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At least 523 records · Page 29Linked to original sources
USGS2010

Guidelines for Standardized Testing of Broadband Seismometers and Accelerometers

Testing and specification of seismic and earthquake-engineering sensors and recorders has been marked by significant variations in procedures and selected parameters. These variations cause difficulty in comparing such specifications and test results. In July 1989, and again in May 2005, the U.S. Geological Survey hosted international pub-lic/private workshops with the goal of defining widely accepted guidelines for the testing of seismological inertial sensors, seismometers, and accelerometers. The Proceedings of the 2005 workshop have been published and include as appendix 6 the report of the 1989 workshop. This document represents a collation and rationalization of a single set of formal guidelines for testing and specifying broadband seismometers and accelerometers.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2011

Project plan-Surficial geologic mapping and hydrogeologic framework studies in the Greater Platte River Basins (Central Great Plains) in support of ecosystem and climate change research

The Greater Platte River Basin area spans a central part of the Midcontinent and Great Plains from the Rocky Mountains on the west to the Missouri River on the east, and is defined to include drainage areas of the Platte, Niobrara, and Republican Rivers, the Rainwater Basin, and other adjoining areas overlying the northern High Plains aquifer. The Greater Platte River Basin contains abundant surficial deposits that were sensitive to, or are reflective of, the climate under which they formed: deposits from multiple glaciations in the mountain headwaters of the North and South Platte Rivers and from continental ice sheets in eastern Nebraska; fluvial terraces (ranging from Tertiary to Holocene in age) along the rivers and streams; vast areas of eolian sand in the Nebraska Sand Hills and other dune fields (recording multiple episodes of dune activity); thick sequences of windblown silt (loess); and sediment deposited in numerous lakes and wetlands. In addition, the Greater Platte River Basin overlies and contributes surface water to the High Plains aquifer, a nationally important groundwater system that underlies parts of eight states and sustains one of the major agricultural areas of the United States. The area also provides critical nesting habitat for birds such as plovers and terns, and roosting habitat for cranes and other migratory birds that travel through the Central Flyway of North America. This broad area, containing fragile ecosystems that could be further threatened by changes in climate and land use, has been identified by the USGS and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as a region where intensive collaborative research could lead to a better understanding of climate change and what might be done to adapt to or mitigate its adverse effects to ecosystems and to humans. The need for robust data on the geologic framework of ecosystems in the Greater Platte River Basin has been acknowledged in proceedings from the 2008 Climate Change Workshop and in draft reports by researchers developing a multidisciplinary science plan for the Greater Platte River Basin.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2011

Monitoring plan for vegetation responses to elk management in Rocky Mountain National Park

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) in north-central Colorado supports numerous species of wildlife, including several large ungulate species among which Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus) are the most abundant. Elk are native to RMNP but were extirpated from the area by the late 1800s. They were reintroduced to the area in 1913-1914, and the elk herd grew to the point that it was actively managed from 1944 until 1968. In 1969, the active control of elk was discontinued and since then the herd has increased to a high point ranging from 2,800 to 3,500 between 1997 and 2001. In recent years, there has been growing concern over the condition of vegetation in the park and conflicts between elk and humans, both inside and outside the park. In response to these concerns, RMNP implemented an Elk and Vegetation Management Plan (EVMP) in 2009 to guide management actions in the park over a 20-year time period with the goal of reducing the impacts of elk on vegetation and restoring the natural range of variability in the elk population and affected plant and animal communities. The EVMP outlines the desired future condition for three vegetation communities where the majority of elk herbivory impacts are being observed: aspen, montane riparian willow, and upland herbaceous communities. The EVMP incorporates the principle of adaptive management whereby the effectiveness of management actions is assessed and adjusted as needed to successfully achieve objectives. Determination of whether vegetation objectives are being achieved requires monitoring and evaluation of target vegetation communities. The current report describes the design and implementation of a vegetation-monitoring program to help RMNP managers assess the effectiveness of their management actions and determine when and where to alter actions to achieve the EVMP's vegetation objectives. This monitoring plan details the process of selecting variables to be monitored, overall sampling design and structure, site selection, data collection methods, and statistical analyses to be used to conduct this monitoring program in conjunction with the EVMP. We report the baseline conditions observed at the time of the establishment of monitoring sites. We include detailed field protocols for site establishment and data collection, as well as timetables for sampling, so that RMNP staff will be able to continue monitoring the sites established during this implementation stage, and continue to add new sites when necessary, as the execution of the EVMP proceeds over the next 20 years.

