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Minerals & deposits

Find USGS publications on mineral resources and deposits. Search commodities and geographic names, then check source reports for geology and assessment methods.

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USGS1987

Mines, prospects, and occurrences of metallic minerals and barite, Springfield 1° by 2° Quadrangle, Missouri

This map is part of a folio of maps of the Springfield 1° x 2° quadrangle, Missouri, prepared under the Conterminous United States Mineral Assessment Program. Other publications in this folio to data include U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Maps MF-1830-A and B and Missouri Geological Survey Open-file Report OFR-85-42-MR. Additional maps showing various geologic aspects of the Springfield quadrangle will be published as U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Maps bearing this same serial number with different letter suffixes (MF-1830-D, E).

Missouri↗
USGS1987

Maps showing anomalous copper concentrations in stream sediments and heavy-mineral concentrates from the Ajo and Lukeville 1 degree by 2 degrees quadrangles, Arizona

This map is part of a folio of maps of the Ajo and Lukeville 1 ° x 2° quadrangles, Arizona, prepared under the Conterminous United States Mineral Assessment Program. Other publications in this folio include U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Maps MF-1831-A and MF-1831-B and Open-File Reports 82-119, 82–599, and 83–734. Open-File Reports 82-119 and 83–731 constitute the basic data and initial interpretation on which this discussion is predicated.

Arizona↗
USGS1988

Maps showing anomalous concentrations of lead, molybdenum, bismuth, and tungsten in stream sediment and heavy-mineral concentrate from parts of the Ajo and Lukeville 1 degree by 2 degrees quadrangles, Arizona

These maps are part of a folio of maps of the Ajo and Lukeville 1° x 2° quadrangles, Arizona, prepared under the Conterminous United States Mineral Assessment Program. Other publications in this folio include U.S. Geological Survey Miscellaneous Field Studies Maps MF-1834-A, 1834–B, and 1834–C and U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Reports 82–419, 82–599, and 83–734. Open-File Reports 82–419 and 83–734 constitute the basic data and initial interpretation on which this discussion is predicated. Open-File Report 82–599 is an aeromagnetic map.

Arizona↗
USGS1988

Maps showing anomalous concentrations of zinc, silver, antimony, manganese, barium and strontium in stream sediment and heavy-mineral concentrate from parts of the Ajo and Lukeville 1 degree by 2 degrees quadrangles, Arizona

This map is part of a folio of maps of the Ajo and Lukeville 1 degree x 2 degrees quadrangles, Arizona, prepared under the Conterminous United States Mineral Assessment Program. Other publications in this folio include U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Reports 82-419 (Barton and others, 1982), 82-599 (Klein, 1982), and 830734 (Theobald and Barton, 1983), and Miscellaneous Field Studies Maps MF-1834-A (Peterson and Tosdal, 1986), MF-1834-B (Peterson and others, 1987), MF-1834-C (Theobald and Barton, 1987), and MF-1834-D (Theobald and Barton, 1988). Open-File Reports 82-419 and 83-734 constitute the basic data and initial interpretation on which this discussion is predicated. MF-1834-C and D show the distributions of anomalous concentrations of copper, lead, molybdenum, bismuth, and tungsten.

Arizona↗
USGS1976

Mineral resources map of the Tanacross Quadrangle, Alaska

Areas favorable for the occurrence of two types of mineral deposits are delineated on the map. Known deposits and occurrences are also shown on the map and available data on them are provided in table 1. Information from the known deposits combined with geologic, geochemical, geophysical, and earth satellite data presented in the other components of the Tanacross folio provide the basis for the selection of favorable areas. However because bedrock exposure is poor in the Tanacross quadrangle, types of deposits other than those now known to occur may eventually be found, and boundaries of the area delineated as favorable may change as more information, particularly from drilling, is obtained.

