Ryan J McAleer, Ph.D.
Ryan J McAleer is a Research Geologist at the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center.
I am a Research Geologist at the Florence Bascom Geoscience Center in Reston, VA. I received a PhD in Geology from Indiana University in 2016. I currently run the 40Ar/39Ar geochronology, electron microprobe, and mineral separation laboratories in Reston, VA. I contribute to National Cooperative Geologic Mapping, Energy, and Mineral program projects as well as collaborative work with universities. I use detailed optical and electron petrography, metamorphic petrology, 40Ar/39Ar and U/Pb geochronology, and a variety of other analytical tools in my research. Some current research projects that I am a part of include work on:
- Determining the age of bedrock beneath the coastal plain of the southeastern U.S.
- Assessing the age and deformation mechanisms along the Blue Ridge Thrust
- The age(s) of the Petersburg Granite
- Causes and uses of photoluminesence in zircon
- Coupled substitution in sphalerite with a focus on germanium
- The age and origin of manganese oxide deposits in Virginia.
Professional Experience
2016-present, Research Geologist, USGS, Reston, VA
2011-2015, Graduate Student, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN
2011-2015, SCEP/Pathways student appointment, USGS, Reston, VA
2007-2010, Geologist, USGS, Reston, VA
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. Metamorphic Petrology, Indiana University, 2016 (Advisor: Bob Wintsch)
M.S. Geology, 2006 (Advisor: Jim Spotila)
B.S. Geology, 2004 (Senior Thesis Advisor: Terry Engelder)
Affiliations and Memberships*
2016-present, Mineralogical Society of America
2011-present, Geological Society of America
2019-present, Microscopy Society of America/Microanalysis Society
Science and Products
Molecular-scale speciation of germanium and copper within sphalerite from Central Tennessee mining district (TN), Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA)
Trace element composition and molecular-scale speciation characterization of sphalerite from Central and East Tennessee mining districts, Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA)
40Ar/39Ar data from the Janub Metamorphic Complex, Southern Jordan
40Ar/39Ar isotopic data and electron microprobe data from muscovite in the Sukari gold deposit, Egypt
Mineral abundances within bulk and size-fractionated mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Molecular speciation of Ge within sphalerite, hemimorphite, and quartz from mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Elemental concentrations for bulk and size-fractionated mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite and hemimorphite from mine wastes from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
40Ar/39Ar data from the Old Mine Park area, Trumbull, Connecticut
Electron microprobe and 40Ar/39Ar isotopic data from west-central New Hampshire
TOC, Reflectance and Raman Data from Eocene Green River Mahogany Zone
Photoluminescence Imaging of Whole Zircon Grains on a Petrographic Microscope - An Underused Aide for Geochronologic Studies
U-Pb and fission-track data from zircon and apatite resolve latest- and post-Alleghanian thermal histories along the Fall Line of the Atlantic margin of the southeastern United States
Evaluating aromatization of solid bitumen generated in the presence and absence of water: Implications for solid bitumen reflectance as a thermal proxy
Geology & mineralogy of the Old Mine Park area Trumbull Connecticut
Stop 3 – The Petersburg “Granite” redefined: Recognition and implications of Silurian to Devonian rocks in central-eastern Virginia
Diagenetic barite-pyrite-wurtzite formation and redox signatures in Triassic mudstone, Brooks Range, northern Alaska
Formation of miarolitic-class, segregation-type pegmatites in the Taishanmiao batholith, China: The role of pressure fluctuations and volatile exsolution during pegmatite formation in a closed, isochoric system
New interpretations of the ages and origins of the Hawkeye Granite Gneiss and Lyon Mountain Granite Gneiss, Adirondack Mountains, NY: Implications for the nature and timing of Mesoproterozoic plutonism, metamorphism, and deformation
A review of spatially resolved techniques and applications of organic petrography in shale petroleum systems
Unmixing multiple metamorphic muscovite age populations with powder X-ray diffraction and 40Ar/39Ar analysis
Two-event genesis of Butte lode veins: Geologic and geochronologic evidence from ore veins, dikes, and host plutons
Photoluminescence imaging of whole zircon grains on a petrographic microscope—An underused aide for geochronologic studies
The refractory nature of zircon to temperature and pressure allows even a single zircon grain to preserve a rich history of magmatic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal processes. Isotopic dating of micro-domains exposed in cross-sections of zircon grains allows us to interrogate this history. Unfortunately, our ability to select the zircon grains in a heavy mineral concentrate that records the most ge
Metamorphic amphiboles in the Ironwood Iron-Formation, Gogebic Iron Range, Wisconsin: Implications for potential resource development
No abstract available.
