Environmental characteristics of the abandoned Greenwood Mine area, Prince William Forest Park, Virginia; implications for mercury geochemistry
Water quality data for the area include pH, dissolved oxygen, alkalinity, total acid soluble and dissolved major and trace element concentrations for sites around the mine workings. |
Info |
Geochemical data including mercury speciation for surface waters at the abandoned Greenwood Mine area, Prince William Forest Park, Virginia | Info |
Preliminary report on water quality associated with the abandoned Fontana and Hazel Creek mines, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, North Carolina and Tennessee | Info |
Water quality and inorganic chemistry of Icewater Spring and Mount Le Conte Spring, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee and North Carolina | Info |
Geochemical characterization of drainage prior to reclamation at the abandoned Valzinco mine, Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Geochemical analysis of water samples to provide a pre-reclamation assessment of seasonal variations of acid and metal concentrations in Knight's Branch help evaluate the reclamation project. |
Info |
Aquatic assessment of the Ely Copper Mine Superfund site, Vershire, Vermont
A wide variety of geochemical analyses show strong local impact on water quality in this area of historical copper mining. |
Info |
Antimony
Antimony’s leading use is as a fire retardant in safety equipment and in household goods such as mattresses. The U.S. Government has considered antimony to be a critical mineral mainly because of its use in military applications. |
Info |
Environmental Considerations Related to Mining of Nonfuel Minerals
A key aspect of identifying and mitigating environmental risks of mining is understanding how they vary from one deposit type to another—a concept that forms the basis for geoenvironmental mineral-deposit models. |
Info |
Environmental (hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur) stable isotope data from the Elizabeth copper mine Superfund site, Vermont, USA
Stable hydrogen, oxygen, and sulfur isotope data were collected from surface water, groundwater, and bulk mill tailings samples at this mine in South Strafford, Vermont. Where available, supporting data for water samples include discharge, pH, specific conductance, and dissolved sulfate concentration. The water samples span a time period from August 1998 to October 2009. Data are provided in CSV format. |
Info |
Geochemical Characterization of Mine Waste, Mine Drainage, and Stream Sediments at the Pike Hill Copper Mine Superfund Site, Orange County, Vermont: U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Sampling procedures, analytical methodologies, and results to assess the potential for mine waste and drainage to have an adverse impact on aquatic ecosystems, on drinking- water supplies, and to human health |
Info |
Preliminary results of sequential extraction experiments for selenium on mine waste and stream sediments from Vermont, Maine, and New Zealand. | Info |
Sequential extraction results and mineralogy of mine waste and stream sediments associated with metal mines in Vermont, Maine, and New Zealand
Results from sequential extraction experiments and the quantitative mineralogy for samples of stream sediments and mine wastes collected from metal mines. |
Info |
Sedimentary exhalative (sedex) zinc-lead-silver deposit model
This report draws on previous syntheses and basic research studies of sedimentary exhalative (sedex) deposits to arrive at the defining criteria, both descriptive and genetic, for sedex-type deposits. Studies of the tectonic, sedimentary, and fluid evolut |
Info |
Oxide and cation compositions of feldspar grains from drill core of the Duluth Complex, Minnesota | Info |
Rhenium
Rhenium is a rare metal that has an extremely high melting point and a heat-stable crystalline structure. It is used in high-temperature superalloys, to make turbine blades for jet aircraft engines and is a catalyst for petroleum refining. |
Info |
Chemistry, morphology, modal mineralogy, and photomicrographs of amphiboles and other minerals in the Ironwood Iron-Formation, Gogebic Iron Range, Wisconsin, USA
Information related to amphibole and other minerals in order that commercial, regulatory, and other entities may obtain a better understanding of their impact on potential resource development. Data are provided in Microsoft Excel CSV, annotated PDF reports including microphotographs and analytical results, and JPEG formats. |
Info |
Estimates of mineral abundances based on Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data from mill tailings and other ore processing materials
Results of mineral abundance estimates based on Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses of mill tailings and other ore processing materials from worldwide localities. Data are provided in CSV format. |
Info |
Oxide and cation compositions of pyroxene grains from drill core of the Duluth Complex, Minnesota | Info |