Alaska↗
USGS1976

Distribution and abundance of arsenic in bedrock, mineralized, vein, and altered rock samples, McCarthy quadrangle, Alaska

A geochemical survey was conducted in the McCarthy quadrangle Alaska, to identify areas containing anomalous concentrations of various metallic and nonmetallic elements. This study incorporates the results of analyses for arsenic from 827 rock samples collected in the quadrangle, and analyzed by the U.S. Geological Survey between 1961 and 1976 using semiquantitative emission spectrophotometry. The samples included both unaltered and hydrothermally altered rocks. The hydrothermally altered rock consist of ore grade material, gossans, fault gouge, vein materials, silica-rich boxworks, veins adjacent to faults, and fracture surfaces showing evidence of mineralization. Therefore, the analytical data set may be considered representative of most rock types known to occur in the study area. The accompanying map shows the distribution and relative abundance of arsenic in rocks collected. Geochemical analyses have been grouped and are represented by symbols on a base map, which includes topography and generalized geology. The range of analytical values and the symbol that represents it are shown on the histogram. Graphical representation of analytical values on the map permits easy observation of any large variation resulting from separate or duplicate samples collected at the same or nearby localites. All samples were crushed and ground to pass through a 180 micron opening sieve before being analyzed.

Alaska↗
USGS2010

Spatial Databases of Geological, Geophysical, and Mineral Resource Data Relevant to Sandstone-Hosted Copper Deposits in Central Kazakhstan

Central Kazakhstan is host to one of the world's giant sandstone-hosted copper deposits, the Dzhezkazgan deposit, and several similar, smaller deposits. The United Stated Geological Survey (USGS) is assessing the potential for other, undiscovered deposits of this type in the surrounding region of central Kazakhstan. As part of this effort, Syusyura compiled and partially translated an array of mostly unpublished geologic, geophysical, and mineral resource data for this region in digital format from the archives of the former Union of Soviet Socialists Republics (of which Kazakhstan was one of the member republics until its dissolution in 1991), as well as from later archives of the Republic of Kazakhstan or of the Kazakhstan consulting firm Mining Economic Consulting (MEC). These digital data are primarily map-based displays of information that were transmitted either in ESRI ArcGIS, georeferenced format, or non-georeferenced map image files. Box and Wallis reviewed all the data, translated Cyrillic text where necessary, inspected the maps for consistency, georeferenced the unprojected map images, and reorganized the data into the filename and folder structure of this publication.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2015

Mineral potential tracts for shoreline Ti-Zr placer deposits (phase V, deliverable 85): Chapter P in Second projet de renforcement institutionnel du secteur minier de la République Islamique de Mauritanie (PRISM-II)

Shoreline placer Ti deposits are composed of ilmenite, rutile, zircon, monazite, and magnetite in well-sorted, fine- to medium-grained sand in coastal dunes, beaches and inlets. In addition to titanium, zirconium, in particular, and rare earth elements (REE) have become a major source of value in shoreline placer deposits. Shoreline placer deposits form mostly on tropical beaches around the world (fig. 1), and consist of dark sand layers rich in heavy minerals that are resistant to mechanical abrasion and chemical weathering. According to Hamilton (1995), shoreline placer deposits supply approximately 80 percent of the world’s rutile production, 25 percent of ilmenite, 100 percent of zircon, and 50 percent of both monazite and xenotime.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2015

Shear Wave Velocity and Site Amplification Factors for 25 Strong-Motion Instrument Stations Affected by the M5.8 Mineral, Virginia, Earthquake of August 23, 2011

Vertical one-dimensional shear wave velocity (Vs) profiles are presented for 25 strong-motion instrument sites along the Mid-Atlantic eastern seaboard, Piedmont region, and Appalachian region, which surround the epicenter of the M5.8 Mineral, Virginia, Earthquake of August 23, 2011. Testing was performed at sites in Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, the District of Columbia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. The purpose of the study is to determine the detailed site velocity profile, the average velocity in the upper 30 meters of the profile (VS,30), the average velocity for the entire profile (VS,Z), and the National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program (NEHRP) site classification. The Vs profiles are estimated using a non-invasive continuous-sine-wave method for gathering the dispersion characteristics of surface waves. A large trailer-mounted active source was used to shake the ground during the testing and produce the surface waves. Shear wave velocity profiles were inverted from the averaged dispersion curves using three independent methods for comparison, and the root-mean square combined coefficient of variation (COV) of the dispersion and inversion calculations are estimated for each site.

