodity, identifies significant mineral discoveries and areas of mineral exploration, discusses government programs affecting the mineral exploration...
Nitrogen
D.A. Kramer
2007, Mining Engineering (59) 44-45
Ammonia was produced by 15 companies at 25 plants in 16 states in the United States during 2006. Fifty-seven percent of U.S. ammonia production capacity was centered in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas because of their large reserves of natural gas, the dominant domestic feedstock. In 2006, U.S. producers operated at...
EAARL Topography-Padre Island National Seashore
John Brock, C. Wayne Wright, Amar Nayegandhi, Matt Patterson, Iris Wilson, Laurinda J. Travers
2007, Open-File Report 2007-1431
This Web site contains 116 Lidar-derived bare earth topography maps and GIS files for Padre Island National Seashore-Texas. These Lidar-derived topography maps were produced as a collaborative effort between the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Florida Integrated Science Center (FISC) St. Petersburg, Florida, the National Park Service (NPS) Gulf Coast Network, Inventory...
Gemstones
D.W. Olson
2007, Mining Engineering (59) 32-33
Part of the 2006 industrial minerals review. During 2006, total U.S. gemstone trade with all countries and territories exceeded $28.3 billion. Estimates indicate that U.S. gemstone markets accounted for over 35 percent of world gemstone demand in 2006. Natural gemstone production from U.S. deposits during 2006 was worth an estimated...
Industrial diamond
D.W. Olson
2007, Mining Engineering (59) 37-38
World production of natural and synthetic industrial diamond was about 648 million carats in 2006, with 79 percent of the production coming from Ireland, Japan, Russia, South Africa, and the U.S. U.S. consumption was was an estimated 602 million carats, imports were over 391 million carats, and exports were about...
Ball clay
R.L. Virta
2007, Mining Engineering (59) 19-19
The article offers information on ball clay. Among the companies that mine ball clay in the U.S. are H.C. Spinks Clay, Kentucky-Tennessee Clay and Old Hickory Clay. In 2006, an estimated 1.2 million tons of the mineral was sold or used domestically and exported. Forty-percent of the total sales is...
Magnesium compounds
D.A. Kramer
2007, Mining Engineering (59) 43-44
Seawater and natural brines accounted for about 52 percent of U.S. magnesium compounds production in 2006. Dead-burned magnesia was produced by Martin Marietta Magnesia Specialties from well brines in Michigan. Caustic-calcined magnesia was recovered from sea-water by Premier Chemicals in Florida; from well brines in Michigan by Martin Marietta and...
Executive Summary — Assessment of undiscovered oil and gas resources of the San Joaquin Basin Province of California, 2003
Donald L. Gautier, Allegra Hosford Scheirer, Marilyn E. Tennyson, Kenneth E. Peters, Leslie B. Magoon, Paul G. Lillis, Ronald R. Charpentier, Troy A. Cook, Christopher D. French, Timothy R. Klett, Richard M. Pollastro, Christopher J. Schenk
2007, Professional Paper 1713-1
In 2003, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed an assessment of the oil and gas resource potential of the San Joaquin Basin Province of California (fig. 1.1). The assessment is based on the geologic elements of each Total Petroleum System defined in the province, including hydrocarbon source rocks (source-rock type...
Report of the First National Lidar Initiative Meeting, February 14-16, Reston, Va.
Jason M. Stoker, Jay Parrish, David Gisclair, David Harding, Ralph Haugerud, Martin Flood, Hans-Erik Andersen, Karen Schuckman, David Maune, Paul Rooney, Kirk Waters, Ayman Habib, Eddie Wiggins, Bryon Ellingson, Benjamin M. Jones, Steve Nechero, Amar Nayegandhi, Tim Saultz, George Lee
2007, Open-File Report 2007-1189
The first National Lidar Initiative meeting was held on February 14-16, 2007 at the USGS National Center in Reston, Virginia. This meeting was a successor to a meeting held September 12, 2006 of several agencies, including the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Association of American State Geologists (AASG),...
Evolving plans for the USA National Phenology Network
Julio L. Betancourt, Mark D. Schwartz, David D. Breshears, Carol A. Brewer, Gary Frazer, John E. Gross, Susan J. Mazer, Bradley C. Reed, Bruce E. Wilson
2007, Eos, Transactions, American Geophysical Union (88) 211-211
Phenology is the study of periodic plant and animal life cycle events, how these are influenced by seasonal and interannual variations in climate, and how they modulate the abundance, diversity, and interactions of organisms. The USA National Phenology Network (USA-NPN) is currently being organized to engage federal agencies, environmental networks...
Simulation-optimization modeling to assist conjunctive management of stream-aquifer systems of Rhode Island
Paul M. Barlow, Gregory E. Granato, David P. Ahlfeld
2007, Groundwater News and Views: Newsletter of the Association of Groundwater Scientists and Engineers (4) 4-5
WFRC patrners: our extended family
P. Connolly, D. Elliot, M. Parsley, J. Winton
2007, Fact Sheet 2007-3106
For more than five decades the Western Fisheries Research Center (WFRC) has worked with partners to provide research findings to managers of aquatic resources. Those partners form an extended family, a network of clients, colleagues, co-investigators, and customers. Our partners include numerous clients in other Department of Interior bureaus such...
Paleosols and wind-blown sediments: overview
D.R. Muhs
S. Elias, editor(s)
2007, Book chapter, Encyclopedia of Quaternary Science