Colorado↗
USGS2011

Estimates of electricity requirements for the recovery of mineral commodities, with examples applied to sub-Saharan Africa

To produce materials from mine to market it is necessary to overcome obstacles that include the force of gravity, the strength of molecular bonds, and technological inefficiencies. These challenges are met by the application of energy to accomplish the work that includes the direct use of electricity, fossil fuel, and manual labor. The tables and analyses presented in this study contain estimates of electricity consumption for the mining and processing of ores, concentrates, intermediate products, and industrial and refined metallic commodities on a kilowatt-hour per unit basis, primarily the metric ton or troy ounce. Data contained in tables pertaining to specific currently operating facilities are static, as the amount of electricity consumed to process or produce a unit of material changes over time for a great number of reasons. Estimates were developed from diverse sources that included feasibility studies, company-produced annual and sustainability reports, conference proceedings, discussions with government and industry experts, journal articles, reference texts, and studies by nongovernmental organizations.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2013

Abstracts for the October 2012 meeting on volcanism in the American Southwest, Flagstaff, Arizona

Though volcanic eruptions are comparatively rare in the American Southwest, the States of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah host Holocene volcanic eruption deposits and are vulnerable to future volcanic activity. Compared with other parts of the western United States, comparatively little research has been focused on this area, and eruption probabilities are poorly constrained. Monitoring infrastructure consists of a variety of local seismic networks, and ”backbone“ geodetic networks with little integration. Emergency response planning for volcanic unrest has received little attention by either Federal or State agencies. On October 18–20, 2012, 90 people met at the U.S. Geological Survey campus in Flagstaff, Arizona, providing an opportunity for volcanologists, land managers, and emergency responders to meet, converse, and begin to plan protocols for any future activity. Geologists contributed data on recent findings of eruptive ages, eruption probabilities, and hazards extents (plume heights, ash dispersal). Geophysicists discussed evidence for magma intrusions from seismic, geodetic, and other geophysical techniques. Network operators publicized their recent work and the relevance of their equipment to volcanic regions. Land managers and emergency responders shared their experiences with emergency planning for earthquakes. The meeting was organized out of the recognition that little attention had been paid to planning for or mitigation of volcanic hazards in the American Southwest. Moreover, few geological meetings have hosted a session specifically devoted to this topic. This volume represents one official outcome of the meeting—a collection of abstracts related to talks and poster presentations shared during the first two days of the meeting. In addition, this report includes the meeting agenda as a record of the proceedings. One additional intended outcome will be greater discussion and coordination among emergency responders, geologists, geophysicists, and land managers regarding geologic hazards in the Southwest.

Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah↗
USGS2014

Hydrogeology of the Old Faithful area, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, and its relevance to natural resources and infrastructure

