Crustal Imaging and Characterization Team

Isotope and chemical methods for mineral and geoenvironmental assessments

Project Objectives

The Mineral Resources Program (MRP) is mandated to provide information to planners and decision-makers related to mineral deposits on the Nation’s lands and to predict the environmental consequences of the mining or natural weathering of those deposits. The fulfillment of this function requires the development of genetic and geoenvironmental models that are based on the scientific understanding of various types of ore deposits. Stable isotope, single fluid inclusion, active gas chemistry, noble gas isotope, and solute chemistry techniques are exceptionally powerful tools in the study of fundamental processes that operate during the evolution of ore deposits. This Project makes it possible to easily integrate these techniques such that all of them are available to investigators for applications to a single deposit, area or district or to a single problem, and thus the Project facilitates the application of the full potential of state-of-the-art geochemical tools to the ongoing improvement the scientific basis for the assessment of the Nation’s wealth. Inasmuch as the knowledge gained in these studies of mineral deposits has wide application within Earth system science, the Project is also a valuable catalyst for interdisciplinary collaborations of the type that are required to meet the Nation’s natural science information needs. Consequently the Project interfaces not only with a large number of studies by MRP scientists but initiates, leads, facilitates, or supports studies by other USGS scientists. The core maintenance of the stable isotope and noble gas chemistry laboratories is supported under a separate project.

The objective of this Project is to facilitate the full potential of both individual and integrated application of stable (C, H, N, O, S) and noble gas (He, Ar, Ne, Kr, Xe) isotopes, and active gas (CO2, H2S, SO2, CH4, HF, HCl, N2, H2, organics, light hydrocarbons) and solute chemistry laboratory techniques of minerals and fluids (including single fluid inclusions) to multidisciplinary studies of fundamental processes that occur during the life cycle of mineral deposits. These techniques (both individually and combined) are applied to studies of fundamental processes over the entire life cycle of mineral resources from genesis and discovery to recovery, recycling, disposal and reclamation. The fundamental knowledge acquired by these studies is closely integrated with the ongoing development of genetic and geoenvironmental models of ore deposits by other MRP scientists. This knowledge is critical to the assessment of the Nation's mineral wealth and to the environmental consequences of mining it. The knowledge acquired in these studies is not specific to mineral resources and can also be applied to a broad spectrum of societally relevant issues that are the subject of current high priority USGS investigations in the biologic, hydrologic and geologic sciences. Thus, the objective of this Project also extends to fulfill the recommendation of the USGS Science Strategy Team that “the USGS leverage its talents and skills to undertake comprehensive and integrated studies that examine the Earth as a system including atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere."

Relevance & Impact

The combined fluid inclusion, active gas, noble gas isotope, and stable isotope laboratories are a major USGS asset that offers a unique and exceptionally powerful combination of tools to study geochemical processes over the entire live cycle of ore deposits. The integration of these analytical laboratory capabilities within a single project is without precedent and results in unique scientific capabilities. The cumulative MRP investment in the project laboratory equipment is over $5,000,000. These laboratories now have the instrumental capability to meet the need of a substantial number of MRP projects in addition to reimbursable USGS and outside-funded projects. The Project provides critical new knowledge to advance the understanding of ore genesis and the evolving art of mineral and geoenvironmental assessments. These studies are required to insure that such assessments are conducted at the highest level of scientific integrity. The studies conducted by the Project will play a major role in the development and direction of other Program projects. The ongoing development of new techniques opens new opportunities for research for MRP scientists. The Project scientists have extensive networks with scientists in other USGS scientific disciplines, academia and industry and the ongoing interaction with these scientists and their students creates opportunities for MRP scientists to benefit from and to participate in cutting edge multidisciplinary studies at a fraction of their real cost. The laboratories of the Project have long been a major training center for graduate and post doctoral students and young scientists.

Return to Project List || Return to Crustal Imaging & Characterization Team Home Page

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://crustal.usgs.gov/projects/isotopes_assess/index.html
Page Contact Information: CICT Webmaster
Page Last Modified: 13-Jul-2009@14:34