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Suggestions to authors of the reports of the United States Geological Survey
Knowledge acquired by the Geological Survey through programs of research and investigations has no value to the public if it remains in office files or in the minds of the scientists and engineers who did the work. The full discharge of the Survey's responsibilities is attained only by making its acquired knowledge available promptly and effectively to all people who will find it of interest and use. And, to insure effectiveness, reports must be not only accurate but so clearly and simply written that they are easy to read and understand. Efforts by the Geological Survey to attain high quality in reports are necessarily group efforts. The largest contribution is made by the author, who has assembled facts, has worked out ideas to explain them, and has a direct personal interest in making the facts and ideas clearly and effectively known. The Geological Survey encourages that interest, recognizing that it is an essential ingredient of the high morale of the members of the Survey. Authors should keep in mind, however, that the Survey has a proprietary interest in all their manuscript reports and as proprietor may dispose of the reports, or require that they be changed before publication, as it sees fit. The Survey generally exercises its proprietary interest only to the extent of seeing that a report is scientifically and technically sound, will reach the proper audience, and will reflect credit on both the Survey and the author. To these ends, each report is reviewed by the author's fellow workers, supervisors, and staff officials, who bring to bear upon it their specialized knowledge, skill, judgement to assure a sound product. In its final form each Survey report is that product of team effort in which many persons do their share -- even though most of them remain anonymous. There is no easy way to prepare reports of high quality, any more than there is an easy means of carrying out research to sure and outstanding conclusions. Each task calls for intensive thinking and for preserving work. The author bears the primary responsibility and correspondingly faces the most difficult task. To aid him is the chief purpose of this volume. The subject matter of this volume is arranged under several principal headings. First, a summary is given of the Survey's publications: the historical basis for them, statistics as to what has been issued in the periods 1879-1957, and a list and description of the several series of reports and maps in which material is being published. Next are outlined successive steps that the author will normally take from the start of a project to his final proofreading of the text and illustrations. Under the third broad heading is brought together much detailed information about the form and content of reports. The fourth part of this volume is devoted to advice on expression -- what to seek and what to avoid. A fifth major part of this volume bears on the most common questions of typographic style that affect Survey publications. The final sections of the volume give instructions for typing manuscript copy and correcting the galley and page proofs; also they include a few useful tables and a discussion of the purpose and content of press releases.
Suggestions to authors of the reports of the United States Geological Survey
No abstract available.
United States Geological Survey Yearbook, fiscal year 1986
This volume of the U.S. Geological Survey Yearbook is special, the first we have ever dedicated to an individual. While we were preparing that repost, Vincent E. McKelvey, eminent scientist and former Director of the Geological Survey died. Because of his deep devotion not only to his science but also to the agency and to the public that he served, we dedicate the 1986 Yearbook to Vince's memory.
Instructions relating to the work of the United States Geological Survey to take effect May 1, 1903
On March 3, 1900, a series of instructions relating to the work of the topographic branch of the Geological Survey was approved and published in pamphlet form. The extensive use of this publication by those engaged in topographic work and others exhausted the first edition and seemed to justify its enlargement so that it would cover the field and office work of the Survey generally. The instructions now published have been adopted after full consultation and consideration, so that they may be regarded as embodying the latest and best information on the various subjects treated. They should be carefully studied by the members of the Geological Survey, as a strict compliance with all the provisions is expected. These "Instructions" are supplementary to the manual of "Regulations," third edition, 1903.
