First Steps in Implementing Earth MRI
Active
By Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
June 19, 2019
The Earth MRI effort is focusing on those regions in the United States with potential for hosting critical mineral resources. Initial funding is directed at acquiring new data over areas with critical mineral deposit types, which if developed, could improve the Nation’s reliance on foreign mineral supplies. The proposed first steps are listed below:
- Forge cost-shared cooperative agreements between the USGS and State geological
surveys to fund the State surveys to conduct new geologic mapping and for data
preservation through the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program and
National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program, respectively. - Establish contracts with private industry to conduct geophysical and lidar surveys.
- Offer partnership opportunities for collecting lidar data under the USGS 3D Elevation
Program broad agency announcement. - In fiscal year (FY) 2019, focus new data collection on areas potentially containing rare
earth element-bearing mineral deposits. In FY20 and beyond, target new priority
critical mineral resources and identify new focus areas for integrated studies. - Initial a national-scale data inventory of geologic framework and mineral resource
data to define focus areas to guide future data collection efforts. - The next phase of the effort will target resources toward mineral deposit types that
contain critical minerals for which the United States has a high net import reliance,
those in which usage is increasing beyond foreseeable domestic production, and
where new geoscience data is highly likely to improve our knowledge of undiscovered
mineral resources. - Design and implement a digital geospatial platform to deliver the new data to the
public. This platform will allow the user to access the USGS’s authoritative
topographic, geologic, geophysical, geo- chemical, and mineral deposit information
within a single portal. - Collaborate with industry, State, and Tribal entities to identify their future science needs.
The Earth MRI effort is focusing on those regions in the United States with potential for hosting critical mineral resources. Initial funding is directed at acquiring new data over areas with critical mineral deposit types, which if developed, could improve the Nation’s reliance on foreign mineral supplies. The proposed first steps are listed below:
- Forge cost-shared cooperative agreements between the USGS and State geological
surveys to fund the State surveys to conduct new geologic mapping and for data
preservation through the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program and
National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program, respectively. - Establish contracts with private industry to conduct geophysical and lidar surveys.
- Offer partnership opportunities for collecting lidar data under the USGS 3D Elevation
Program broad agency announcement. - In fiscal year (FY) 2019, focus new data collection on areas potentially containing rare
earth element-bearing mineral deposits. In FY20 and beyond, target new priority
critical mineral resources and identify new focus areas for integrated studies. - Initial a national-scale data inventory of geologic framework and mineral resource
data to define focus areas to guide future data collection efforts. - The next phase of the effort will target resources toward mineral deposit types that
contain critical minerals for which the United States has a high net import reliance,
those in which usage is increasing beyond foreseeable domestic production, and
where new geoscience data is highly likely to improve our knowledge of undiscovered
mineral resources. - Design and implement a digital geospatial platform to deliver the new data to the
public. This platform will allow the user to access the USGS’s authoritative
topographic, geologic, geophysical, geo- chemical, and mineral deposit information
within a single portal. - Collaborate with industry, State, and Tribal entities to identify their future science needs.