Robert R. Seal
Robert (Bob) Seal is a Research Geologist with the USGS Geology, Energy & Minerals (GEM) Science Center in Reston, VA.
Science and Products
Geochemical characterization, acid neutralization potential, and phosphate removal capacity of modern and legacy iron and steel slag from the Chicago-Gary area of Illinois and Indiana, USA
Estimates of mineral abundances based on Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data from mill tailings and other ore processing materials
Chemistry, morphology, modal mineralogy, and photomicrographs of amphiboles and other minerals in the Ironwood Iron-Formation, Gogebic Iron Range, Wisconsin, USA
Oxide and Cation Compositions of Olivine Grains from Drill Core in the Duluth Complex, Minnesota
Oxide and Cation Compositions of Feldspar Grains from Drill Core of the Duluth Complex, Minnesota
Oxide and Cation Compositions of Pyroxene Grains from Drill Core of the Duluth Complex, Minnesota
Major, Minor, and Trace Element Compositions of Bulk Drill Core Samples from the Duluth Complex, Minnesota
Global Distribution of Selected Mines, Deposits, and Districts of Critical Minerals
USGS critical minerals review
Tellurium
Graphite
Beryllium
Barite (Barium)
Titanium
Zirconium and hafnium
Cobalt
Vanadium
Platinum-group elements
The platinum-group elements (PGEs)—platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium—are metals that have similar physical and chemical properties and tend to occur together in nature. PGEs are indispensable to many industrial applications but are mined in only a few places. The availability and accessibility of PGEs could be disrupted by economic, environmental, political, and social e
Antimony
Rare-earth elements
Science and Products
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Geochemical characterization, acid neutralization potential, and phosphate removal capacity of modern and legacy iron and steel slag from the Chicago-Gary area of Illinois and Indiana, USA
Steelmaking slag from near Chicago, USA, may be a viable option for treating phosphate-rich or acidic waters. Iron and steel slags from legacy and modern operations in the Chicago-Gary area of Illinois and Indiana, USA, are predominantly composed of Ca, Fe, and Si, with generally lesser amounts of Al, Mg, and Mn. Simulated weathering tests suggest that potentially deleterious elements such as Cr aEstimates of mineral abundances based on Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data from mill tailings and other ore processing materials
This worksheet displays the results of mineral abundance estimates based on Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses of mill tailings and other ore processing materials from worldwide localities. Data are also provided to show variation in mineral abundance estimates for subsplits in individual samples. Samples were analyzed using a PANalytical X'Pert Pro diffractometer using Cu radChemistry, morphology, modal mineralogy, and photomicrographs of amphiboles and other minerals in the Ironwood Iron-Formation, Gogebic Iron Range, Wisconsin, USA
The Ironwood Iron-Formation, part of the Gogebic Iron Range in Wisconsin, is a Paleoproterozoic Superior-type banded iron formation (BIF) with substantial iron resource potential. The development of a Mesoproterozoic contact metamorphic aureole related to the emplacement of the Mellen Intrusive Complex resulted in the production of a variety of silicate minerals in the western portion of the IronOxide and Cation Compositions of Olivine Grains from Drill Core in the Duluth Complex, Minnesota
The table contains oxide and cation compositions of olivine grains from drill core of the Duluth Complex, Minnesota. The oxides were determined by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and are reported in weight percent (wt%). The cations were calculated based on the oxide compositions and are reported in mole percent (mol%). Olivine is a magnesium iron orthosilicate mineral with the formula (Mg2+,Oxide and Cation Compositions of Feldspar Grains from Drill Core of the Duluth Complex, Minnesota
The table contains oxide and cation compositions of feldspar grains from drill core of the Duluth Complex. The oxides were determined by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and are are reported in weight percent (wt%). The cations were then calculated and are reported in mole percent (mol%). Feldspar grains are a group of rock-forming tectosilicate minerals with potassium (K), sodium (Na), and calOxide and Cation Compositions of Pyroxene Grains from Drill Core of the Duluth Complex, Minnesota
The table contains oxide and cation compositions of pyroxene grains from drill core in the Duluth Complex. The oxides were determined by electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) and are reported in weight percent (we%). The cations were calculated from the oxide concentrations and are reported in mole percent (mol%). Pyroxene minerals are a group of rock-forming inosilicate minerals with calcium (Ca),Major, Minor, and Trace Element Compositions of Bulk Drill Core Samples from the Duluth Complex, Minnesota
This table reports major, minor, and trace element compositions of bulk drill core samples from the Duluth Complex, Minnesota. Major elements were measured using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES); minor and trace elements were determined using ICP-AES, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), and hydriGlobal Distribution of Selected Mines, Deposits, and Districts of Critical Minerals
The point and polygon layers within this geodatabase present the global distribution of mineral resource features (deposits, mines, districts, mineral regions) for 22 minerals or mineral commodities considered critical to the economy and security of the United States as of 2017. These data accompany the report by Schulz and others (2017) which provides national and global information on antimony ( - Publications
