Life Cycles of Byproduct Critical Minerals Active
Project objectives are to 1) assess the overall life cycle of selected byproduct critical elements tellurium (Te), indium (In), gallium (Ga), and germanium (Ge), 2) perform an assessment of critical element resources and examine the processes and conditions controlling the concentration of byproduct critical elements by deposit type, and 3) improve understanding of the surficial geochemistry of these critical elements.
Science Issue and Relevance
Ensuring the supply of critical elements that are produced exclusively as the byproducts of other commodities present unique challenges. Unlike most mineral commodities, meeting the future societal demands for these "byproduct critical elements" cannot be addressed by the discovery of new deposits. Instead, the supply for critical elements, such as tellurium (Te), indium (In), gallium (Ga), and germanium (Ge), is dependent on the recovery of a different primary mineral commodity. Further, the United States is largely or completely reliant on imports for these elements, highlighting the importance of stable raw materials supplies for domestic high technology industries.
These elements play key roles in electronics and renewable energy, but the factors that contribute to their accumulation as accessory minerals in ore deposits are poorly understood. Moreover, the recovery of these byproduct commodities at mining, ore-processing, smelting, and refining facilities can be highly inefficient (reaching less than 5 percent of the amount in the ore). Additionally, these inefficiencies are not well constrained, because of uncertainties in how these elements partition in various product and waste streams at these operations. In addition, the processes that control their source, transport, and fate in the surficial environment are also poorly known.
Results from careful examination of critical element behavior during ore formation, extraction processes, and in surficial environments also will refine their life cycle models. This holistic approach to understanding byproduct critical element behavior is key for optimizing critical element resources and environmental health.
Methodology to Address the Issue
Our project will examine the resource life cycle of byproduct critical elements, focusing on Te, In, Ga, and Ge. Global life cycle assessments serve as an important tool in identifying partitioning during natural and anthropogenic processes and the relative importance of these processes, including releases to the surficial environment. The challenge of improving recovery of critical elements from existing metallurgical processes begins with uncertainties in the factors that lead to enrichment of these elements in ore deposits and continues with uncertainties in how these elements partition in ore and during ore-processing and refining. The process of extracting and utilizing critical elements for industrial or commercial uses may present new risks for environmental impact if these typically trace elements reach environmentally significant concentrations at one or more points along the process path. The environmental and human health risks of many of these elements are not well studied due to their low average crustal abundance. The project is divided into four tasks to better understand byproduct critical elements.
- Life Cycles of Material Flow
- Geologic Processes and Resource Assessment
- Resource Recovery
- Environmental Behavior
Return to Mineral Resources Program
Below are data releases associated with this project.
Mineral abundances within bulk and size-fractionated mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Molecular speciation of Ge within sphalerite, hemimorphite, and quartz from mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Elemental concentrations for bulk and size-fractionated mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Electron microprobe analyses of sphalerite and hemimorphite from mine wastes from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Emerging investigator series: Atmospheric cycling of indium in the northeastern United States
Critical minerals: A review of elemental trends in comprehensive criticality studies
Critical mineral resources of the United States—Economic and environmental geology and prospects for future supply
SummaryMineral commodities are vital for economic growth, improving the quality of life, providing for national defense, and the overall functioning of modern society. Minerals are being used in larger quantities than ever before and in an increasingly diverse range of applications. With the increasing demand for a considerably more diverse suite of mineral commodities has come renewed recognition
- Overview
Project objectives are to 1) assess the overall life cycle of selected byproduct critical elements tellurium (Te), indium (In), gallium (Ga), and germanium (Ge), 2) perform an assessment of critical element resources and examine the processes and conditions controlling the concentration of byproduct critical elements by deposit type, and 3) improve understanding of the surficial geochemistry of these critical elements.
Science Issue and Relevance
Ensuring the supply of critical elements that are produced exclusively as the byproducts of other commodities present unique challenges. Unlike most mineral commodities, meeting the future societal demands for these "byproduct critical elements" cannot be addressed by the discovery of new deposits. Instead, the supply for critical elements, such as tellurium (Te), indium (In), gallium (Ga), and germanium (Ge), is dependent on the recovery of a different primary mineral commodity. Further, the United States is largely or completely reliant on imports for these elements, highlighting the importance of stable raw materials supplies for domestic high technology industries.
