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
John D Horton
Physical Scientist
Carma A San Juan
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Allen Andersen, PhD
Research Geologist
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Research Geologist
Art Bookstrom, PhD
Scientist Emeritus
Warren C Day, Ph.D.
Earth MRI Science Coordinator / Research Geologist
Science Coordinator
Benjamin J Drenth, Ph.D.
Research Geophysicist
Poul Emsbo
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Nora Foley
Research Geologist
Thomas P. Frost, Ph.D.
Scientist Emeritus
Mark Gettings, PhD
Scientist Emeritus
Albert H Hofstra
Research Geologist
Bernard E. Hubbard
Research Geologist
Jamey Jones
Associate Center Director for Geology
Karen Lund
Research Geologist
Anne E McCafferty
Research Geophysicist
David Ponce
Research Geophysicist
Anjana K Shah
Research Geophysicist
Lukas Zurcher, PhD
Deputy Center Director - Research Geologist
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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 MaAuthorsJane M. Hammarstrom, Connie L. Dicken - Connect
John D Horton
Physical ScientistEmailPhoneCarma A San Juan
Physical ScientistEmailPhoneAllen Andersen, PhD
Research GeologistEmailPhoneRobert Ayuso
Research GeologistEmailPhoneArt Bookstrom, PhD
Scientist EmeritusEmailPhoneWarren C Day, Ph.D.
Earth MRI Science Coordinator / Research GeologistScience CoordinatorEmailPhoneBenjamin J Drenth, Ph.D.
Research GeophysicistEmailPhonePoul Emsbo
Research GeologistEmailPhoneNora Foley
Research GeologistEmailPhoneThomas P. Frost, Ph.D.
Scientist EmeritusEmailPhoneMark Gettings, PhD
Scientist EmeritusEmailPhoneAlbert H Hofstra
Research GeologistEmailPhoneBernard E. Hubbard
Research GeologistEmailPhoneJamey Jones
Associate Center Director for GeologyEmailPhoneKaren Lund
Research GeologistEmailPhoneAnne E McCafferty
Research GeophysicistEmailPhoneDavid Ponce
Research GeophysicistEmailPhoneAnjana K Shah
Research GeophysicistEmailPhoneLukas Zurcher, PhD
Deputy Center Director - Research GeologistEmailPhone