Sarah M Hayes

Germanium (Ge) is an increasingly important element used in critical technologies for communication, defense, and computing. However, Ge is scarce, and there is no United States (U.S.) primary production. Additionally, the environmental behavior of Ge is poorly understood. Germanium does not generally form its own minerals, but is instead recovered as a byproduct of zinc mining or of coal fly ash. It has been deemed critical by the U.S. and globally, and investigations of its geologic concentration, environmental fate and transport, and potential for recovery are crucial for maintaining a sustainable supply. A relevant study site to explore questions of environmental behavior and the potential to recover...

Types: Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service

X-ray Diffraction Results from Alaskan Stoker-Boiler Fly Ash

This dataset contains X-ray diffraction (XRD) results for coal samples from the Usibelli Coal Mine and fly ash samples from the Atkinson Heat and Power Plant in Fairbanks, AK. Additionally, X-ray diffraction results from the solid phase residuals of leaching experiments with the same fly ash are reported. The leaching experiments were performed with either 18 mgea-ohm or simulated rainwater for up to 90 days and XRD was performed on solid phase residuals from sacrifical timepoints (1 hours, 2 days, 7 days, 14 days, 28 days, and 90 days).

Categories: Data; Tags: Alaska, geochemistry

Germanium (Ge) is an element deemed critical globally, and used in electronics, communication, and defense applications. The supply of Ge is limited and as demand for it increases, its criticality increases. Germanium is exclusively recovered as a byproduct of either coal mining or zinc (Zn) mining, and the main mineral hosting Ge in Zn deposits is sphalerite (ZnS). However, the mechanisms of Ge enrichment in sphalerite during mineral deposit formation are poorly understood. Therefore, investigations on the mechanisms controlling geologic enrichment of Ge in ores is crucial for maintaining a sustainable supply. For this study, we used a combination of techniques including optical and electron microscopy, synchrotron-based...

Types: Map Service, OGC WFS Layer, OGC WMS Layer, OGC WMS Service

This data release contains the bulk chemistry and x-ray diffraction results of unreacted Alaskan stoker-boiler fly ash. X-ray diffraction results from the solid phase residuals of leaching experiments with the same fly ash are reported. The leaching experiments were performed with either 18 mega-ohm or simulated rainwater for up to 90 days and XRD was performed on solid phase residuals from sacrifical timepoints (1 hours, 2 days, 7 days, 14 days, 28 days, and 90 days).

Tags: USGS Science Data Catalog (SDC)

Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite and hemimorphite from mine wastes from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite (ZnS) and hemimorphite (Zn4Si2O7(OH)2·H2O) from sampled historical waste piles were conducted with a specific focus on germanium (Ge). In mine wastes at the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Oklahoma, USA, Ge is associated with ZnS (sphalerite) as expected, but weathering in the waste piles has led to a significant amount of Ge being incorporated into a zinc-silicate, hemimorphite. Data and methods reported are part of a research study published here: White, S.J.O., Piatak, N.M., McAleer, R.J., Hayes. S.M., Seal, R.R. II, Schaider, L.A., Shine, J.P. Germanium redistribution during weathering of Zn mine wastes: implications for environmental mobility and recovery of a critical...

Categories: Data; Tags: Germanium, Hemimorphite, Mine wastes, Mineral Resources, Oklahoma, All tags... Sphalerite, Tar Creek, USGS Science Data Catalog (SDC), Fewer tags