North Carolina, Pennslyvannia, Tennesee, West Virg↗
USGS2016

Centimeter-scale surface deformation caused by the 2011 Mineral, Virginia, earthquake sequence at the Carter farm site—Subsidiary structures with a quaternary history

Centimeter-scale ground-surface deformation was produced by the August 23, 2011, magnitude (M) 5.8 earthquake that occurred in Mineral, Virginia. Ground-surface deformation also resulted from the earthquake aftershock sequence. This deformation occurred along a linear northeast-trend near Pendleton, Virginia. It is approximately 10 kilometers (km) northeast of the M5.8 epicenter and near the northeastern periphery of the epicentral area as defined by aftershocks. The ground-surface deformation extends over a distance of approximately 1.4 km and consists of parallel, small-scale (a few centimeters (cm) in amplitude) linear ridges and swales. Individual ridge and swale features are discontinuous and vary in length across a zone that ranges from about 20 meters (m) to less than 5 m in width. At one location, three fence posts and adjoining rails were vertically misaligned. Approximately 5 cm of uplift on one post provides a maximum estimate of vertical change from pre-earthquake conditions along the ridge and swale features. There was no change in the alignment of fence posts, indicating that deformation was entirely vertical. A broad monoclinal flexure with approximately 1 m of relief was identified by transit survey across surface deformation at the Carter farm site. There, surface deformation overlies the Carter farm fault, which is a zone of brittle faulting and fracturing along quartz veins, striking N40°E and dipping approximately 75°SE. Brecciation and shearing along this fault is interpreted as Quaternary in age because it disrupts the modern B-soil horizon. However, deformation is confined to saprolitized schist of the Ordovician Quantico Formation and the lowermost portion of overlying residuum, and is absent in the uppermost residuum and colluvial layer at the ground surface. Because there is a lack of surface shearing and very low relief, landslide processes were not a causative mechanism for the surface deformation. Two possible tectonic models and one non-tectonic model are considered: (1) tectonic, monoclinal flexuring along the Carter farm fault, probably aseismic, (2) tectonic, monoclinal flexuring related to a shallow (1–3 km) cluster of aftershocks (M2 to M3) that occurred approximately 1 to 1.5 km to the east of Carter farm, and (3) non-tectonic, differential response to seismic shaking between more-rigid quartz veins and soft residuum-saprolite under vertical motions that were created by Rayleigh surface waves radiating away from the August 23, 2011, hypocenter and propagating along strike of the Carter farm fault. These processes are not considered mutually exclusive, and all three support brittle deformation on the Carter farm fault during the Quaternary. In addition, abandoned stream valleys and active stream piracy are consistent with long-term uplift in vicinity of the Carter farm fault.

Virginia↗
USGS2017

Feasibility study for the quantitative assessment of mineral resources in asteroids

This study was undertaken to determine if the U.S. Geological Survey’s process for conducting mineral resource assessments on Earth can be applied to asteroids. Successful completion of the assessment, using water and iron resources to test the workflow, has resulted in identification of the minimal adjustments required to conduct full resource assessments beyond Earth. We also identify the types of future studies that would greatly reduce uncertainties in an actual future assessment. Whereas this is a feasibility study and does not include a complete and robust analysis of uncertainty, it is clear that the water and metal resources in near-Earth asteroids are sufficient to support humanity should it become a fully space-faring species.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1950

Ground-water conditions in Whisky Flat, Mineral County, Nevada

As a part of the State-wide cooperative program between the Office of the State Engineer of Nevada and the U.S. Geological Survey, the Ground Water Branch of the Geological Survey made a reconnaissance study of ground-water conditions in Whisky Flat, Mineral County, Nevada.