A panel of leading experts (The Old Faithful Science Review Panel) was convened by Yellowstone National Park (YNP) to review and summarize the geological and hydrological understanding that can inform National Park Service management of the Upper Geyser Basin area. We give an overview of present geological and hydrological knowledge of the Old Faithful hydrothermal (hot water) system and related thermal areas in the Upper Geyser Basin. We prioritize avenues for improving our understanding of key knowledge gaps that limit informed decision-making regarding human use in this fragile natural landscape. Lastly, we offer guidelines to minimize impacts to the hydrothermal system that could be used to aid decisions by park management. Old Faithful sits within the Upper Geyser Basin, an area of abundant hydrothermal activity where boiling waters extend from the surface to significant depth within glacial sediments and underlying volcanic rocks. The geyser systems are directly fed by waters recharged decades to millennia ago, which are surrounded by colder, younger waters. Activity of the geysers is controlled by complex subsurface plumbing with fractures and conduits separated by regions of low permeability. Observations over the past century indicate that the thermal areas and their features are both fragile and highly dynamic. Although Old Faithful has erupted regularly for the past 150 years, it exhibits changes in eruptive behavior over time, and the average interval between eruptions has increased by about 50 percent over the past 50 years. It is clear that human activity has modified the hydrothermal system in the past; conversely, natural features pose ongoing hazards to humans and human infrastructure. Current (2014) long-term programs to measure heat discharge by chloride-flux monitoring, and more recently by thermal-infrared imaging, are crucial for assessing the status of the hydrothermal system. Complementary studies could include airborne resistivity, environmental tracers, numerical modeling, and greater emphasis on measuring the discharge of water during geyser eruptions. Such data are needed to better understand the subsurface plumbing systems that feed the geysers. Further understanding can be gained through installation of shallow groundwater observation wells, surface geophysical studies, and direct measurement of temperature gradients near the surface. It also is critical to archive existing data from all studies in a manner that will be readily accessible to scientists and decision makers. Monitoring and data collection can be achieved through the YNP geology program, by direct funding to other groups, or by encouraging and facilitating externally funded research. There are many documented examples at YNP and elsewhere where human infrastructure and natural thermal features have negatively affected each other. Unless action is taken, human conflicts with the Old Faithful hydrothermal system are likely to increase over the coming years. This is partly because of the increase in park visitation over the past decades, but also because the interval between eruptions of Old Faithful has increased, lengthening the time spent (and services needed) for each visitor at Old Faithful. To avoid an increase in visitor impacts, the National Park Service should consider 2 alternate strategies to accommodate people, vehicles, and services in the Upper Geyser Basin, such as shuttle services from staging (parking and dining) areas with little or no recent hydrothermal activity. We further suggest that YNP consider a zone system to guide maintenance and development of infrastructure in the immediate Old Faithful area. A “red” zone includes hydrothermally active land where new development is discouraged and existing infrastructure is modified with great care. An outer “green” zone represents areas where cooler temperatures and less hydrothermal flow are thought to exist, and where development and maintenance could proceed as occurs elsewhere in the park. An intermediate “yellow” zone would require preliminary assessment of subsurface temperatures and gas concentrations to assess suitability for infrastructure development. The panel recommends that YNP management follow the lead of the National Park System Advisory Board Science Committee (2012) by applying the “precautionary principle” when making decisions regarding the interaction of hydrothermal phenomena and park infrastructure in the Old Faithful area and other thermal areas within YNP.

Wyoming↗
USGS2016

Report from the workshop on climate downscaling and its application in high Hawaiian Islands, September 16–17, 2015

In the subtropical and tropical Pacific islands, changing climate is predicted to influence precipitation and freshwater availability, and thus is predicted to impact ecosystems goods and services available to ecosystems and human communities. The small size of high Hawaiian Islands, plus their complex microlandscapes, require downscaling of global climate models to provide future projections of greater skill and spatial resolution. Two different climate modeling approaches (physics-based dynamical downscaling and statistics-based downscaling) have produced dissimilar projections. Because of these disparities, natural resource managers and decision makers have low confidence in using the modeling results and are therefore are unwilling to include climate-related projections in their decisions. In September 2015, the Pacific Islands Climate Science Center (PICSC), the Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative (PICCC), and the Pacific Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments (Pacific RISA) program convened a 2-day facilitated workshop in which the two modeling teams, plus key model users and resource managers, were brought together for a comparison of the two approaches, culminating with a discussion of how to provide predictions that are useable by resource managers. The proceedings, discussions, and outcomes of this Workshop are summarized in this Open-File Report.

Hawaii↗
USGS2017

State of the Salton Sea—A science and monitoring meeting of scientists for the Salton Sea

Introduction The Salton Sea (Sea) is an ecosystem facing large systemic changes in the near future. Managers and stakeholders are seeking solutions to the decline of the Sea and have turned to the scientific community for answers. In response, scientists gathered in Irvine, California, to review existing science and propose scientific studies and monitoring needs required for understanding how to retain the Sea as a functional ecosystem. This document summarizes the proceedings of this gathering of approximately 50 scientists at a September 8–10, 2014, workshop on the State of the Salton Sea.

California↗
USGS2017

Conversing with Pelehonuamea: A workshop combining 1,000+ years of traditional Hawaiian knowledge with 200 years of scientific thought on Kīlauea volcanism

