Performance Details
Department of Natural Resources - Geological & Geophysical Surveys
Mission
Conduct geological and geophysical surveys to determine the potential of Alaskan land for production of metals, minerals, fuels, and geothermal resources, the potential geologic hazards to buildings, roads, bridges, and other installations and structures; and conduct such other surveys and investigations as will advance knowledge of the geology of the state. (AS 41.08)
Core Services
- Produce timely and reliable new energy-related geologic information in areas of poor geologic understanding and high energy-resource potential.
- Produce timely and reliable new minerals-related geological and geophysical information in areas of limited information and high mineral-resource potential.
- Produce timely and reliable new information on geologic hazards in areas at risk of casualties, economic losses, and infrastructure failure from natural disasters.
- Provide timely delivery of geological and geophysical information to industry, government, and the public in support of resource exploration, development, and pre-disaster hazard mitigation for continued economic growth and public safety.
- Preserve the state"s archive of representative geologic materials from across the state and provide improved public access to the non-proprietary sample inventory in support of resource exploration, land management, and geologic education.
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Performance Detail
A: Result -GEOLOGIC DATA COLLECTION AND INTERPRETATION: Continually gather and interpret new geologic field data in emerging areas of interest related to energy supply, mineral deposits, and geologic hazards. |
A1: Core Service - Produce timely and reliable new energy-related geologic information in areas of poor geologic understanding and high energy-resource potential. |
Target #1: Publish reports on energy-related geology that assist the energy industry and state agencies in exploring for and managing energy resources on state-interest lands..
DGGS fell short of the target number of energy reports due a redirection of section activities for much of the fiscal year, with a focus on three new efforts: 1) A large investment of staff time was spent on logistics, contracting, and permitting for a major ASTART-funded coring project on the North Slope with the USGS, 2) the section assumed a lead technical role in the CORE-CM project, resulting in substantial stakeholder work and the uploading of new geochemical data to a community EDX database, and 3) the energy group participated in the carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration (CCUS) statewide working groups, as well as contributing to two major U.S. Department of Energy grant applications. The energy section was further challenged by staff turnover and recruitment challenges. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
Target #2: Collect new geologic field data to support resource evaluations of areas prospective for oil, gas, and coal..
Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
A2: Core Service - Produce timely and reliable new minerals-related geological and geophysical information in areas of limited information and high mineral-resource potential. |
Target #1: Publish airborne geophysical survey data for Alaska"s minerals-interest lands..
The federal Earth MRI critical-minerals program was funded by the U.S. Congress in FFY2019, and it is anticipated to be a 10-year project to acquire airborne geophysical surveys, geologic mapping, and LiDAR over areas of the nation with critical minerals potential. Additional funds were added through the federal IIJA bill in 2022, so federal funding will be at elevated levels through 2026. DGGS has been contracted by the USGS to manage the federal geophysical contracts covering large portions of Alaska"s mineral districts. In FY2023 DGGS released 7,984 square miles of fixed-wing magnetic and radiometric data in Central Yukon-Tanana Upland and 4,741 square miles in Western Yukon-Tanana Upland, respectively. In late FY2023, DGGS initiated fixed-wing magnetic and radiometric and gravity surveying in the northeast part of the Kuskokwim River area of Southwest Alaska; these surveys are scheduled for publication in FY2024. DGGS also initiated helicopter-based geophysical surveying in this area, as well as on the Seward Peninsula; these surveys will be published in FY2024. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
Target #2: Publish reports and/or digital data sets on mineral-resource geology and mineral-industry exploration activity..
The sharp increase in the number of mineral-resource geology reports and datasets in FY2014-16 reflects geochemical and other geologic datasets that are a direct result of work completed as part of the FY2012-14 Strategic and Critical Minerals Capital Improvement Project appropriations. Output again started to increase in FY2019 as the state received $1 million in federal Earth MRI funds for statewide critical-minerals-related geophysical and geologic mapping; for FY2020-FY2021 funding increased to $1.1 million per year, and again increased in FY2022-FY2023 to $6.75 million in association with the 5-year IIJA bill. Earth MRI is anticipated to be a 10-year program. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
Target #3: Attract maximum industry investment in mineral exploration in Alaska for each state dollar spent on mineral resource assessment..
One way to gauge the effectiveness of state investment for encouraging mineral-industry activity in the state is to compare industry expenditures on mineral exploration in Alaska to state expenditures for mineral-resource assessment and knowledge transfer. Data on exploration investment comes from DGGS" annual mineral industry report. Reported exploration value is compared to the estimated expenditures for mineral-resource assessment during the previous state fiscal year. From historical data, a ratio of $100 of industry exploration for every state dollar spent was a reasonable annual target from FY2005 through FY2012, but that situation can change, based upon several factors. In FY2019 and FY2021, a state capital project provided one year of state funds to help stimulate industry activity. In FY2022 through FY2024, state funding was used to provide match for critical-minerals-related federal Earth MRI funding. Industry cycles usually last for 3 to 5 years, and ratios below 100 can be expected when worldwide mineral economy cycles are at lower levels. The long-term investment of the state spurs renewed mineral industry activity in Alaska once market investment capital again becomes available. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
A3: Core Service - Produce timely and reliable new information on geologic hazards in areas at risk of casualties, economic losses, and infrastructure failure from natural disasters. |
Target #1: Publish reports or maps providing improved assessment of geologic hazards that could pose significant risks to public safety or infrastructure..
