Mineralogy / Petrology

This opportunity focuses on integration of geophysical modeling with constraints on alteration mineralogy from spectral measurements on drill core and hyperspectral remote sensing data.

The goal of the project supported by the internship is to evaluate mineral assemblages in drill hole core collected from Yellowstone National Park using spectral methods, determine subsurface structures using electromagnetic methods, and to evaluate the distribution of rare earth elements and other trace metals associated with minerals using scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe.

Exploring for the critical platinum-group elements (PGEs) relies upon understanding the geophysical signature of the entire magmatic system in which they form, from bottom to top. The USGS is applying a range of geophysical techniques to investigate the internal architecture of layered mafic intrusions.