USGS - science for a changing world

Science Topics

Maps, Imagery, and Publications Hazards Newsroom Education Jobs Partnerships Library About USGS Podcasts/RSS
You are here: Topics > Earth characteristics
Help
Rocks and deposits
Solid masses that make up the earth's crust as well as accumulations of materials. Use for major rock types and unconsolidated deposits. For deposits of economic value, see related terms.
Subtopics:
Permafrost (2 items)
Fossils (14 items)
Igneous rocks (10 items)
Metamorphic rocks (2 items)
Sedimentary rocks (14 items)
Unconsolidated deposits (20 items)
Petroleum (78 items)

Lithologic maps (15 items)
Related topics:
Results 1 - 10 of 143 listed by similarity [list alphabetically]
PDF Assessment of potential oil and gas resources in source rocks of the Alaska North Slope, 2012 [More info]
We estimated potential, technically recoverable oil and gas resources for source rocks of the Alaska North Slope. Estimates range from zero to 2 billion barrels of oil and from zero to nearly 80 trillion cubic feet of natural gas.
Fossils, rocks, and time [More info]
Booklet describes how paleontologists use the identification of fossils to recognize rocks of the same or different ages.
Geology, geochemistry and geophysics of sedimentary rock-hosted gold deposits in China [More info]
Second report of a joint project with the Tianjin Geological Academy to study sedimentary rock-hosted Au deposits in China.
How do geologists date rocks? Radiometric dating! [More info]
Explanation of how geologists date rocks (to determine the ages of the Earth, fossils, mineral deposits, and other geologic events) and processes using radiometric dating techniques based on radioactive isotopes of carbon and potassium/argon.
Spectroscopy of rocks and minerals, and principles of spectroscopy [More info]
Technical review of the principles of spectroscopy and its use in identifying minerals and other materials.
Bedrock and soil geochemistry from Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota [More info]
Maps and text (Word or PDF format) and database (Excel or HTML format) for bedrock, forest floor, and mineral soil sampling in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota to establish the background and baseline geochemistry and terrestrial mercury sources.
Bedrock geologic map of Vermont [More info]
At a scale of 1:100,000, this map shows an uncommon level of detail for State geologic maps. Mapped rock units are primarily based on lithology, or rock type, to facilitate derivative studies in multiple disciplines.
Database of recent tsunami deposits [More info]
Sedimentary characteristics of 228 tsunami deposits, drawn from published accounts, for interpreting prehistorical, historical, and modern tsunami deposits, and for the development of criteria to identify tsunami deposits in the geologic record.
PDF Identification of tsunami deposits in the geologic record; developing criteria using recent tsunami deposits [More info]
Characteristics of recent tsunami deposits, with the knowledge we have about the events that caused them, give us ways to recognize ancient deposits of this type and infer characteristics of those ancient tsunamis as well.
Organic metamorphism in the California petroleum basins: Chapter A - ROCK-EVAL and vitrinite reflectance [More info]
Part A of a complex report on the results of ROCK-EVAL and vitrinite reflectance analysis of a large sample base from more than 70 wells located in three oil-rich California petroleum basins in order to study the formation of oil deposits.
Result pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 ... NextAll
Alphabetical Index of Topics a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

Accessibility FOIA Privacy Policies and Notices

Take Pride in America logo USA.gov logo U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://www.usgs.gov/science//science/science.php?term=1005
Page Contact Information: Ask USGS