These elements play key roles in electronics and renewable energy, but the factors that contribute to their accumulation as accessory minerals in ore deposits are poorly understood. Moreover, the recovery of these byproduct commodities at mining, ore-processing, smelting, and refining facilities can be highly inefficient (reaching less than 5 percent of the amount in the ore). Additionally, these inefficiencies are not well constrained, because of uncertainties in how these elements partition in various product and waste streams at these operations. In addition, the processes that control their source, transport, and fate in the surficial environment are also poorly known.
Results from careful examination of critical element behavior during ore formation, extraction processes, and in surficial environments also will refine their life cycle models. This holistic approach to understanding byproduct critical element behavior is key for optimizing critical element resources and environmental health.
Methodology to Address the Issue
Our project will examine the resource life cycle of byproduct critical elements, focusing on Te, In, Ga, and Ge. Global life cycle assessments serve as an important tool in identifying partitioning during natural and anthropogenic processes and the relative importance of these processes, including releases to the surficial environment. The challenge of improving recovery of critical elements from existing metallurgical processes begins with uncertainties in the factors that lead to enrichment of these elements in ore deposits and continues with uncertainties in how these elements partition in ore and during ore-processing and refining. The process of extracting and utilizing critical elements for industrial or commercial uses may present new risks for environmental impact if these typically trace elements reach environmentally significant concentrations at one or more points along the process path. The environmental and human health risks of many of these elements are not well studied due to their low average crustal abundance. The project is divided into four tasks to better understand byproduct critical elements.
- Life Cycles of Material Flow
- Geologic Processes and Resource Assessment
- Resource Recovery
- Environmental Behavior
Return to Mineral Resources Program
- Data
Below are data releases associated with this project.
Mineral abundances within bulk and size-fractionated mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Mineral abundances within bulk and size-fractionated mine waste from sampled historical waste piles from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Oklahoma, U.S.A., were determined by Mineral Liberation Analysis (MLA) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Data and methods reported are part of a research study published below in the 'Related External Resources' section.Molecular speciation of Ge within sphalerite, hemimorphite, and quartz from mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Oxidation state and bonding environment of Ge in minerals within mine waste from sampled historical waste piles from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Oklahoma, U.S. were determined by linear combination fits from x-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) analysis. Ge content in quartz within these wastes was determined using XANES edge steps, and Ge content in sphalerite was compared using XANEElemental concentrations for bulk and size-fractionated mine waste from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Tri-State Mining District, Oklahoma, U.S.A.
Elemental concentrations for bulk and size-fractionated mine waste from sampled historical waste piles from the Tar Creek Superfund Site, Oklahoma, U.S. were determined after dissolution via acid digests or a sodium peroxide fusion. Elemental concentrations were determined for the leachate from a simulated rainwater leach of mine wastes. Data and methods reported are part of a research study publiElectron 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-sili - Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Emerging investigator series: Atmospheric cycling of indium in the northeastern United States
Indium is critical to the global economy and is used in an increasing number of electronics and new energy technologies. However, little is known about its environmental behavior or impacts, including its concentrations or cycling in the atmosphere. This study determined indium concentrations in air particulate matter at five locations across the northeastern United States over the course of one yAuthorsSarah Jane White, Harold F. HemondCritical minerals: A review of elemental trends in comprehensive criticality studies
Mineral criticality is a subjective concept that has evolved throughout history. An abundance of literature on this topic has been published over the last decade, encompassing a variety of criteria and methodologies. To our knowledge, this work is the first large-scale effort to organize and analyze recent comprehensive criticality studies in order to determine if a consensus exists within the gloAuthorsSarah M. Hayes, Erin A. McCulloughCritical mineral resources of the United States—Economic and environmental geology and prospects for future supply
SummaryMineral commodities are vital for economic growth, improving the quality of life, providing for national defense, and the overall functioning of modern society. Minerals are being used in larger quantities than ever before and in an increasingly diverse range of applications. With the increasing demand for a considerably more diverse suite of mineral commodities has come renewed recognition