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Displaying 31 - 40 of a total of 52 Frequently Asked Questions

Tailings pond from a gold mine. Image Copyright © Marli Miller, University of Oregon. http://www.earthscienceworld.org/images
What happens before, during, and after mining?
American Geosciences Institute
A geothermal power plant at The Geysers near Santa Rosa, California. Some areas of The Geysers have been important test beds for enhanced geothermal systems. Image credit: USGS/Photo by Julie Donnelly-Nolan
What is an Enhanced Geothermal System?
American Geosciences Institute
Image of chalcopyrite, a common copper iron sulfide mineral
What is biomining?
American Geosciences Institute
Map showing estimated undiscovered but technically recoverable resources of coalbed methane in the United States. Image Credit: USGS
What is coalbed methane?
American Geosciences Institute
An example of frac sand, used in hydraulic fracturing. Image Credit: USGS/Photo by Bill Cunningham
What is frac sand?
American Geosciences Institute
Screenshot of the AGI glyph showing the different elements of geoscience.
What is geoscience?
American Geosciences Institute
Map of groundwater withdrawals by U.S. state in 2015. Image Credit: U.S. Geological Survey
What is groundwater used for?
American Geosciences Institute
Screenshot of Cascadia landslide complex in the Columbia Gorge near Stevenson, Washington
What is Lidar and what is it used for?
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Photograph of a coral reef. Corals are some of the most vulnerable organisms affected by ocean acidification, as more acidic ocean waters make it harder for corals to grow their skeletons. Photograph by Ilsa Kuffner, U.S. Geological Survey
What is ocean acidification?
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
A fluid impoundment containing produced waters at a drilling operation in the Permian Basin of West Texas. Image Credit: Hannah Hamilton/USGS
What is produced water?
American Geosciences Institute

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Popular Frequently Asked Questions

Mt. St Helens following its catastrophic 1980 eruption. Image Credit: U.S. Geological Survey/Photo by Tom Casadevall
How many active volcanoes are there in the United States?
U.S. Geological Survey
Rare earth elements include 17 elements: Yttrium, Scandium, and the Lanthanide Series. Image Credit: Peggy Greb, Agricultural Research Service, USDA
What are rare earth elements, and why are they important?
U.S. Geological Survey
Mine trucks moving material from the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mines in Colorado. Image Credit USGS/Photo by Yolanda Fong-Sam
What are the main methods of mining?
American Geosciences Institute
Total primary energy use in the United States in 2017 by source and sector. Image Credit: U.S. Energy Information Administration
What are the major sources and users of energy in the United States?
U.S. Energy Information Administration
An early example of a floating offshore wind turbine. Image Credit: NREL/Photo by Senu Sirnivas
What are the advantages and disadvantages of offshore wind farms?
American Geosciences Institute