The events surrounding volcanic eruptions and damaging earthquakes in Hawai‘i have often been described in journals, letters, and newspapers articles in the English language; however, the Hawaiian nation was among the most literate of countries in the 19th century, and many Hawaiian-language newspapers were in circulation through all but the earliest decades of the 19th century. Any modern reconstruction of the history of Hawaiian eruptions or earthquakes should take advantage of all available sources, and so we seek to add the Hawaiian-language newspaper articles, journals, stories, and chants to the volcano and earthquake literature. These sources have been used in many recent volcanological studies. Another aspect to the mix of science and traditional Hawaiian values is that many of the volcanic summits in Hawaiʻi are considered sacred to Hawaiians. Hawaiian travelers brought the first Western missionary team to the summit of Kīlauea and advised them of the proper protocols and behaviors while in this sacred area. The missionaries dismissed this advice as native superstition and they began a campaign of aggressively stamping out customs and protocols related to the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pelehonuamea. What has survived as native knowledge of the volcanoes is a few phrases from native guides included in some of the missionaries’ journals, and a few stories. Pualani and Ku ʻ ulei Kanahele provide excellent introductions to the Pelehonuamea chants. In the 21st century, amid a reawakening of Hawaiian culture, modern Hawaiians are demanding protection of their sacred areas, and scientists must be aware of these interests. At the very least, scientists should show respect to Hawaiian values when working in these areas, and should try to minimize disruptions caused by their work. Kaeo Duarte, Peter Mills, and Scott Rowland describe taking this approach in their field work. Traditional knowledge is also contained in place names. It is important not only to preserve old place names and to recover those no longer used, but also to preserve the stories of those places. Bobby Camara talks about the joys and frustrations of getting information on and recovering Hawaiian place names. Finally, we hope that a broader interest in Hawaiian views about locations in Hawaiʻi where physical scientific work is done will be as beneficial to physical scientists as it has been to life scientists investigating Hawaiian lifeforms on land and in the ocean, and that both studies will continue to benefit the native peoples of Hawaiʻi. Note that these proceedings are transcripts of oral presentations illustrated with PowerPoint presentations or charts. Although every effort has been made to assure the accuracy of the oral presentations, there are some gaps where words are not discernible in the voice recordings and are so noted. In other places, bracketed words were added to clarify the speaker’s meaning.

Hawaii↗
USGS2017

Report from the Workshop on Coregonine Restoration Science

Summary Great Lakes fishery managers have the opportunity and have expressed interest in reestablishing a native forage base in the Great Lakes consisting of various forms and species within the genus Coregonus . This report summarizes the proceedings of a workshop focused on a subset of the genus, and the term “coregonines” is used to refer to several species of deepwater ciscoes (also known as “chubs”) and the one more pelagic-oriented cisco species ( Coregonus artedi , also known as “lake herring”). As the principal conservation agency for the United States Government, the Department of Interior has unique and significant authorities and capacities to support a coregonine reestablishment program in the Great Lakes. To identify and discuss key uncertainties associated with such a program and develop a coordinated approach, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), the principal Department of the Interior bureaus to address Great Lakes fishery issues, held the first of a series of workshops on coregonine science in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on October 11–13, 2016. Workshop objectives were to identify (1) perceived key uncertainties associated with coregonine restoration in the Great Lakes and (2) DOI capacities for addressing these key uncertainties.

Open-File Report↗
USGS2019

Preliminary assessment of shallow groundwater chemistry near Goodell Creek, North Cascades National Park, Washington

Goodell Creek is located within North Cascades National Park and is high-quality habitat for Chinook salmon, which are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The creation of a levee near the mouth of the creek where it enters the Skagit River has cut off the historical flood plain from the active channel. There is an effort to remove the levee along the left bank of the creek to restore this connection and preserve this high-quality habitat; however, construction debris and blasting waste from the past have been used as fill during the creation of the levee in the 1980s, and there is concern that contaminated groundwater could reach the creek if the levee is breached. As a result, the U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the National Park Service, assessed near-channel shallow-groundwater chemistry to determine how levee remediation should proceed. Groundwater was sampled in late summer in 2017. Deep groundwater at that time of year limited water-quality sampling. Six samples were collected in September 2017 and analyzed for nutrients, dissolved metals, and a suite of semi-volatile organic compounds. Laboratory data were almost always reported as below the method detection limits with the exception of data from a single shallow-groundwater well. Elevated concentrations of metals detected in water samples from this well were possibly caused by the buried metal in the vicinity of the sampling location. One sample collected close to the active channel of Goodell Creek showed no signs of contamination.

