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We lead the government in developing the List of Critical Minerals.
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Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
We lead the Nation’s geologic mapping and provide impartial scientific information on geologic resources and their supply chains. Our work includes leading the development of the List of Critical Minerals, assessing domestic and foreign energy and mineral resources, and mapping areas with resource potential.
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News
Media Alert: Low-level airplane and helicopter flights to resume scanning geology over southern, central New Mexico
Media Alert: Low-level airplane and helicopter flights to resume scanning geology over southern, central New Mexico
September is National Preparedness Month
September is National Preparedness Month
Utah and Navajo Nation Geologic Mapping Partnership
Utah and Navajo Nation Geologic Mapping Partnership
Publications
Effect of mineral deposit data on predictions from the three-part approach to quantitative mineral resource assessment—A study of 16 previous U.S. Geological Survey assessments Effect of mineral deposit data on predictions from the three-part approach to quantitative mineral resource assessment—A study of 16 previous U.S. Geological Survey assessments
The three-part approach to quantitative mineral resource assessment requires information about the properties of undiscovered mineral deposits in an assessment area. These properties are unknown, so the properties of discovered mineral deposits of the same mineral deposit type are used instead. In the three-part approach, these discovered mineral deposits come from around the world, and...
Exhumation history of the Sangre de Cristo Range, Colorado, from mid- to low-temperature thermochronology: New insights into Laramide contraction and Oligocene–Miocene extension in the northern Rio Grande rift, USA Exhumation history of the Sangre de Cristo Range, Colorado, from mid- to low-temperature thermochronology: New insights into Laramide contraction and Oligocene–Miocene extension in the northern Rio Grande rift, USA
The Sangre de Cristo Range in southern Colorado records a complex tectonic history that includes Late Cretaceous–Eocene Laramide contraction and Oligocene–Quaternary Rio Grande rift extension. We present new thermochronologic data (40Ar/39Ar, fission-track, (U-Th)/He) and thermal history models that provide insight into this polyphase history and spatiotemporal patterns of extensional...
Regional characterization of coal resources in the Gulf Coast Coal Region—In support of coal as a potential source for critical minerals and rare earth elements Regional characterization of coal resources in the Gulf Coast Coal Region—In support of coal as a potential source for critical minerals and rare earth elements
There is increasing interest in extracting critical minerals (CM), including rare earth elements (REE), from coals in the United States to address the overreliance on imported REE. The Gulf Coast and the Fort Union regions are the two major lignite-bearing regions within the United States. Recent REE and CM studies of the lignite in these regions have indicated that the coals may be a...