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
Science and Products
Molecular-scale speciation of germanium and copper within sphalerite from Central Tennessee mining district (TN), Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA)
Trace element composition and molecular-scale speciation characterization of sphalerite from Central and East Tennessee mining districts, Red Dog mining district (AK), and Metaline mining district (WA)
40Ar/39Ar data from the Janub Metamorphic Complex, Southern Jordan
40Ar/39Ar isotopic data and electron microprobe data from muscovite in the Sukari gold deposit, Egypt
Mineral abundances within bulk and size-fractionated mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Molecular speciation of Ge within sphalerite, hemimorphite, and quartz from mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Elemental concentrations for bulk and size-fractionated mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite and hemimorphite from mine wastes from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
40Ar/39Ar data from the Old Mine Park area, Trumbull, Connecticut
Electron microprobe and 40Ar/39Ar isotopic data from west-central New Hampshire
TOC, Reflectance and Raman Data from Eocene Green River Mahogany Zone
Photoluminescence Imaging of Whole Zircon Grains on a Petrographic Microscope - An Underused Aide for Geochronologic Studies
U-Pb and fission-track data from zircon and apatite resolve latest- and post-Alleghanian thermal histories along the Fall Line of the Atlantic margin of the southeastern United States
Evaluating aromatization of solid bitumen generated in the presence and absence of water: Implications for solid bitumen reflectance as a thermal proxy
Geology & mineralogy of the Old Mine Park area Trumbull Connecticut
Stop 3 – The Petersburg “Granite” redefined: Recognition and implications of Silurian to Devonian rocks in central-eastern Virginia
Diagenetic barite-pyrite-wurtzite formation and redox signatures in Triassic mudstone, Brooks Range, northern Alaska
Formation of miarolitic-class, segregation-type pegmatites in the Taishanmiao batholith, China: The role of pressure fluctuations and volatile exsolution during pegmatite formation in a closed, isochoric system
New interpretations of the ages and origins of the Hawkeye Granite Gneiss and Lyon Mountain Granite Gneiss, Adirondack Mountains, NY: Implications for the nature and timing of Mesoproterozoic plutonism, metamorphism, and deformation
A review of spatially resolved techniques and applications of organic petrography in shale petroleum systems
Unmixing multiple metamorphic muscovite age populations with powder X-ray diffraction and 40Ar/39Ar analysis
Two-event genesis of Butte lode veins: Geologic and geochronologic evidence from ore veins, dikes, and host plutons
Photoluminescence imaging of whole zircon grains on a petrographic microscope—An underused aide for geochronologic studies
The refractory nature of zircon to temperature and pressure allows even a single zircon grain to preserve a rich history of magmatic, metamorphic, and hydrothermal processes. Isotopic dating of micro-domains exposed in cross-sections of zircon grains allows us to interrogate this history. Unfortunately, our ability to select the zircon grains in a heavy mineral concentrate that records the most ge
Metamorphic amphiboles in the Ironwood Iron-Formation, Gogebic Iron Range, Wisconsin: Implications for potential resource development
No abstract available.
Non-USGS Publications**
**Disclaimer: The views expressed in Non-USGS publications are those of the author and do not represent the views of the USGS, Department of the Interior, or the U.S. Government.
*Disclaimer: Listing outside positions with professional scientific organizations on this Staff Profile are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement of those professional scientific organizations or their activities by the USGS, Department of the Interior, or U.S. Government