Washington↗
USGS2023

Guide for benthic invertebrate studies in support of Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration

This guide is intended to assist with characterizing injury to freshwater benthic macroinvertebrates (BMIs) in Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) cases. The contents are narrowly focused on insects, crustaceans, snails, and other invertebrate fauna that are typically considered part of BMI communities and are not intended to address studies of injury to larger benthic taxa such as freshwater mussels, crayfish, or benthic fishes or amphibians. Although some percentage of the community functions as predators, BMIs are predominantly primary consumers (for example, scrapers, shredders, and filterer/gatherer feeding groups) that play an essential role in converting carbon and nitrogen from plant tissues into animal biomass for higher-order consumers, especially in flowing waters. Aquatic contaminants can disrupt the quantity and quality of energy transferred (ecosystem function) by reducing invertebrate biomass and diversity. Additionally, the accumulation of toxic residues in invertebrate tissues may be a source of exposure leading to adverse effects in higher trophic levels. The goal of NRDAR BMI assessments is to establish direct linkages of contaminant exposure to injuries reflected by changes in community structure (for example, reduced density and taxa richness) or by effects at the individual population level (for example, survival, growth, and reproduction). BMIs are infrequently the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI)-managed resource in a NRDAR case, with managed resources more frequently including migratory birds, fish, or other insectivorous vertebrates. Therefore, it is critical to have clearly defined objectives for evaluating BMIs and an understanding of how invertebrate data relate to the quantification of injuries to the DOI-managed resource. This guide is intended to assist decisions on whether or not to proceed with BMI studies, use of existing information and data for screening purposes, and what types of studies can support a BMI-injury determination. This document is intended to provide general considerations and best practices for assessing BMIs. Relevant guidance and references are listed throughout the report as sources for specific methods and analysis.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1944

Graphite deposits on the north side of the Kigluaik Mountains, Seward Peninsula, Alaska

The graphite deposits on the north side of the Kigluaik Mountains have been known for many years, and have yielded a small quantity of flake graphite, but they have been only slightly developed. The author spent 4 days of June 1943 in company with Mr. H. E. Heide, mining engineer of the Bureau of Mines, and Mr. Norman Tweet, part owner of one of the properties. Acknowledgment is due Mr. John Read and the Lomen Commercial Company for many favors rendered in connection with the investigation. The chemical analyses in this report were made by F. S. Grimaldi, of the Geological Survey. The deposits were examined many years ago by Harrington 1/ who discussed the general geology and described the developments up to the date of'his examination. Much of the history of the district given below is taken from his report. According to Harrington, the first claims were staked in 1900. Two principal groups of claims were worked, those of the Uncle Sam Alaska Mining Syndicate and those of the Alaska Graphite Mining Company. Harrington records that the claims of the Alaska Graphite Mining Company were staked in part in 1905 and in part in 1915 or 1916. A production of 35 tons picked from talus was reported for 1907. According to Mertie, 2/ the production in 1916 was about 100 tons, which according to Harrington, was shipped in 1917, together with several tons mined from an open cut in that year. In 1912, according to Mertie, shipments totalling 130 tons of graphite were made by the Uncle Sam. Alaska Mining Syndicate, and 300 tons were ready for shipment in 1916. Harrington, who visited the area in 1917, reported that no shipments were made in that year by that company. No records of subsequent production have been found. The properties apparently lay dormant until the summer of 1943, when renewed interest was expressed in the restaking of claims. Graphite deposits are widespread in the Kigluaik Mountains. 3/ The deposits described in the report have received the most attention because of their relative accessibility. These deposits are about 36 miles northwest of Nome and about 26 miles east of Teller (see fig. 1). The principal deposits are 2 to 3 miles from an arm of the Imuruk Basin, and about 27 miles by salt water from Teller. Most of the Imuruk Basin is shallow and does not exceed a fathom in depth at distances as much as a mile from shore. Arrangements may be made at Teller to charter small boats for the trip to the graphite-bearing area. The portion of the area between the Kigluaik Mountains and the Imuruk Basin (see fig. 2) is chiefly a gently-sloping alluvial fan, in which the larger creeks are intrenched from 10 to 30 feet near the mountain front. The creek herein called Graphite Creek, the northeasternmost creek shown on figure 2, is about 2 miles southwest of the Cobblestone River. Ruby, Ptarmigan and Trail Creeks transect the mountain front in the order named, proceeding southwestward from Glacier Creep. Farther to the southwest, some of the smaller creeks are unnamed. The creek about 1.4 miles southwest of Trail Creek is herein called Christophosen Creek in order to have a convenient means of reference.