A transect of metamorphic rocks along the Copper River, Cordova and Valdez Quadrangles, Alaska: A section in The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1982
The lower Tertiary Orca Group is juxtaposed against the Upper Cretaceous Valdez Group along the Contact fault system (Winkler and Plafker, 1974, 198; Plafker and others, 1977)(fig. 33). In both groups, turbidites are the dominant rock type, with lesser mafic volcanic rocks (table 10). The Valdez Group, on the north, has traditionally been considered to be of higher metamorphic grade than the Orca Group (Moffit, 1954; Tysdal and Case, 1979; Winkler and Plafker, 198; Winkler and others, 1981). In 1982, we made a transect across the regional strike of the rocks and the contact between the two groups. The transect area follows the Copper River for 85 km from the Cordova quadrangle north into the Valdez quadrangle and extends for about 25 km on either side of the river (fig. 33). We planned, by systematic sampling of the area, to examine the metamorphic differences between the Orca and Valdez Groups. We found, however, that a strong thermal metamorphic event has overprinted and obscured regional metamorphic relations. We believe intrusion of Tertiary granite (fig. 33) to be responsible for this metamorphism. (Figures 33 and 34 and tables follow this article.)
Apparent episodicity of magmatic activity based on radiometric age determination: A section in The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1980
Results of recent potassium-argon age studies in the Chignik region, Alaska, (Wilson, 1980; Wilson and others, 1982) have suggested a distinct episodicity in igneous activity during Tertiary time. To date work on the Aleutian magmatic arc indicates that plutonic activity took place along the present outer Pacific margin and in the northern Alaska-Aleutian Range batholith (Reed and Lanphere, 1973; Kienle and Turner, 1976; DeLong and others, 1978) in latest Cretaceous and earliest Tertiary time (70-58 m.y.) and was followed by a hiatus lasting until late Eocene ( 45 m.y~) time. Late Eocene to earliest Miocene ( 45-20 m.y.) magmatic activity was followed by a middle Miocene hiatus (10 m.y.). Since that time, magmatic activity in the Aleutian arc has been continuous.
Preliminary results of potassium-argon age determinations from the Ugashik quadrangle, Alaska Peninsula: A section in The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1980
Early and preliminary results of potassiumargon dating work on samples from 12 sites in the Ugashik quadrangle indicate a continuation of the geologic trends seen in the Chignik and Sutwik Island quadrangles to the south (Wilson, 1980). Tertiary volcanic and hypabyssal rocks apparently fall into two age groups: early Tertiary-late Eocene to earliest Miocene and late Tertiary and Quaternary-late Miocene to Holocene (fig. 53).
Reconnaissance geochemical studies in the Bristol Bay, Ugashik, and Karluk quadrangles, Alaska: A section in The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1980
Geochemical reconnaissance studies in the Bristol Bay, Ugashik, and Karluk quadrangles were completed with collection and analyses of more than 1,200 stream-sediment and heavy mineral-concentrate samples during 1979 and 1980. At least two areas of possible metallic mineral occurrence have been delineated by results of the analyses, geologic fieldwork, and data provided by Bear Creek Mining Company.
Digital image processing techniques for detecting surface alteration - An application on the Alaska Peninsula: A section in The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1983
The tectonic evolution of the Alaska Peninsula makes it a likely area for the discovery of significant mineral deposits. However, because of problems associated with remoteness and poor weather, little detailed mineral exploration work has been carried on there. This study focuses on using Landsat multispectral scanner data for the Port Moller, Stepovak Bay, and Simeon of Island Quadrangles to detect surface alteration, probably limonitic (iron oxide staining) and(or) argillic (secondary clay minerals) in character, that could be indicative of mineral deposits. The techniques used here are useful for mapping deposits that have exposed surface alteration of at least an hectare, the approximate spatial resolution of the Landsat data. Virtually cloud-free Landsat coverage was used, but to be detected, the alteration area must also be unobscured by vegetation. Not all mineral deposits will be associated with surface alteration, and not all areas of surface alteration will have valuable mineral deposits.
Eruption in an ice-filled caldera, Mount Veniaminof, Alaska Peninsula: A section in The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1983
The more prominent of the two visible intracaldera cones of Mount Veniaminof went into eruption in early June 1983 and continued until early April 1984. Veniaminof is a 2,507-m-high composite cone having an 8 x 11-km summit caldera which formed 3,300-3,700 yr B.P. (Miller and Smith, 1977). The active 1.6x1.2-km cone protrudes 200 m through the glacial ice filling the caldera; it lies in a 60-m-long belt of cinder cones that is transverse to the trend of the Aleutian arc (fig. 44).