The Hydrology & Surficial Geology Section published two hazards-related reports in FY2023, which included a sonar and seismic lake survey, as well as a profile and discharge data study for an area of the North Slope between Wainwright, Asqausk and Utqiagvik and a lidar elevation datasets—between Utqiagvik and Atqasuk, The Geologic Hazards Section published 10 hazards-related DGGS reports and datasets in FY2023, including three lidar datasets, two ortho-images with accompanying photogrammetry-derived elevation datasets, two coastal hazards reports (coastal bluff erosion assessment for Homer, community impacts from Extra-Tropical Cyclone Merbok), two tsunami inundation reports (including Seward, northern Resurrection Bay, Karluk, Larsen Bay, and Kodiak Island), and a guidebook to permafrost and Quaternary geology of the Fairbanks area. Fewer publications were produced in FY23 due to staff turnover and retirement, including the former section chief and Coastal Hazards Program manager. We expect publication numbers to increase to former levels once these programs rebuild their capacity. The Volcanology Section, working in conjunction with federal U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and University of Alaska Fairbanks partners, published five volcano-hazard related reports and datasets in FY2023, including briefing information on volcanic unrest at Mount Edgecumbe, near the community of Sitka, comprehensive reports on all volcanic activity in Alaska for the years 2018 and 2019, and electron microprobe data on rocks and minerals from recent Pavlof eruptions. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
Target #2: Evaluate Alaska land for potential geologic hazards affecting public safety or existing or proposed infrastructure..
Total square miles evaluated for geologic hazards as part of the Arctic Strategic Transportation and Resources (ASTAR) project was approximately 3,044 mi2, generally between Utqiagvik and Atqasuk. Additionally, Hydrology and Surficial Geology processed an additional 627 mi2 of lidar data all across the state, and continued evaluating the Frozen Debris Lobe (~72.5 mi2). Total square miles of assessments are expected to stabilize at current lower levels as DGGS` ASTAR project activities continue to focus on site-specific studies; no new regional projects of similar scale are planned at present. The survey will continue to pursue new studies to evaluate snow avalanches, glacial lake outburst floods, landslides, permafrost, coastal flooding and erosion, volcano hazards, active faults, and mineral-related hazards throughout the state. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
B: Result -ARCHIVE AND PUBLISH GEOLOGIC INFORMATION: Function as the state"s lead repository and primary source of information concerning Alaska"s geologic energy resources, mineral resources, and geologic hazards. |
Target #1: Store and distribute digital geologic information that effectively and efficiently meets the needs of industry, government, academia, and the public..
During FY 2023, the division distributed 25.97 terabytes of digital geologic data and information to industry, government, academia, and the public via our DGGS website and/or geoportals. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
B1: Core Service - Provide timely delivery of geological and geophysical information to industry, government, and the public in support of resource exploration, development, and pre-disaster hazard mitigation for continued economic growth and public safety. |
Target #1: Respond to requests for geologic information needed by exploration companies, resource planners, emergency managers, scientific organizations, land managers, developers, and the public..
The Hydrology and Surficial Geology receives a variety of inquiries, most commonly about the Arctic Strategic Transportation and Resources Project or from individuals seeking surficial or hydrology information about a specific area of the State. The Geologic Hazards Section received numerous requests for hazards-related information regarding the Barry Arm landslide and tsunami hazard in Prince William Sound and 920 requests for radon information and distributed radon test kits. The Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys is committed to providing a timely response to all requests for geologic information. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
Target #2: Deliver public presentations about geologic resources and hazards in Alaska, including technical talks and information displays at conferences, speaking at or teaching classes, and speaking at public meetings..
Likely due to renewed industry activity after the COVID-19 pandemic, the survey provided a much greater number of public presentations in FY2023. For each major section, there were: 71 public presentations by the Geologic Hazards section, 16 presentations by the Volcanology section, 30 presentations by the Mineral Resources section, 7 by the Energy Resources Section, and 12 public tours at the Geologic Materials Center in Anchorage, including industry, academic, legislative, and other visitors. In support of the Governor"s focus on community resilience, DGGS continued to focus on the public awareness of geologic hazards through targeted outreach to support mitigation planning and resilience to earthquakes, tsunamis, avalanches, landslides, coastal erosion and inundation, permafrost, snow and ice, and mineral-related hazards. Several presentations by the DGGS Energy Resources section were given to the oil and gas industry. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
C: Result -MAINTAIN ALASKA"S GEOLOGIC SAMPLE REPOSITORY: Maintain and provide public access to Alaska"s invaluable archive of representative geologic samples from across the state. |
Target #1: Accommodate and encourage client visits to the Geologic Materials Center for the purpose of studying rock or sediment samples in the interest of resource exploration or geologic-hazard evaluation..
There were 1,199 visits to the Geologic Materials Center in FY2023, which greatly exceeded the target of 700. Visits from mining and energy companies and the public increased significantly. GMC staff expects to exceed 1,000 visits for FY2024, as interest in critical minerals is growing and the effects of the global pandemic continue to wane. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
C1: Core Service - Preserve the state"s archive of representative geologic materials from across the state and provide improved public access to the non-proprietary sample inventory in support of resource exploration, land management, and geologic education. |
Target #1: Provide efficient, user-friendly online access to the Geologic Materials Center"s sample inventory..
The 13,687 user sessions accessing the GMC inventory in FY2023 exceeded projections. The new browser-based format will be further enhanced to improve the user experience. The division estimates that inventory web searches for FY2023 will exceed 12,000. Related links: Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
Target #2: Track demand for viewing the Geologic Materials Center"s sample collection..
According to GMC staff, 3,562 sample boxes were requested by clients in FY2023. Mineral industry geologists returned to examine and sample smaller amounts of legacy core, while geologists from the energy industry held multiple large core workshops. Last year`s extraordinary trend was not reflected in FY2023 due to the smaller nature of the mineral projects. Target Last Modified: 11/08/2023 |
Last refreshed: 04/23/2024 05:00 pm