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 Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI).
Focus areas are identified in four regions of the United States (Alaska, West, Central, and East) by mineral deposit type. The areas are described in a companion USGS data release that consists of a map in a geographic information system and accompanying tables that document the rationale for each focus area (C.L. Dicken and others, 2019, https://doi.org/10.5066/P95CHIL0). This open-file report describes the methodology that was used to identify focus areas and determine new data acquisition needs. Deposit types that are likely to be of interest for future exploration and development of domestic nonfuel REE resources include deposits associated with carbonatites and peralkaline rocks, iron oxide-apatite deposits, monazite-bearing placers, and REE-enriched phosphorites.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Title | Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals—Rare earth elements |
| DOI | 10.3133/ofr20191023A |
| Authors | Jane M. Hammarstrom, Connie L. Dicken |
| Publication Type | Report |
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Series Title | Open-File Report |
| Series Number | 2019-1023 |
| Index ID | ofr20191023A |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center |
Related Content
GIS and Data Tables for Focus Areas for Potential Domestic Nonfuel Sources of Rare Earth Elements
Related Content
- Data
GIS and Data Tables for Focus Areas for Potential Domestic Nonfuel Sources of Rare Earth Elements
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 Mappi - Connect