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USGS critical minerals review
The United States’ supply of critical minerals has been a concern and a source of potential strategic vulnerabilities for U.S. economic and national security interests for decades (for example, see Strategic and Critical Minerals Stockpiling Act, 1939). More recently, with the rapid increase in the types of materials being used in advanced technologies (Fortier et al. 2018a), and geopolitical evenAuthorsSteven M. Fortier, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Sarah J. Ryker, Warren C. Day, Robert R. SealTellurium
Tellurium (Te) is a very rare element that averages only 3 parts per billion in Earth’s upper crust. It shows a close association with gold and may be present in orebodies of most gold deposit types at levels of tens to hundreds of parts per million. In large-tonnage mineral deposits, such as porphyry copper and seafloor volcanogenic massive sulfide deposits, sulfide minerals may contain hundredsAuthorsRichard J. Goldfarb, Byron R. Berger, Micheal W. George, Robert R. SealGraphite
Graphite is a form of pure carbon that normally occurs as black crystal flakes and masses. It has important properties, such as chemical inertness, thermal stability, high electrical conductivity, and lubricity (slipperiness) that make it suitable for many industrial applications, including electronics, lubricants, metallurgy, and steelmaking. For some of these uses, no suitable substitutes are avAuthorsGilpin R. Robinson, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Donald W. OlsonBeryllium
Beryllium is a mineral commodity that is used in a variety of industries to make products that are essential for the smooth functioning of a modern society. Two minerals, bertrandite (which is supplied domestically) and beryl (which is currently supplied solely by imports), are necessary to ensure a stable supply of high-purity beryllium metal, alloys, and metal-matrix composites and beryllium oxiAuthorsNora K. Foley, Brian W. Jaskula, Nadine M. Piatak, Ruth F. SchulteBarite (Barium)
Barite (barium sulfate, BaSO4) is vital to the oil and gas industry because it is a key constituent of the mud used to drill oil and gas wells. Elemental barium is an additive in optical glass, ceramic glazes, and other products. Within the United States, barite is produced mainly from mines in Nevada. Imports in 2011 (the latest year for which complete data were available) accounted for 78 percenAuthorsCraig A. Johnson, Nadine M. Piatak, M. Michael MillerTitanium
Titanium is a mineral commodity that is essential to the smooth functioning of modern industrial economies. Most of the titanium produced is refined into titanium dioxide, which has a high refractive index and is thus able to impart a durable white color to paint, paper, plastic, rubber, and wallboard. Because of their high strength-to-weight ratio and corrosion resistance, titanium metal and titaAuthorsLaurel G. Woodruff, George M. Bedinger, Nadine M. PiatakZirconium and hafnium
Zirconium and hafnium are corrosion-resistant metals that are widely used in the chemical and nuclear industries. Most zirconium is consumed in the form of the main ore mineral zircon (ZrSiO4, or as zirconium oxide or other zirconium chemicals. Zirconium and hafnium are both refractory lithophile elements that have nearly identical charge, ionic radii, and ionic potentials. As a result, their geocAuthorsJames V. Jones, Nadine M. Piatak, George M. BedingerCobalt
Cobalt is a silvery gray metal that has diverse uses based on certain key properties, including ferromagnetism, hardness and wear-resistance when alloyed with other metals, low thermal and electrical conductivity, high melting point, multiple valences, and production of intense blue colors when combined with silica. Cobalt is used mostly in cathodes in rechargeable batteries and in superalloys forAuthorsJohn F. Slack, Bryn E. Kimball, Kim B. SheddVanadium
Vanadium is used primarily in the production of steel alloys; as a catalyst for the chemical industry; in the making of ceramics, glasses, and pigments; and in vanadium redox-flow batteries (VRBs) for large-scale storage of electricity. World vanadium resources in 2012 were estimated to be 63 million metric tons, which include about 14 million metric tons of reserves. The majority of the vanadiumAuthorsKaren D. Kelley, Clint Scott, Désirée E. Polyak, Bryn E. KimballPlatinum-group elements
The platinum-group elements (PGEs)—platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, iridium, and osmium—are metals that have similar physical and chemical properties and tend to occur together in nature. PGEs are indispensable to many industrial applications but are mined in only a few places. The availability and accessibility of PGEs could be disrupted by economic, environmental, political, and social e
AuthorsMichael L. Zientek, Patricia J. Loferski, Heather L. Parks, Ruth F. Schulte, Robert R. SealAntimony
Antimony is an important mineral commodity used widely in modern industrialized societies. The element imparts strength, hardness, and corrosion resistance to alloys that are used in many areas of industry, including in lead-acid storage batteries. Antimony’s leading use is as a fire retardant in safety equipment and in household goods, such as mattresses. The U.S. Government has considered antimoAuthorsRobert R. Seal, Klaus J. Schulz, John H. DeYoung,, David M. Sutphin, Lawrence J. Drew, James F. Carlin, Byron R. BergerRare-earth elements
The rare-earth elements (REEs) are 15 elements that range in atomic number from 57 (lanthanum) to 71 (lutetium); they are commonly referred to as the “lanthanides.” Yttrium (atomic number 39) is also commonly regarded as an REE because it shares chemical and physical similarities and has affinities with the lanthanides. Although REEs are not rare in terms of average crustal abundance, the concentrAuthorsBradley S. Van Gosen, Philip L. Verplanck, Robert R. Seal, Keith R. Long, Joseph Gambogi - News