Nevada↗
USGS1953

Stratigraphy and structure of the Miners Mountain area, Wayne County, Utah

The Miners Mountain area includes about 85 square miles in Wayne County, south-central Utah. The area is semiarid and characterized by cliffs and deep canyons. Formations range in age from Permian to Upper Jurassic and have an aggregate thickness of about 3,500 feet. Permian formations are the buff Coconino sandstone and the overlying white, limy, shert-containing Kaibab limestone. Unconformably overlying the Kaihab is the lower Triassic Moenkopi formation of reddish-brown and yellow mudstone, siltstone, and sandstone; it contains the Sinbad limestone member (?) in the lower part. Thin, lenticular Shinarump conglomerate unconformably overlies the Moenkopi, but grades upward into the Upper Triassic Chinle formation of variegated mudstone with some interbedded sandstone and limestone lenses. Uncomformably overlying the Chinle are the Wingate sandstone, Kayenta formation, and Navajo sandstone of the Jurassic (?) Glen Canyon group, which consist of red to white sandstone. Only the lower part of the Carmel formation of the Upper Jurassic San Rafael group is exposed in the area; it consists of variegated siltstone, sandstone, limestone, and gypsum. The conspicuous structural feature in the area is the Teasdale anticline which trends northwest, is about 14 miles long, and is asymmetric with a steeper west flank. Bounding the anticline on the northeast and east is the Capitol Reef monocline, the northern part of the Waterpocket Fold. Strata in the area are broken by steeply-dipping normal faults with small displacements, except for the Teasdale fault which has a maximum displacement of over 1,000 feet. Jointing is prominent in some formations. The major orogenic movement in the area is believed to be late Upper Cretaceous to early Tertiary. Epeirogenic uplift occurred intermittently throughout Tertiary and perhaps Quaternary time.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1954

Mineral resources of the San Carlos Indian Reservation, Arizona

At the recuest of the council of the San Carlos Apache Tribe the United States Geological Survey entered into a coonerative agreement with the tribe calling for a brief reconnaiesance study to determine, is far as practical, the mineral potential of the San Carlos Indian reservation. Five months of field work was done during the winter and spring of 1952-53.

Arizona↗
USGS1962

Spectrophotometric catalytic determination of small amounts of rhenium in mineralized rocks and molybdenite

Rhenium is determined by spectrophotometry of the tellurium sol formed by the reduction of tellurate by stannous chloride under the catalytic influence of rhenium. A detailed investigation of the conditions for high sensitivity and stability at lowest concentration levels of rhenium is presented as well as the behavior of twenty-six ions. The method is applied to the determination of some tenths of a part per million or more of rhenium in a milligram aliquot of mineralized rocks, mixtures of molybdenite and rocks, and molybdenite concentrates. The practical quantity limit of detection is 2 x 10 -10 gram of rhenium. Samples are decomposed with a mixture of calcium oxide, calcium chloride, and magnesium oxide. On leaching, the constituents of the sample are precipitated either as calcium salts or as hydroxides except for rhenium and a small amount of molybdenum which pass into the filtrate. Residual molybdenum is removed extraction with 8-quinolinol in chloroform. Better than ninety-five percent recoveries are obtained with two fusions with flux.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1966

An appraisal of the mineral potential of the Peter's Mine area, Northwest District, Guyana

This brief appraisal of the mineral potential of the Peter's Mine area in the Northwest District on the Puruni River, Guyana, was made by the writer in company with Mr. C. N. Barron, Staff Geologist, Guyana Geological Survey, over a five-day period in April, 1966. This study constitutes a part of the U. S. Geological Survey's advisory services to the Government of Guyana's central geological service, under the auspices of the Agency for International Development, U. S. Department of State.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1968

Potential for potash and other evaporite mineral resources in West Pakistan

Reconnaissance examination of marine evaporites in West Pakistan has revealed a highly favorable resource situation with respect to anhydrite, and a potentially favorable position for potash and sulfur. Further work is needed to evaluate the preliminary interpretations made during the present study. The establishment of a potash resource organization within the Mineral Resource Directorate of the Geological Survey of Pakistan is proposed. The organization would be concerned exclusively with the investigation of potash deposits in the Salt Range and adjacent parts of the Potwar and Indus Plains.

Open-File Report↗