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Focus Areas for Data Acquisition for Potential Domestic Sources of Critical Minerals—Rare Earth Elements

Open-File Report 2019-1023-A
By:  and 
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191023A

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  • Document: Report (1.65 MB pdf)
  • Chapters:
    • Open-File Report 2019-1023-B - Focus Areas for Data Acquisition for Potential Domestic Resources of 11 Critical Minerals in the Conterminous United States, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico—Aluminum, Cobalt, Graphite, Lithium, Niobium, Platinum-Group Elements, Rare Earth Elements, Tantalum, Tin, Titanium, and Tungsten
    • Open-File Report 2019-1023-C - Focus Areas for Data Acquisition for Potential Domestic Resources of 11 Critical Minerals in Alaska—Aluminum, Cobalt, Graphite, Lithium, Niobium, Platinum Group Elements, Rare Earth Elements, Tantalum, Tin, Titanium, and Tungsten
    • Open-File Report 2019-1023-D - Focus Areas for Data Acquisition for Potential Domestic Resources of 13 Critical Minerals in the Conterminous United States and Puerto Rico—Antimony, Barite, Beryllium, Chromium, Fluorspar, Hafnium, Helium, Magnesium, Manganese, Potash, Uranium, Vanadium, and Zirconium
    • Open-File Report 2019-1023-E - Alaska Focus Area Definition for Data Acquisition for Potential Domestic Sources of Critical Minerals in Alaska for Antimony, Barite, Beryllium, Chromium, Fluorspar, Hafnium, Magnesium, Manganese, Uranium, Vanadium, and Zirconium
  • Related Work: Fact Sheet 2019–3007 - The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI): Mapping the Nation’s Critical Mineral Resources
  • Data Release: USGS data release
  • Version History: Version History (2.97 KB txt)
  • Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core

Abstract

Rare earth elements (REEs) are critical mineral commodities for the United States. In response to a need for information on potential domestic sources of REEs in mineral deposits, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) identified broad focus areas throughout the conterminous United States and Alaska as a guide for selecting new geoscience research areas. This study was done to support the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI).

Focus areas are identified in four regions of the United States (Alaska, West, Central, and East) by mineral deposit type. The areas are described in a companion USGS data release that consists of a map in a geographic information system and accompanying tables that document the rationale for each focus area (C.L. Dicken and others, 2019, https://doi.org/10.5066/P95CHIL0). This open-file report describes the methodology that was used to identify focus areas and determine new data acquisition needs. Deposit types that are likely to be of interest for future exploration and development of domestic nonfuel REE resources include deposits associated with carbonatites and peralkaline rocks, iron oxide-apatite deposits, monazite-bearing placers, and REE-enriched phosphorites.

Suggested Citation

Hammarstrom, J.H., and Dicken, C.L., 2019, Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals—Rare earth elements (ver. 1.1, July 2022), chap. A of U.S. Geological Survey, Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2019–1023, 11 p, https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20191023A.

ISSN: 2331-1258 (online)

Study Area

Table of Contents

  • Preface
  • Abstract
  • Introduction
  • Geologic Framework for REE Focus Areas
  • Data Sources
  • Methods
  • Discussion
  • Priority Data Needs
  • Acknowledgments
  • References Cited
Publication type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Title Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals—Rare earth elements
Series title Open-File Report
Series number 2019-1023
Chapter A
DOI 10.3133/ofr20191023A
Edition Version 1.0: March 2019; Version 1.1: July 2022
Year Published 2019
Language English
Publisher U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location Reston, VA
Contributing office(s) Eastern Mineral and Environmental Resources Science Center
Description Report: vi, 11 p.; Data Release
Country United States
Online Only (Y/N) Y
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details