Conference Papers
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Formation of the Mount Weld rare earth deposit, Western Australia: Geochronology constraints Formation of the Mount Weld rare earth deposit, Western Australia: Geochronology constraints
Constraining the age of protracted chemical weathering in stable cratonic areas that may form thick regoliths and the potential enrichment of various elements is challenging. Economic deposits of aluminium, iron, copper, nickel, cobalt, niobium, and rare earth elements (REEs) form in this manner. Determining the age of formation can provide key information for exploration of similar...
Authors
Philip Verplanck, Cameron Mark Mercer, Jay Michael Thompson, Martin Danišík, Ganesh Bhat, Heather A. Lowers
Mine waste as a potential source of critical minerals and other commodities: Examples from the Four Corners states, USA Mine waste as a potential source of critical minerals and other commodities: Examples from the Four Corners states, USA
The growing demand for critical minerals and other mineral resources has raised concerns about possible supplies of these essential commodities. Mine waste is a potential source of these essential commodities. We compiled a geospatial database of publicly available data of the largest non-fuel mine waste features (>200,000 m2 in areal extent) in the Four Corners states of the United...
Authors
Jeffrey L. Mauk, Sean Patrick Gaynor, Nick Karl, Andrew Francis Smith
Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of the Bradley Peak komatiitic basalts, Wyoming Province Petrogenesis and mineralization potential of the Bradley Peak komatiitic basalts, Wyoming Province
The ca. 2.72 Ga Bradley Peak greenstone terrane in the Wyoming Province contains spinifex- and cumulate-textured komatiitic volcanic rocks that may host Ni-Cu-PGE sulfide mineralization. New whole rock geochemistry classifies these rocks as Al-undepleted komatiitic basalts derived from a parental melt with ~17 wt. % MgO. Isotopic data (Sm-Nd, Re-Os) and REE profiles suggest a plume...
Authors
Lisa Joanne Zieman, Michael Jenkins, Michael L. Zientek, Jacob Evan Poletti, Alan D. Rooney
Airborne radiometric data map alteration of porphyry copper systems in the Elkhorn district, MT Airborne radiometric data map alteration of porphyry copper systems in the Elkhorn district, MT
The Elkhorn district in southwestern Montana is known for past production of high-grade base and precious metals from skarn and carbonate replacement deposits. The district also hosts a porphyry Cu-Mo deposit. A radiometric survey flown over the district and surrounds provides maps of surficial concentrations of potassium, thorium, and uranium. Handheld gamma ray spectrometer...
Authors
Eric Anderson, Kaleb Scarberry, Kyle Eastman, Jonathan Andrew Funk, Benjamin Patrick Magnin, Joseph Clevenger, John Dilles, Jarred L. Zimmerman, Snir Attia, Michael Cosca
Tracing fluid evolution during batholith and deposit formation: In-situ and bulk rock Mo isotopes from the Questa porphyry Mo deposit, New Mexico, USA Tracing fluid evolution during batholith and deposit formation: In-situ and bulk rock Mo isotopes from the Questa porphyry Mo deposit, New Mexico, USA
The Oligocene Questa porphyry Mo deposit, located in New Mexico, USA, is a well-characterized system that formed over 400 kyr, punctuating the 8 Myr formation of the Questa-Latir batholith. Detailed sampling of the intrusions and minerals associated with magmatichydrothermal mineralization, as well as bookending barren intrusions, allows for examination of the Mo isotope record of the...
Authors
Sean Patrick Gaynor, Nicolas D. Greber, Qasid Ahmad, Pia Künzi, Ingo Horn, Stefan Weyer
From critical minerals to food security, the benefits of data collaboration From critical minerals to food security, the benefits of data collaboration
The volume of data in the public geoscience sphere is rapidly and continually expanding. At Geoscience Australia (GA) we saw an over 500% increase in data points within our relational databases between 2018 and 2024, over the life of the Exploring for the Future (EFTF) program. With the Resourcing Australia’s Prosperity initiative, a continued increase in data quantity will be seen for...
