Gregg A Swayze, Ph.D.
Gregg Swayze is a Scientist Emeritus in Denver. Gregg received a Doctorate in Geology from the University of Colorado in 1997. Since joining the USGS in 1985, Gregg has devoted his career to studying Remote Sensing and specializes in Imaging Spectroscopy. Presently, his science focuses on environmental and mineral exploration applications of imaging spectroscopy.
Research Interests
Over the years, Gregg has developed methods to spectrally map acid-mine drainage in Leadville, Colorado, naturally-occurring asbestos in the foothills of California, insulation asbestos in the World Trade Center dust, and oil emulsions formed during the 2010 BP oil spill. He has also developed a portable spectral fingerprinting technique to identify asbestos-bearing vermiculite in attic insulation. Gregg has used his imaging spectroscopy experience with relict hydrothermal systems in Nevada and Hawaii to help map similar mineral deposits on the surface of Mars with the NASA CRISM orbital spectrometer. His most recent focus is on spectrally mapping REE-bearing minerals at the Mt. Pass Mine in California. He was recently selected as a Co-Investigator of the NASA/JPL Earth Surface Mineral Dust Source Investigation (EMIT) team with the goal of putting an imaging spectrometer on the International Space Station to map the mineralogy of dust source regions on a global basis.
Professional Experience
1985 to present, U.S. Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. degree/Geology, University of Colorado, 1997
M.S. degree/Geology, Colorado School of Mines, 1985
B.S. degree/Geology, Grand Valley State University, 1982
Affiliations and Memberships*
American Geophysical Union
Geological Society of America
Colorado Scientific Society
Society of Economic Geologists
Science and Products
A synthesis of Martian aqueous mineralogy after 1 Mars year of observations from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Identification of hydrated silicate minerals on Mars using MRO-CRISM: Geologic context near Nili Fossae and implications for aqueous alteration
Discovery of jarosite within the Mawrth Vallis region of Mars: Implications for the geologic history of the region
Mapping potentialy asbestos-bearing rocks using imaging spectroscopy
Opaline silica in young deposits on Mars
Phyllosilicate and sulfate-hematite deposits within Miyamoto crater in Southern Sinus Meridiani, Mars
Phyllosilicate diversity and past aqueous activity revealed at Mawrth Vallis, Mars
Hydrated silicate minerals on Mars observed by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter CRISM instrument
Orbital identification of carbonate-bearing rocks on Mars
USGS Digital Spectral Library splib06a
Mineralogy and Morphology of Amphiboles Observed in Soils and Rocks in El Dorado Hills, California
Spectroscopic and x-ray diffraction analyses of asbestos in the World Trade Center dust: Asbestos content of the settled dust
Science and Products
A synthesis of Martian aqueous mineralogy after 1 Mars year of observations from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Identification of hydrated silicate minerals on Mars using MRO-CRISM: Geologic context near Nili Fossae and implications for aqueous alteration
Discovery of jarosite within the Mawrth Vallis region of Mars: Implications for the geologic history of the region
Mapping potentialy asbestos-bearing rocks using imaging spectroscopy
Opaline silica in young deposits on Mars
Phyllosilicate and sulfate-hematite deposits within Miyamoto crater in Southern Sinus Meridiani, Mars
Phyllosilicate diversity and past aqueous activity revealed at Mawrth Vallis, Mars
Hydrated silicate minerals on Mars observed by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter CRISM instrument
Orbital identification of carbonate-bearing rocks on Mars
USGS Digital Spectral Library splib06a
Mineralogy and Morphology of Amphiboles Observed in Soils and Rocks in El Dorado Hills, California
Spectroscopic and x-ray diffraction analyses of asbestos in the World Trade Center dust: Asbestos content of the settled dust
*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