Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center
Problem: The association of particluar critical mineral resources with certain known mineral deposit types is relatively well established. For example, platinum-group elements with layered mafic-ultramafic intrusions (e.g., Bushveld Complex), rare earth elements with alkaline-carbonatite complexes (e.g., Mountain Pass), gallium with bauxite deposits, and niobium with some carbonatite complexes. However, critical mineral resources may also occur in deposits significantly different in mineralogy, grade or geologic setting from the known deposit types. For example, platinum-group elements are known to be enriched in some hydrothermal mineral deposits and rare earth elements are enriched in some lateritic clay deposits. These unconventional deposits are not as well documented or understood as conventional deposits. In addition, new technologies and product development continually increase the need for greater production of previously underutilized mineral commodities and the discovery of new deposits.
Objectives: To investigate selected unconventional deposits for critical mineral resources, particularly:
Methodology: Selected unconventional deposits and environments for critical mineral resources will be studied with an emphasis on field investigation, geochemistry, mineralogy, isotopes, and modeling.
Contact: Gilpin Robinson, 703-648-6113, grobinso@usgs.gov
 Net Import Reliance chart from USGS Report Mineral Commodity Summaries 2012.
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Sub-Tasks:
Subtask 6.1 Unconventional PGE resources Subtask 6.2 Unconventional and critical mineral resources in igneous systems |
| Mineral Resources | Eastern / Central / Western / Alaska / National Minerals Information |
| Crustal Imaging & Characterization / Spatial Data |
U.S. Department of the Interior |
U.S. Geological Survey
URL: http://minerals.usgs.gov/east/critical/emerg.html
Page Contact Information: Eastern Region Minerals Contact
Page Last Modified: 13-Jan-2013@18:07