Geochemical characterization of mine waste at the Ely Copper Mine superfund site, Orange County, Vermont
An environmental impact study is done for the abandoned Ely copper mine. The extent of contamination is studyed along with the type and chemical composition of the mine waste piles. |
Info |
Geochemical and mineralogical characterization of the abandoned Valzinco (lead-zinc) and Mitchell (gold) mine sites prior to reclamation, Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Geochemical data for all solid sample media, along with mineralogical data, and results of weathering experiments on Valzinco tailings and field experiments on sediment accumulation in Knights Branch. |
Info |
A deposit model for carbonatite and peralkaline intrusion-related rare earth element deposits
Carbonatite and alkaline intrusive complexes, as well as their weathering products, are the primary sources of rare earth elements. A wide variety of other commodities have been exploited from carbonatites and alkaline igneous rocks including |
Info |
Characteristics and environmental aspects of slag: a review
Slag is a waste product from the pyrometallurgical processing of various ores. Based on over 150 published studies, this paper provides an overview of mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of different types of slag and their enviro |
Info |
Global distribution of selected mines, deposits, and districts of critical minerals
Approximate locations and short descriptions of mines, deposits, and districts where critical minerals are found. The critical minerals are discussed in USGS Professional Paper 1802 many of these locations are described in further detail in that report. |
Info |
Major, minor, and trace element compositions of bulk drill core samples from the Duluth Complex | Info |
Rare-Earth Elements
Because of their unusual physical and chemical properties, the REEs have diverse defense, energy, industrial, and military technology applications including glass, petroleum refining, automobiles, and magnets. |
Info |
Conceptual framework and approach for conducting a geoenvironmental assessment of undiscovered uranium resources
This report presents a novel conceptual framework and approach for conducting a geologically based environmental assessment, or geoenvironmental assessment, of undiscovered uranium resources within an area likely to contain uranium deposits. The framework |
Info |
Geochemical characterization, acid neutralization potential, and phosphate removal capacity of modern and legacy iron and steel slag from the Chicago-Gary area of Illinois and Indiana, USA
Information about iron and steel slag samples in this area, including bulk chemistry, acid-base accounting, particle size analysis, synthetic precipitation leaching protocol results, and batch and column phosphate removal experiments. Data are provided in CSV format. |
Info |
Oxide and cation compositions of olivine grains from drill core in the Duluth Complex, Minnesota | Info |
Surface-water hydrology and quality at the Pike Hill Superfund Site, Corinth, Vermont, October 2004 to December 2005
Synoptic water-quality and benthic macroinvertebrate sampling at 14 stream sites to characterize the quality of surface water in the watershed on a seasonal and spatial basis, as well as to assess the effects of wetlands on water quality. |
Info |
Occurrence model for magmatic sulfide-rich nickel-copper-(platinum-group element) deposits related to mafic and ultramafic dike-sill complexes
Magmatic sulfide deposits containing nickel and copper, with or without platinum-group elements, account for approximately 60 percent of the world’s nickel production. Most of the remainder of the Ni production is deriv |
Info |
Critical Mineral Resources of the United States—An Introduction
An overview of the mineral resource classifications, terms, and definitions used in PP 1802. Includes a review of the history of the use and meaning of the term “critical” applied to minerals or materials. |
Info |
Selenium
Selenium is a trace element in Earth's crust. Modern uses for selenium include energy-efficient windows that limit heat transfer and thin-film photovoltaic cells that convert solar energy into electricity. |
Info |
Tellurium
Tellurium is a rare element obtained as a byproduct of mining for other commodities whose main uses are in photovoltaic solar cells and as an additive to copper, lead, and steel alloys in various types of machinery. |
Info |
The rare-earth elements: vital to modern technologies and lifestyles
Explains how and where rare-earth resources form and concentrate and how they are used and interact with the environment to affect human and ecosystem health. Discusses supply and demand trends and where undiscovered sources of rare-earths might be found. |
Info |
Sediment-hosted stratabound copper deposit model
