Hammarstrom and Dicken reported in 2019 that 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 (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.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is launching the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) in response to a need for information on potential domestic sources of many critical minerals (Day, 2019). This report describes the background data, sources, and methodology used to define broad areas within the United States as focus areas for future geoscience research efforts to search for potential sources of rare earth elements (REEs) in nonfuel deposit types.
The focus areas defined in this report were identified on the basis of existing data. Acquisition of new geologic mapping data, geophysical data, and (or) detailed topographic information within these areas would enable researchers to evaluate the REE potential of these areas and would provide data that could be used in mineral exploration. Focus areas include known REE deposits as well as areas that may have potential REE sources according to our understanding of the geologic characteristics of REE deposits.
A related USGS data release depicts focus areas on a map created from a geographic information system (GIS), provides data tables that summarize what is known about the REE potential of the focus areas, and contains brief descriptions of data gaps that could be filled by data collected through Earth MRI.
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