In response to Executive Order 13817 of December 20, 2017, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) coordinated with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to identify 35 nonfuel minerals or mineral materials considered critical to the economic and national security of the United States (U.S.). Acquiring information on possible domestic sources of these critical minerals is the basis of the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI). The program, which partners the USGS with State Geological Surveys, federal agencies, and the private sector, aims to collect new geological, geophysical, and topographic (lidar) data in key areas of the U.S. to stimulate mineral exploration and production of critical minerals. The first phase of Earth MRI focuses on the study of rare-earth elements (REE). The USGS has identified broad areas within the U.S. to target acquisition of geologic mapping, geophysical data, and (or) detailed topographic information to aid research, mineral exploration, and evaluation of REE potential in these areas. Focus areas were defined using existing geologic data on known REE deposits in the U.S. The focus areas are provided as geospatial data supported by tables that summarize what is known about the REE potential and brief descriptions of data gaps that could be addressed by the Earth MRI program. A full discussion of Earth MRI and the rationale and methods used to develop the geospatial data are provided in the following report: Hammarstrom, J.H., and Dicken, C.L., 2019, Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals -- Rare earth elements, chap. A of U.S. Geological Survey, Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2019-1023, 11 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191023A.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Title | GIS and Data Tables for Focus Areas for Potential Domestic Nonfuel Sources of Rare Earth Elements |
| DOI | 10.5066/P95CHIL0 |
| Authors | Connie Dicken, John D Horton, Carma A San Juan, Allen K Andersen, Robert A Ayuso, Carleton Bern, X A Bookstrom, Dwight C Bradley, Mark W Bultman, Mark W Carter, Pamela M Cossette, Warren C Day, Benjamin J Drenth, Poul Emsbo, Nora K Foley, Thomas P Frost, Mark E Gettings, Jane M Hammarstrom, Timothy S Hayes, Albert H Hofstra, Bernard E Hubbard, David A John, James V Jones, Douglas C Kreiner, Karen Lund, Anne E McCafferty, Arthur J Merschat, David A Ponce, Klaus J Schulz, Anjana K Shah, Drew L Siler, Ryan D Taylor, Peter Vikre, Gregory J Walsh, Laurel G Woodruff, Lukas Zurcher |
| Product Type | Data Release |
| Record Source | USGS Digital Object Identifier Catalog |
| USGS Organization | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center |
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Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals—Rare earth elements
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Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals—Rare earth elements
Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical mineral commodities for the United States. In response to a need for information on potential domestic sources of REEs in mineral deposits, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) identified broad focus areas throughout the conterminous United States and Alaska as a guide for selecting new geoscience research areas. This study was done to support the USGS Earth Ma - Connect
Poul Emsbo
Research GeologistEmailPhoneBenjamin J Drenth, Ph.D.
Research GeophysicistEmailPhoneAnjana K Shah
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Research GeologistEmailPhoneWarren C Day, Ph.D.
Earth MRI Science Coordinator / Research GeologistScience CoordinatorEmailPhoneAlbert H Hofstra
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Scientist EmeritusEmailPhoneLukas Zurcher, PhD
Deputy Center Director - Research GeologistEmailPhonePeter Vikre
Research GeologistEmailPhoneAllen Andersen, PhD
Research GeologistEmailPhoneDavid Ponce
Research GeophysicistEmailPhoneBernard E. Hubbard
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