Critical Minerals in Orogenic (Gold) and Coeur d’Alene-Type Mineral Systems of the United States
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Abstract
Orogenic and Coeur d’Alene-type mineral systems are produced by metamorphic devolatilization of thick volcanic or siliciclastic sedimentary rock sequences and the focused flow of hydrothermal fluids upwards along crustal-scale faults. Most orogenic systems are found along the Cordilleran orogen, stretching from California northwards into Alaska, whereas most Coeur d’Alene-type systems occur in the Proterozoic Belt Basin in Idaho and Montana. Although the deposit types in these systems are exploited for precious and base metals, potential exists for the production of critical minerals necessary for current (2025) societal needs in the United States. Publicly available geochemical data compiled for these mineral systems, coupled with mineralogical characteristics, indicate that several critical minerals could potentially be recovered from unmined resources and processed mine waste: arsenic, antimony, tellurium, cobalt, and tungsten from orogenic gold deposits and zinc, antimony, arsenic, and manganese from Coeur d’Alene-type systems. These critical minerals reside primarily in arsenopyrite (arsenic), scheelite (tungsten), siderite (manganese), sphalerite (zinc), tetrahedrite (antimony and arsenic), stibnite (antimony), and telluride (tellurium) minerals.
Suggested Citation
Taylor, R.D., and Hofstra, A.H., 2025, Critical minerals in orogenic (gold) and Coeur d’Alene-type mineral systems of the United States: U.S. Geological Survey Data Report 1198, 47 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/dr1198.
ISSN: 2771-9448 (online)
Study Area
Table of Contents
- Abstract
- Introduction
- Purpose and Scope
- Background—Mineral Systems and Ore Deposits
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion—Potential Recovery of Critical Minerals
- Conclusions
- References Cited
- Appendix 1. Descriptions for Coeur d’Alene-Type and Orogenic Gold Ore Samples Used in this Study
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | USGS Numbered Series |
| Title | Critical minerals in orogenic (gold) and Coeur d’Alene-type mineral systems of the United States |
| Series title | Data Report |
| Series number | 1198 |
| DOI | 10.3133/dr1198 |
| Publication Date | May 30, 2025 |
| Year Published | 2025 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Publisher location | Reston VA |
| Contributing office(s) | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center |
| Description | Report: v, 47 p.; Data Release |
| Country | United States |
| Other Geospatial | continental United States |
| Online Only (Y/N) | Y |