Mine Plan Design: Oktober 2011

Park Service releases digital geologic map of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area

The National Park Service has released the Digital Geologic Map of Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and Vicinity, Utah and Arizona (GRI MapCode GLCA), which is posted athttp://irma.nps.gov/App/Reference/Profile/2176690.The GLCA map covers in extent...

Mining a bright spot in national jobs picture, Arizona economy

The National Mining Association reports that "according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in one year – between June 2010 and 2011 – coal mining jobs grew 7.6 percent, metals mining jobs grew 3.9 percent, and jobs in support activities for mining...

ASU planetary geologist Ron Greeley, 1939-2011

Arizona State University reports that Ronald Greeley, a Regents’ Professor of planetary geology at ASU, who has been involved in lunar and planetary studies since 1967 and has contributed significantly to our understanding of planetary bodies within...

Merger of BLM and Office of Surface Mining

Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar has initiated a process to merge the Bureau of Land Management and the Office of Surface Mining by March 2012. Public Lands News reports that "Under the reorganization BLM and OSM would combine four functions: (1)...

Sand dunes movement and growth on Navajo Nation

A new fact sheet from the USGS notes that "Recurring drought and rising temperatures have caused reactivation and renewed growth of sand dunes on the lands of the Navajo Nation on the Colorado Plateau. Migrating dunes threaten health, housing, and...

Renewable energy and geology in Arizona

I had the privilege of giving the keynote address to the Shlemon Specialty Conference in Tempe this morning on "Opportunities for Alternative Energy Development in Arizona and the Southwest– Geologic/Hydrologic Considerations." The event was organized...

Land swap for Resolution Copper mine passes U.S. House

The House voted along party lines to approve the swap of 5,350 acres of lands they acquired for their conservation value, for 2,422 acres of federal lands needed for the proposed Resolution Copper underground mine to be developed [right]. Resolution...

Mining ban on federal lands advanced in northern Arizona

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has called for a 20 year ban on mineral exploration and mining on nearly 1 million acres of federal lands in northern Arizona, as the recommended alternative in the Environmental Impact Statement released yesterday....

Chino Valley earthquake felt across region

A magnitude 3.6 earthquake was felt from the Chino Valley to Winslow and as far south as Phoenix. The quake occurred at 11:20 a.m. local time today, 18 miles NNW of Prescott. [right, location map of quake - star - with historical quakes shown as small...

Joint venture announced for Holbrook basin potash

Passport Potash announced a joint venture this morning with one of the other two big lease holders exploring for potash in the Holbrook basin:Passport Potash, Inc. has signed a letter of intent to enter into binding agreements under which NZ Potash,...

Demos of our geothermal data network

The Geothermal Resources Council annual meeting launched last night here in San Diego in partnership with the Geothermal Energy Association industry trade show. AZGS has an exhibit booth where project manager Kim Patten and I are running demos of the...

Strike at giant Freeport mine in Indonesia could impact global production

Mineweb.com warns that "the strike and unrest at Freeport's Grasberg operation in Indonesia could, if they continue and by virtue of the mine's size and output, have an important impact on global production of both copper and gold."Phoenix-based Freeport...

Prescott challenges Verde River groundwater model

Prescott-area water officials are challenging the use of a recently completed USGS groundwater model for the Verde River system. Bill Meyer, "a retired USGS hydrologist with more than 40 years' experience in quantifying groundwater resources and the...

Ancient river channels on Mars

It's been a while since I checked in at the UA HiRISE web site to see what new images are coming back from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. And as they often are, there are some amazing pictures. This one of Cerberus Fossae looks like a channel full...

Geology and the Saguaro National Park BioBlitz

Did you know that ocotillo likes to grow on limestone? When you see dense clusters of ocotillo, there's a good chance that it's limestone below the surface.AZGS staff are participating in the BioBlitz at Saguaro National Park today and Saturday, helping...

ASU in space

Arizona State University is involved in 7 space missions currently, with more in the wings. The new issue of the ASU School of Earth & Space Exploration's news magazine, SESE Source, has a number of stories about space, meteorites, and planetary...

Urban pressures on quarries spills over in Maricopa County

Proposed copper mines in Arizona are getting most of the news headlines these days, but a more common issue both here in Arizona and across the nation, is the encroachment of housing on sand and gravel quarries.To be economically viable, quarries have...

Planetary science theme of Fall lecture series at Biosphere

The Fall public lecture series at the University of Arizona's Biosphere 2 focuses on planetary science in honor of Mike Drake, UA Regents' Professor, director of the UA Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and head of the department of planetary sciences...

Company withdraws Florence copper rezoning proposal

Curis Resources has withdrawn its request to the City of Florence to rezone its property to allow an in situ copper recovery project to begin on private lands, according to a report in the Phoenix Business Journal. They say company CEO Mike McPhie...

Dust storms and car accidents

Higher rainfall in Phoenix correlates with a dramatic decrease in car crashes caused by dust storms.The USGS put out a short note following the October 4 dust storm in southern Arizona, noting that two contributing factors to such events are low vegetation...