Alaska↗
USGS1959

Occurrences of alunite, pyrophyllite, and clays in the Cerro La Tiza area, Puerto Rico

A deposit of hydrothermally altered rocks in the Cerro La Tiza area located between the towns of Comerio and Aguas Buenas, approximately 25 kilometers southwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico, was mapped and studied to determine the principal minerals, their extent distribution and origin, and the possibility of their economic utilization, especially in Puerto Rico. The Cerro la Tiza area is about 7 1 / 2 kilometers long, has an average width of about 1 1 / 2 kilometers and embraces a total area of approximately 15 square kilometers. The principal mineralized zone, a dike-like mass of light-colored rocks surrounded by dark-colored volcanic country rocks, occupies the crest and upper slopes of east-trending Cerro La Tiza ridge and is believed to be of Late Cretaceous or Eocene age. This zone is approximately 5,300 meters long, 430 meters wide and has an area of approximately 225 hectares (556 acres). The rocks of the mineralized zone are of mixed character and consist mainly of massive quartzose rocks and banded quartz-alunite rocks closely associated with foliated pyrophyllitic, sericitic and clayey rocks. The principal minerals in probably order of abundance are quartz, alunite, pyrophyllite, kaolin group clays (kaolinite and halloysite) and sericite. Minerals of minor abundance are native sulfure, diaspore, svanbergite (?), sunyite (?), hematite, goethite, pyrite, rutile (?) and very small quantities of unidentified minerals. The mineralized zone has broken down to deposits of earth-rock debris of Quaternary age that cover much of the slopes and flanks of Cerro La Tiza. This debris consists generally of fragments and boulders with a very large size range embedded in a clayey matrix. The distribution of the earth-rock debris with respect to the present topography and drainage suggests that it may have undergone at least two cycles of erosion. Underlying the earth-rock debris and completely enclosing the mineralized zone are country rocks of probably Late Cretaceous age. These consist principally of low flows and volcanic and flow breccias but contain thin interbedded siltstones and sandstones. The lavas are generally predominant at the western end of the area and the breccias at the eastern end. The mineralized zone and the country rocks are sheared along two predominant directions that are approximately N 70 degrees E and N 70 degrees W. The ridge of Cerro La Tiza appears to be a broad shear zone through which hydrothermal emanations gained access to the country rocks. The emanations are believed to have originated from intrusive rocks that probably underlie the area. The surrounding area contains both large and small exposed intrusive bodies. The largest one is the San Lorenzo batholith of Late Cretaceous or Eocene age whose exposed northwest edge is approximately 19 kilometers southeast of the eastern end of the Cerro La Tiza area. Other zones of hydrothermally altered rocks were discovered along a mineralized belt extending eastward from Cerro La Tiza through the Rio Gurabo Valley nearly to the Vieques Passage bordering the east coast of Puerto Rico. Other zones were discovered north and south of this belt and still others were found circumventing the San Lorenzo batholith. The most abundant minerals of the mineralized zone can be exploited for economic utilization in Puerto Rico. Alunite can be utilized in the manufacture of aluminum sulfate for water purification. It can also be used in the manufacture of alumina refractory materials. Pyrophyllite can be used as a carrier for insecticides and fungicides. It can also be utilized for the manufacture of ceramic products, as a filler in the soap industry and as a carrier for paint pigments. Kaolinite can be used in the ceramic industry and in the manufacture of glass as a substitute for feldspar. Halloysite might be utilized as a catalyst support in the cracking of petroleum. Tonnages of reserve ore on Cerro La Tiza are calculated to be 1,590,000 inferred short tons (1,440,000,000 inferred metric tons) of mixed minerals. These tonnages are based on the assumption that the depth of the mineralized zone is one-half of the exposed width. The deposit is well situated for open pit mining, but because of the existing cover of earth-rock debris, soil foliage, exploration should proceed exploitation for better determination of the most promising areas containing the best concentrations of the minerals sought.

