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Richard Blakely

Richard is a Scientist Emeritus with the Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center. He focuses on the application of gravity, magnetic, and other geophysical methods to address a variety of earth science issues in the Western United States.

After graduation from Stanford, he served as Assistant Professor in the School of Oceanography at OSU. He joined the USGS in 1975, becoming Senior Scientist six years before retiring from the USGS in 2016. As an Emeritus Research Geophysicist, Richard uses potential-field (gravity and magnetic) and other geophysical methods to help address national earth science issues in the Western United States. His recent research focuses on mapping and characterizing hazardous faults in the Cascadia subduction zone, assessing mineral resources in the Basin and Range, and estimating ground-water resources of the arid southwest US.

Professional Experience

  • 2016-present, Research Geophysicist Emeritus, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA

  • 2010-2016, Senior Scientist, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA

  • 1975-2010, Research Geophysicist, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA

  • 2005-2006, Chief, Geophysical Unit of Menlo Park (GUMP), U.S. Geological Survey

  • 1990-1993, Adjunct Professor, School of Oceanography, Oregon State University

  • 1988-1991, Chief, Crustal Dynamics Section, Branch of Geophysics, U.S. Geological Survey

  • 1978-1979, 1986-1987, Consulting Professor, Department of Geophysics, Stanford University

  • 1973-1975, Assistant Professor, School of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

  • 1972-1973, Research Associate, School of Oceanography, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR

  • 1972, Research Associate, Stanford University

Education and Certifications

  • Ph.D., Geophysics, Stanford University, 1972

  • M.S., Geophysics, Stanford University, 1971

  • B.S., General Science, Oregon State University, 1968

Affiliations and Memberships*

  • USGS Innovation Center Advisory Group (ICAG), 2016-present

  • CSIRO (Australia) Deep Earth Imaging Advisory Panel, 2016-2020

  • President and President-Elect, Geomagnetism and Paleomagnetism Section, AGU, 2008-2012

  • AGU Council, 2008-2012

  • Assoc. Editor, Journal of Geophysical Research, 1987-1990

  • Assoc. Editor, Reviews of Geophysics and Space Physics, 1985-1988

  • Assoc. Editor, U.S. National Report (GP Section) to the IUGG, 1985-1987

Honors and Awards

  • Fellow,  American Geophysical Union, 2003

  • Fellow, Geological Society of America, 1987

  • Meritorious Service Award, Dept. of Interior, 1994

  • Shoemaker Award for Communications Product Excellence

Science and Products

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Evidence for a basement feature related to the Cortez disseminated gold trend and implications for regional exploration in Nevada

No abstract available.
Authors
V.J.S. Grauch, Robert C. Jachens, Richard J. Blakely
By
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Crustal magnetic anomalies

This Quadrennial Report departs in format from its predecessors. Earlier reports provided brief descriptions of the entire range of topics on “crustal magnetic anomalies.” Following guidelines established by the AGU, we instead focus our discussion on only a few selected topics. Our abbreviated list of references reflects this restricted focus. A more comprehensive bibliography can be...
Authors
C.A. Raymond, Richard J. Blakely
By
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Tectonic setting of the Portland-Vancouver area, Oregon and Washington: Constraints from low-altitude aeromagnetic data

Seismic activity in the Portland-Vancouver metropolitan area may be associated with various mapped faults that locally offset volcanic basement of Eocene age and younger. This volcanic basement is concealed in most places by young deposits, vegetation, and urban development. The U.S. Geological Survey conducted an aeromagnetic survey in September 1992 to investigate the extent of these...
Authors
Richard J. Blakely, Ray E. Wells, Thomas S. Yelin, I. P. Madin, M.H. Beeson

Crustal magnetic anomalies

[No abstract available]
Authors
C.A. Raymond, Richard J. Blakely

The Geysers-Clear Lake geothermal area, California - An updated geophysical perspective of heat sources

The Geysers-Clear Lake geothermal area encompasses a large dry-steam production area in The Geysers field and a documented high-temperature, high-pressure, water-dominated system in the area largely south of Clear Lake, which has not been developed. Both systems have been extensively studied with geophysical techniques, drilling, and geological mapping during the past 20 years. An...
Authors
W. D. Stanley, Richard J. Blakely

The northern Nevada rift: Regional tectono-magmatic relations and Middle Miocene stress direction

As defined by the most recent aeromagnetic surveys, the north-northwest-trending northern Nevada rift zone extends for at least 500 km from southern Nevada to the Oregon Nevada border. At several places along the rift, the magnetic anomaly is clearly related to north-northwest-trending dikes and flows that, based on new radiometric dating, erupted between 17 and 14 Ma and probably during...
Authors
M.L. Zoback, E.H. McKee, Richard J. Blakely, G. A. Thompson

Aeromagnetic map of the Portland-Vancouver Metropolitan area, Oregon and Washington

No abstract available.
Authors
Stephen L. Snyder, T.J. Felger, Richard J. Blakely, Ray E. Wells

HYPERMAG; an interactive, 2- and 2 1/2-dimensional gravity and magnetic modeling program; version 3.5

No abstract available.
Authors
R.W. Saltus, Richard J. Blakely

New geophysical models related to heat sources in the geysers-clear lake region, California

We present an updated view of the geological and geophysical complexities of the upper crust in The Geysers-Clear Lake region in order to provide additional information regarding local structures and possible heat sources. New models and ideal-body analysis of the gravity data, new electromagnetic sounding models, and arguments made from other geophysical data sets suggest that many of...
Authors
W. D. Stanley, Richard J. Blakely

Geyser's magma chamber, California: constraints from gravity data, density measurements, and well information

A new crustal model based on isostatic residual gravity, geologic mapping, well information, and density measurements shows that the high-gradient parts of the residual gravity anomaly can be explained in terms of lithologic variations within the upper 7 km of the crust, consistent with the upper-crustal framework of the area. This conclusion does not rule out the presence of a magma...
Authors
Richard J. Blakely, W. D. Stanley

Regional study of mineral resources in Nevada: Insights from three-dimensional analysis of gravity and magnetic anomalies

A three-dimensional interpretation of the basins of Nevada was developed based on statewide data bases of digital-gravity, magnetic, geologic, well, and topographic information. An iterative technique was applied to isostatic residual gravity anomalies in Nevada in order to define the location and shape of pre-Tertiary basement and to produce a gravity map that reflects variations of...
Authors
Richard J. Blakely, Robert C. Jachens

Mineral resources of the Badlands Wilderness Study Area and the Badlands Wilderness Study Area Additions, Crook and Deschutes counties, Oregon

No abstract available.
Authors
Joel R. Bergquist, Harley D. King, Richard J. Blakely, Don L. Sawatzky, Jerry E. Olson

Science and Products

*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

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