Colin F Williams, PhD.
Colin is the Mineral Resources Program Coordinator. Colin was previously the Director of the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. Before that he led the Geothermal Resource Studies Project, which assessed the geothermal resources of the US and conducted research on geothermal systems.
Colin's primary research interest is in understanding the flow of heat and fluids through the Earth's crust and using those measurements to understand hydrothermal processes, mineral deposits, earthquakes, and groundwater flow. He joined the USGS after earning a PhD and MPhil in Geological Sciences from Columbia University, an MS in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, and a BS in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College.
Professional Experience
2022-Present, Program Coordinator for the Mineral Resources Program
2012-2022, Center Director, USGS Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Menlo Park, CA
2004-2012, Supervisory Research Geophysicist and Geothermal Project Chief, USGS, EQ Science Center, Menlo Park, CA
1989-2004, Research Geophysicist, Heat Flow Studies, USGS Branch of Tectonophysics, Menlo Park, CA
Education and Certifications
M.Phil, PhD., Geophysics, Columbia University, 1989
M.S., Mechanical Engineering, University of California-Berkeley, 1984
B.S., Engineering, Harvey Mudd College, 1983
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Geothermal Resources Council
International Geothermal Association
Society of Economic Geologists
Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration
Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada
NASA - Non-USGS
Department of Energy - Non-USGS
Science and Products
Characterization of rock thermal conductivity by high-resolution optical scanning
Thermal regime of the San Andreas fault near Parkfield, California
Temperature and the seismic/aseismic transition: Observations from the 1992 Landers earthquake
Thermal conductivity of water-saturated rocks from the KTB pilot hole at temperatures of 25 to 300°C
The thermal regime of Santa Maria Province, California. Phosphorus geochemistry, diagenesis, and mass balances of the Miocene Monterey Formation at Shell Beach, California
Heat-flow measurements in the vicinity of the Hayward Fault, California
Well log-derived estimates of thermal conductivity in crystalline rocks penetrated by the 4-KM deep KTB Vorbohrung
Heat-flow studies in the northwest geysers geothermal field, California
Science and Products
Characterization of rock thermal conductivity by high-resolution optical scanning
Thermal regime of the San Andreas fault near Parkfield, California
Temperature and the seismic/aseismic transition: Observations from the 1992 Landers earthquake
Thermal conductivity of water-saturated rocks from the KTB pilot hole at temperatures of 25 to 300°C
The thermal regime of Santa Maria Province, California. Phosphorus geochemistry, diagenesis, and mass balances of the Miocene Monterey Formation at Shell Beach, California
Heat-flow measurements in the vicinity of the Hayward Fault, California
Well log-derived estimates of thermal conductivity in crystalline rocks penetrated by the 4-KM deep KTB Vorbohrung
Heat-flow studies in the northwest geysers geothermal field, California
*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