Cerro La Tiza↗
USGS1975

Surface current observations--Beaufort Sea, 1972

Sediment transport via water and ice in the Beaufort Sea off northern Alaska is related to the movement of the surficial waters. As development proceeds along the north slope of alaska, a knowledge of the potential drift trajectories of water, ice, sediment and pollutants will be needed. In an attempt to better define the probable paths and rates of transport, 4200 surface drift cards were dropped during the U.S. Coast Guard WEBSEC cruise of August and September, 1972. The results of this release are the subject of this report. Because the data presented here will be used primarily by those interested in solving problems of transport, the emphasis has been placed on data presentation rather than a detailed analysis of the circulation. (Sinha-OEIS)

Alaska↗
USGS1976

Preliminary space image lineament maps of Alaska

Examination of images from Nimbus, NOAA and Landsat satellites has revealed a series of lineaments in the earth's surface in Alaska 1000 km or more in length (fig. 1). These lineaments occur as alinements of surface geologic structures, linear valleys or ridges, and linear changes in tonal contrast marking differences in soil type, soil moisture, or vegetation. The lineaments are believed to represent the surface traces of zones of weakness deep within the earth's crust along which vertical or horizontal adjustments to earth stresses persistently recurred since at least Precambrian time. A consistent pattern in the lineaments can be discerned in Alaska (fig. 1D), and throughout the North American Cordillera (fig. 2). This pattern is believed to represent a mosaic of crustal blocks, whose differential movements have guided the tectonic development of the Cordillera. Areas in which mineral deposits are known to be concentrated are alined along many of the lineaments or occur at lineament intersections, suggesting that the zones of weakness reflected by the lineaments provided felicitous pathways for upward movement of mineralizing agents. Other lineaments bound areas of high mineral concentration suggesting that some crustal blocks have had a tectonic history more favorable for mineralization than others. These conclusions suggest that the study of space image lineaments can provide new and fruitful approaches to the search for concealed mineral deposits. In Alaska, some lineaments coincide in part with active fault traces and some separate areas of significantly different structure and geologic history. However, the movements along the zones of weakness which these lineaments are believed to reflect have been too slow and spread over too many millions of years for the lineaments to be considered as marking zones of present earthquake hazard. Detailed discussion of the lineaments, and of interpretations as to their meaning, are contained in: 1) a paper presented by Lathram and Raynolds at the First William T. Pecora Memorial Symposium, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, October 28-31, 1975, and 2) Lathram and Albert, 1976, Significance of space image linears in Alaska, in Hodgson, R.A., Gay, S.P., and Benjamins, J.Y., eds., Proceedings of the First International Conference on the New Basement Tectonics: Utah Geol. Assoc. Pub. 5, p. 11-26.

Alaska↗
USGS1977

A FORTRAN program for calculating nonlinear seismic ground response

The program described here was designed for calculating the nonlinear seismic response of a system of horizontal soil layers underlain by a semi-infinite elastic medium representing bedrock. Excitation is a vertically incident shear wave in the underlying medium. The nonlinear hysteretic behavior of the soil is represented by a model consisting of simple linear springs and Coulomb friction elements arranged as shown. A boundary condition is used which takes account of finite rigidity in the elastic substratum. The computations are performed by an explicit finite-difference scheme that proceeds step by step in space and time. A brief program description is provided here with instructions for preparing the input and a source listing. A more detailed discussion of the method is presented elsewhere as is the description of a different program employing implicit integration.

Open-File Report↗
USGS1978

FORTRAN programs for calculating nonlinear seismic ground response in two dimensions

The programs described here were designed for calculating the nonlinear seismic response of a two-dimensional configuration of soil underlain by a semi-infinite elastic medium representing bedrock. There are two programs. One is for plane strain motions, that is, motions in the plane perpendicular to the long axis of the structure, and the other is for antiplane strain motions, that is motions parallel to the axis. The seismic input is provided by specifying what the motion of the rock-soil boundary would be if the soil were absent and the boundary were a free surface. This may be done by supplying a magnetic tape containing the values of particle velocity for every boundary point at every instant of time. Alternatively, a punch card deck may be supplied giving acceleration values at every instant of time. In the plane strain program it is assumed that the acceleration values apply simultaneously to every point on the boundary; in the antiplane strain program it is assumed that the acceleration values characterize a plane shear wave propagating upward in the underlying elastic medium at a specified angle with the vertical. The nonlinear hysteretic behavior of the soil is represented by a three-dimensional rheological model. A boundary condition is used which takes account of finite rigidity in the elastic substratum. The computations are performed by an explicit finite-difference scheme that proceeds step by step in space and time. Computations are done in terms of stress departures from an unspecified initial state. Source listings are provided here along with instructions for preparing the input. A more detailed discussion of the method is presented elsewhere.

Open-File Report↗