Newly discovered Holocene volcanic vents, Port Moller and Stepovak Bay quadrangles, Alaska Peninsula: A section in The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1983
Reconnaissance mapping in 1982-83 suggests previously unreported Holocene volcanic activity in the area 14-24 km southwest of Kupreanof Volcano (fig. 45). One young volcanic vent has been observed along the divide between Stepovak Bay and Bear Lake, and the locations of two others are inferred from the position of morphologically young lava flows mapped in valleys draining into Clark Bay, Grub Gulch, and Ramsey Bay. Other morphologically young flows extending northwest from the divide are evident on aerial photographs.
Preliminary description of a Miocene zone of structural complexity, Port Moller and Stepovak Bay quadrangles, Alaska: A section in The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1983
A zone of structural disruption and complexity along the Pacific coast margin of the Alaska Peninsula (fig. 41) may be related to the Alaska Peninsula and the Chugach terrane boundary. The best exposure of this zone is located on the east shore of Humpback Bay (figs. 42, 43; also Burk, 1965, pl. 8, fig. 4); other exposures are located on the east side of Ivanof Bay, the north and south sides of Lefthand Bay, and in other coastal localities in the area. In some places, such as on the Kupreanof Peninsula, it is not recognized. This zone may extend discontinuously for 110-160 km along the coast; the width of the zone varies from 0.5 to 1 km. Our current data and tentative interpretations are described here, pending completion of additional field research, laboratory, and office studies.
Sea cliff exposures of metamorphosed carbonate and schist, northern Seward Peninsula: A section in The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1983
Extensive seacliff exposures of marble, metadolostone, and schist occur on the north shore of Seward Peninsula in the Kotzebue A-1 and A-2 Quadrangles (fig. 12). Some of the exposed units have no analogs when compared to rocks mapped to the south in the Bendeleben and Solomon Quadrangles. Others are similar to units exposed to the south, but they differ in metamorphic grade and minor, though significant, compositional characteristics. Carbonate rocks predominate from Ninemile Point westward; schists of varying composition occur with carbonate rocks to the east. The carbonate-dominated section is separated in the vicinity of Ninemile Point from the schist-dominated section by a major fault zone, thought to be the northern extension of the Kugruk fault zone of Sainsbury (1974).
New ages on intrusive rocks and altered zones in the Alaska Peninsula: A section in The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1977
Preliminary potassium-argon dating of intrusive rocks and altered zones in the Chignik and Sutwik Island quadrangles of the Alaska Peninsula seems to indicate at least three and possibly four Tertiary ages of alteration and mineralization.
Summary of data on the age of the Orca Group, Alaska: A section in The United States Geological Survey in Alaska: Accomplishments during 1984
The Orca Group is a widespread, thick, complexly deformed accretionary sequence of flysch and tholeiitic basalt in the Prince William Sound area (Winkler, 1976; Winkler and Plafker, 1981) (fig. 49). Despite a number of extensive field studies of the Orca Group, reliable data on the age of the unit have been elusive. On the basis of sparse paleontologic and radiometric data, the sequence was regarded as Paleocene and early Eocene(?) age (Winkler and Plafker, 1981). New paleontologic data from fossil localities shown in figure 49 suggest that some strata assigned to the Orca Group are of middle Eocene age and possibly as young as late Eocene or Oligocene. However, data suggesting an age younger than about 50 Ma appear to be incompatible with radiometrically determined ages for plutons that intrude the Orca Group.
United States Geological Survey Yearbook, fiscal year 1989
The fiscal year 1989 Yearbook summarizes the activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in response to its scientific and regulatory missions.
United States Geological Survey Yearbook, fiscal year 1990
The fiscal year 1990 Yearbook summarizes the activities of the U.S. Geological Survey in response to its scientific and regulatory missions.