This report describes key features; identifies tectonic-sedimentary environments; illustrates geochemical, geophysical, and geoenvironmental characteristics; evaluates deposit formation; presents exploration and assessment guides; and lists knowledge gaps |
Info |
Platinum-Group Elements
The platinum-group elements (PGEs)—platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium—are metals that have similar physical and chemical properties and tend to occur together in nature. PGEs are indispensable to many industrial applications. |
Info |
Barite (Barium)
Barite (barium sulfate, BaSO4) is vital to the oil and gas industry because it is a key constituent of the mud used to drill oil and gas wells. Elemental barium is an additive in optical glass, ceramic glazes, and other products. |
Info |
Cobalt
Cobalt is a silvery gray metal that has diverse uses due to its ferromagnetism, hardness and wear-resistance when alloyed with other metals, low thermal and electrical conductivity, high melting point, multiple valences, and color effects with silica. |
Info |
Global Distribution of Selected Mines, Deposits, and Districts of Critical Minerals
Global distribution of mineral resource features for 22 minerals or mineral commodities considered critical to the economy and security of the United States as of 2017, included as part of USGS Professional Paper 1802. Data are provided in Esri file geodatabase and shapefile format. |
Info |
Graphite
Steelmaking and refractory applications in metallurgy use the largest amount of produced graphite; however, emerging technology uses in large-scale fuel cell, battery, and lightweight high-strength composites promise more uses. |
Info |
Manganese
Manganese is used to make steel, where it serves as a purifying agent in iron-ore refining and as an alloy. |
Info |
Niobium and Tantalum
Niobium and tantalum are found together in nature because they have similar physical and chemical properties. Niobium is used in high-strength steel alloys, while tantalum is used in electronic capacitors. |
Info |
Tin
Tin (Sn) is one of the first metals to be used by humans. Almost without exception, tin is used as an alloy. Its major uses today are for cans and containers, construction materials, transportation materials, and solder. |
Info |
Titanium
Titanium colors paint, paper, plastic, rubber, and wallboard. Because of its strength and corrosion resistance, titanium metal and its alloys are used in the aerospace industry as well as for welding rod coatings, biological implants, and consumer goods. |
Info |
Zirconium and Hafnium
Zirconium and hafnium are corrosion-resistant metals that are widely used in the chemical and nuclear industries. Most zirconium is consumed in the form of the main ore mineral zircon or as zirconium oxide or other zirconium chemicals. |
Info |
Characterization of mine waste at the Elizabeth copper mine, Orange County, Vermont
Preliminary information about the concentration, spatial distribution and mineral hosting of metals and other elements in solid materials at the Elizabeth copper mine after 50 years (or more) of weathering and oxidation. |
Info |
Beryllium
Beryllium is a mineral commodity that is used in a variety of industries to make products that are essential for the smooth functioning of a modern society. |
Info |
Fluorine
Fluorine compounds are essential in numerous chemical and manufacturing processes. Fluorspar is the commercial name for fluorite (isometric CaF2), which is the only fluorine mineral that is mined on a large scale. |
Info |
Gallium
Gallium is a soft, silvery metallic element with an atomic number of 31 and the chemical symbol Ga. Gallium is used in a wide variety of products that have microelectronic components containing either gallium arsenide (GaAs) or gallium nitride (GaN). |
Info |
Germanium and Indium
Germanium and indium are used in electronics devices, flat-panel display screens, light-emitting diodes, night vision devices, optical fiber, optical lens systems, and solar power arrays. |
Info |
Vanadium
Vanadium is used primarily in the production of steel alloys; as a catalyst for the chemical industry; in the making of ceramics, glasses, and pigments; and in vanadium redox-flow batteries (VRBs) for large-scale storage of electricity. |
Info |
Lithium
Lithium, the lightest of all metals, is used in air treatment, batteries, ceramics, glass, metallurgy, pharmaceuticals, and polymers. |
Info |
Energy and Minerals Science at the U.S. Geological Survey
Describes resource management challenges and the providing of a scientific foundation for policy and decision making with respect to resource use, sustainability, environmental protection, and an adaptive resource management approach. |
Info |
U.S. Geological Survey Energy and Minerals science strategy: A resource lifecycle approach
Explains the major questions and strategic actions to be carried out by the USGS to understand energy and mineral resources, their effects on the environment and on the economy and provide information to the public to support decision making. |
Info |