Synergy between geology and geophysics in graphite mineral resource assessment

Patricia Grace Macqueen; George N.D. Case; Paul A. Bedrosian; Jane M. Hammarstrom; Susan M. Karl; Graham W. Lederer; Elizabeth M. Bollen; John Whitmore; Dane VanDervoort; Abraham M. Emond; Logan Fusso; Philip J. Brown; Gregory J. Walsh; Keith A. Labay; Martha Stokes; Andrew Arnold Stewart

Synergy between geology and geophysics in graphite mineral resource assessment

By: Patricia Grace Macqueen, George N.D. Case, Paul A. Bedrosian, Jane M. Hammarstrom, Susan M. Karl, Graham W. Lederer, Elizabeth M. Bollen, John Whitmore, Dane VanDervoort, Abraham M. Emond, Logan Fusso, Philip J. Brown, Gregory J. Walsh, Keith A. Labay, Martha Stokes, and Andrew Arnold Stewart

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Abstract

Graphite is designated as a critical mineral by the U.S. Government due to its essential role in modern technology and its vulnerability to supply chain disruption. To evaluate domestic graphite resources, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) conducted two airborne electromagnetic (AEM) surveys as part of the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) over prospective areas in the southern Appalachians of Alabama and the Seward Peninsula of Alaska. These surveys aimed to refine areas of interest by revealing subsurface electrical resistivity patterns indicative of graphite-bearing rocks. The results of the AEM surveys were integrated with existing geological knowledge and supplemented by field observations to assess the likelihood of undiscovered resources in these regions. This multidisciplinary approach combined geophysical techniques with traditional geological methods, enhancing the understanding of graphite potential in areas that may have been previously overlooked. The findings from this initiative are expected to contribute significantly to the ongoing efforts to secure a reliable domestic supply of graphite, thereby reducing import reliance and supporting national interests in mineral resource management.

Suggested Citation

Macqueen, P.G., Case, G.N., Bedrosian, P.A., Hammarstrom, J.M., Karl, S., Lederer, G.W., Bollen, E.M., Whitmore, J., VanDervoort, D., Emond, A.M., Fusso, L., Brown, P.J., Walsh, G., Labay, K.A., Stokes, M., Stewart, A., 2025, Synergy between geology and geophysics in graphite mineral resource assessment, 18th SGA Biennial Meeting, v. 3, Golden, CO, August 3-7, 2025, p. 1235-1238.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Conference Paper
Publication Subtype	Conference Paper
Title	Synergy between geology and geophysics in graphite mineral resource assessment
Volume	3
Year Published	2025
Language	English
Publisher	Society for Geology Applied to Mineral Deposits
Contributing office(s)	Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Description	4 p.
First page	1235
Last page	1238
Conference Title	18th SGA Biennial Meeting
Conference Location	Golden, CO
Conference Date	August 3-7, 2025