ASU's Center for Meteorite Studies marks 50 years

The Center for Meteorite Studies at Arizona State University celebrates its 50 years of cutting edge meteoritical research, as well as building world class meteorite collection on Friday, October 21.The Center is offering a free evening lecture Friday...

Report is upbeat on Holbrook basin potash potential

The potash resource assessment for American West Potash's holdings in the Holbrook basin is now available online. [right, location map from the report showing the AWP lands in yellow, relative to the potash limits in red] They report Indicated Resources...

Public meetings rescheduled on Rosemont copper mine EIS

This announcement just in from the U.S. Forest Service:Two public meetings regarding the Rosemont Copper Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) will be rescheduled. The first and last meetings, scheduled to be held at the Desert Diamond...

Small quake near Lake Mead this morning

A magnitude 2.1 earthquake occurred at 9:03 am local time south of Lake Mead and east of Boulder City, NV, according to the US...

Unanimous vote to continue AZGS for 10 years

The Arizona Legislature's Committee of Reference voted unanimously this afternoon to endorse continuation of the Arizona Geological Survey for 10 years, the maximum allowed by law. The recommendation will be drafted into legislation that will be presented...

Small quake near Fredonia

A small earthquake of magnitude 1.6 was recorded 7 miles southeast of Fredonia near the Utah border, on Saturday, just before noon. [right, location map from the US...

Public hearing on the future of the Arizona Geological Survey

The Arizona Legislature invites public comment on whether the Arizona Geological Survey should continue, be terminated, or consolidated with another agency. This is the final step in the normal Sunset Review for all state agencies and boards. AZGS...

Pima County expenditures to oppose Rosemont copper mine

Pima County has reportedly spent over $65,000 on external "studies, analyses and a three-dimensional model" of the proposed Rosemont copper mine in the Santa Rita mountains southeast of Tucson, as part of their opposition to the project, according...

UA's George Davis publishes new version of popular structural geology text

An updated version of the widely used text "Structural Geology" by UA geosciences professor emeritus George Davis was unveiled yesterday by its publisher John Wiley at the Geological Society of America annual meeting in Minneapolis.The previous edition...

USGS Director lays out critical need for State Geological Surveys

Marcia McNutt, Director of the USGS, told the AASG mid-year meeting attendees that the USGS needs to weigh in on the unprecedented challenges facing state geological surveys. She specifically called out the threats to shut down the Louisiana Geological...

AZGS at GSA

We are here in Minneapolis at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, with 7,000 others, as one of the largest and most important scientific gatherings in the geosciences for the year.Last night at the Presidential Awards ceremony, AZGS...

Copper debate tearing apart Florence

Emotions are running hot over a proposal to produce copper from underground deposits in the town of Florence, using an in situ leaching process. We've received some of the most impassioned messages we've ever gotten, in opposition to the recovery...

Potash, parks, and water

Is there enough water in northeast Arizona to support anticipated growth, including possible potash mining in the Holbrook area? That question is posed by the Arizona Journal in the second part of a 3-part series on water use in Arizona that was published...

Celebration of life in honor of Mike Drake

A celebration of life in honor of UA Regents' Professor and Director of the Lunar & Planetary Lab, Michael J. Drake is scheduled for Friday, November 4, 2011, at 2 p.m., followed by a reception. [right, photo credit UA Lunar & Planetary Lab]The...

Park Service geology report on Tumacacori

The National Park Service has released a Geologic Resources Inventory (GRI) report for Tumacacori National Historical Park (TUMA) in Arizona. The report is a companion document to the previously released digital geologic map data and aids in its use...

The future of rare earth elements supplies

A new report from the USGS asks the question about the future of rare earth elements [REE]—will these high-tech industry elements continue in short supply?Author Keith Long concludes that "REE will continue to find increasing use due to their unique...

Origin of the Colorado River system

Abstracts from the workshop on the Origin and evolution of the Colorado River system, have been published by the USGS. [right, credit Grand Canyon NPS]A 2010 Colorado River symposium, held in Flagstaff, Arizona, involved 70 participants who engaged...

Active Metal and Industrial Mineral Underground Mines in the United States, 2007-2009

The USGS released 3 annual reports on Active Metal and Industrial Mineral Underground Mines in the United States, for the years 2007, 2008, and 2009. No mines are reported in Arizona.According to the latest report, "Total domestic mining and waste removal...

Emergency declaration for Schultz post-fire flood area

Gov. Jan Brewer signed a Declaration of Emergency on Friday, in support of Coconino County response, recovery and mitigation efforts to protect property and infrastructure in the Schultz Flood area, in the Flagstaff area. The declaration was signed...

Tiny quake in NW Arizona

There was a small earthquake last Thursday on what appears to be the southern extent of the Hurricane fault in northwestern Arizona.[right, star marks epicenter, amidst historical earthquakes in the region. Credit, US...

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