Authors
Steph G. Hawkins, K Waltenberg, Catherine A. Stuart, Evgeniy Bastrakov, George N.D. Case, Jagoda Crawford, Lian Flick, Geoff Fraser, Christoph Gerber, Garth E. Graham, Kristin Guerin, Albert H. Hofstra, Cath Hughes, David L. Huston, Chris J.M. Lawley, Nina Welti, Bronwen Wang, Aaron Sedgmen, Vladimir A. Lisistin, Paul Abhijit, Tim Stobaus, Axel Suckow
Avak Creek oil occurrence, North Slope, Alaska: Newly discovered oil seep on Native lands, near village of Utqiagvik Avak Creek oil occurrence, North Slope, Alaska: Newly discovered oil seep on Native lands, near village of Utqiagvik
An unknown occurrence of oil was detected near Avak Creek on Native lands on the North Slope of Alaska. Determining the source of oil was imperative for allowing stakeholders (Federal, State, and local government agencies and the landowner, an Alaska Native corporation) to make timely and informed decisions and mount a mitigation response, if required. The regional and local geological...
Authors
Palma J. Botterell, David W Houseknecht, Jody Brae Wycech, J. Mike Moldowan, Paul G. Lillis, Rebecca A. Smith, Kimberley Maher
Critical mineral inventory of select IOA-IOCG deposits, southwestern USA Critical mineral inventory of select IOA-IOCG deposits, southwestern USA
Critical minerals are necessary for modern technology and strategic purposes. Their increasing importance requires finding new and nontraditional resources. Samples of ore, altered, and unaltered host rock were collected from 26 iron mines and prospects in California, Nevada, and Utah to assess the potential of these deposits to host economic quantities of different critical minerals...
Authors
Ryan D. Taylor, Corey J. Meighan, Albert H. Hofstra
Airborne geophysics for geologic mapping of critical mineral systems in the United States southern midcontinent Airborne geophysics for geologic mapping of critical mineral systems in the United States southern midcontinent
The increased demand for clean energy technology and a significant reliance on foreign supply chains have given impetus to understanding critical mineral systems and locating potential resources within the United States. At least thirteen critical mineral-bearing systems have been identified throughout the U.S. southern Midcontinent (Hofstra and Kreiner, 2020) but much of the region’s...
Authors
Chelsea Morgan Amaral, Anne E. McCafferty, Dylan Mark Connell
Estimating the hypothetical endowment of critical minerals and other commodities in porphyry copper mine waste in the Four Corners states, USA Estimating the hypothetical endowment of critical minerals and other commodities in porphyry copper mine waste in the Four Corners states, USA
Society is fundamentally dependent upon commodities that are used in end-use products for the aerospace, defense, energy, telecommunication, and transportation sectors, resulting in centuries of mining to supply these commodities and materials. Waste from these mining operations can remain on the landscape indefinitely, but there is a lack of national understanding of the distribution...
Authors
Sean Patrick Gaynor, Nick Karl, Autumn Lynne Helfrich, Andrew Francis Smith, Jeffrey L. Mauk
Groundwater surveillance of swine pathogens from private wells supplying swine farms in Iowa Groundwater surveillance of swine pathogens from private wells supplying swine farms in Iowa
Biosecurity practices are essential for maintaining pig health and productivity. Despite these measures, pathogen spread still occurs. Water is one of the largest daily inputs on swine farms by volume and is not routinely tested or disinfected before it is consumed by the animals [1-3], making it a poorly understood biosecurity risk. Groundwater from privately-owned wells is a common...
Authors
Gabrielle Doughan, Becca Walthart, Michele Moncrief, Elise Snezek, Kristin Skoland, Aaron D. Firnstahl, Phillip Gauger, Justin Brown, J. L. Bonnema, Mark A. Borchardt, Joe Heffron, Joel P. Stokdyk, Tucker R. Burch, Locke Karriker
Assessing lunar rare earth element resources Assessing lunar rare earth element resources
Rare Earth Elements (REEs) are increasingly attracting attention globally due to their pivotal role in enhancing the performance of various hightech devices. Small amounts of these elements greatly improve the performance of materials, making magnets stronger, lenses clearer, lights brighter, batteries last longer, etc. Here we examine the notion that REEs from the Moon might compete...
Authors
Laszlo P. Keszthelyi, Lori M. Pigue, Kristen A. Bennett, Clive Neal, Joshua A. Coyan, Richard Elphic