On a Unified Core Characterization Methodology to Support the Systematic Assessment of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals Bearing Unconventional Carbon Ores and Sedimentary Strata
A significant gap exists in our understanding and ability to predict the spatial occurrence and extent of rare earth elements (REE) and certain critical minerals (CM) in sedimentary strata. This is largely due to a lack of existing, systematic, and well-distributed REE and CM samples and analyses in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/9/1159 |
| _version_ | 1797484433858625536 |
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| author | Scott N. Montross Davin Bagdonas Thomas Paronish Andrew Bean Andrew Gordon C. Gabriel Creason Burt Thomas Erin Phillips James Britton Scott Quillian Kelly Rose |
| author_facet | Scott N. Montross Davin Bagdonas Thomas Paronish Andrew Bean Andrew Gordon C. Gabriel Creason Burt Thomas Erin Phillips James Britton Scott Quillian Kelly Rose |
| author_sort | Scott N. Montross |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | A significant gap exists in our understanding and ability to predict the spatial occurrence and extent of rare earth elements (REE) and certain critical minerals (CM) in sedimentary strata. This is largely due to a lack of existing, systematic, and well-distributed REE and CM samples and analyses in United States sedimentary basins. In addition, the type of sampling and characterization performed to date has generally lacked the resolution and approach required to constrain geologic and geographic heterogeneities typical of subsurface, mineral resources. Here, we describe a robust and systematic method for collecting core scale characterization data that can be applied to studies on the contextual and spatial attributes, the geologic history, and lithostratigraphy of sedimentary basins. The methods were developed using drilled cores from coal bearing sedimentary strata in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming (PRB). The goal of this effort is to create a unified core characterization methodology to guide systematic collection of key data to achieve a foundation of spatially and geologically constrained REEs and CMs. This guidance covers a range of measurement types and methods that are each useful either individually or in combination to support characterization and delineation of REE and CM occurrences. The methods herein, whether used in part or in full, establish a framework to guide consistent acquisition of geological, geochemical, and geospatial datasets that are key to assessing and validating REE and CM occurrences from geologic sources to support future exploration, assessment, and techno-economic related models and analyses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:04:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ac9e4efe976f49299333b25a0d0c9451 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:04:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-ac9e4efe976f49299333b25a0d0c94512023-11-23T17:56:29ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2022-09-01129115910.3390/min12091159On a Unified Core Characterization Methodology to Support the Systematic Assessment of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals Bearing Unconventional Carbon Ores and Sedimentary StrataScott N. Montross0Davin Bagdonas1Thomas Paronish2Andrew Bean3Andrew Gordon4C. Gabriel Creason5Burt Thomas6Erin Phillips7James Britton8Scott Quillian9Kelly Rose10National Energy Technology Laboratory, Albany, OR 97321, USACenter for Economic Geology Research, School of Energy Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USANational Energy Technology Laboratory, Morgantown, WV 26505, USANational Energy Technology Laboratory, Albany, OR 97321, USANational Energy Technology Laboratory, Albany, OR 97321, USANational Energy Technology Laboratory, Albany, OR 97321, USANational Energy Technology Laboratory, Albany, OR 97321, USACenter for Economic Geology Research, School of Energy Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USAWest Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, Morgantown, WV 26508, USACenter for Economic Geology Research, School of Energy Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071, USANational Energy Technology Laboratory, Albany, OR 97321, USAA significant gap exists in our understanding and ability to predict the spatial occurrence and extent of rare earth elements (REE) and certain critical minerals (CM) in sedimentary strata. This is largely due to a lack of existing, systematic, and well-distributed REE and CM samples and analyses in United States sedimentary basins. In addition, the type of sampling and characterization performed to date has generally lacked the resolution and approach required to constrain geologic and geographic heterogeneities typical of subsurface, mineral resources. Here, we describe a robust and systematic method for collecting core scale characterization data that can be applied to studies on the contextual and spatial attributes, the geologic history, and lithostratigraphy of sedimentary basins. The methods were developed using drilled cores from coal bearing sedimentary strata in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming (PRB). The goal of this effort is to create a unified core characterization methodology to guide systematic collection of key data to achieve a foundation of spatially and geologically constrained REEs and CMs. This guidance covers a range of measurement types and methods that are each useful either individually or in combination to support characterization and delineation of REE and CM occurrences. The methods herein, whether used in part or in full, establish a framework to guide consistent acquisition of geological, geochemical, and geospatial datasets that are key to assessing and validating REE and CM occurrences from geologic sources to support future exploration, assessment, and techno-economic related models and analyses.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/9/1159rare earth elementscore characterizationcritical mineralscoalsedimentary rockgeochemical analysis |
| spellingShingle | Scott N. Montross Davin Bagdonas Thomas Paronish Andrew Bean Andrew Gordon C. Gabriel Creason Burt Thomas Erin Phillips James Britton Scott Quillian Kelly Rose On a Unified Core Characterization Methodology to Support the Systematic Assessment of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals Bearing Unconventional Carbon Ores and Sedimentary Strata Minerals rare earth elements core characterization critical minerals coal sedimentary rock geochemical analysis |
| title | On a Unified Core Characterization Methodology to Support the Systematic Assessment of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals Bearing Unconventional Carbon Ores and Sedimentary Strata |
| title_full | On a Unified Core Characterization Methodology to Support the Systematic Assessment of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals Bearing Unconventional Carbon Ores and Sedimentary Strata |
| title_fullStr | On a Unified Core Characterization Methodology to Support the Systematic Assessment of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals Bearing Unconventional Carbon Ores and Sedimentary Strata |
| title_full_unstemmed | On a Unified Core Characterization Methodology to Support the Systematic Assessment of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals Bearing Unconventional Carbon Ores and Sedimentary Strata |
| title_short | On a Unified Core Characterization Methodology to Support the Systematic Assessment of Rare Earth Elements and Critical Minerals Bearing Unconventional Carbon Ores and Sedimentary Strata |
| title_sort | on a unified core characterization methodology to support the systematic assessment of rare earth elements and critical minerals bearing unconventional carbon ores and sedimentary strata |
| topic | rare earth elements core characterization critical minerals coal sedimentary rock geochemical analysis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/9/1159 |
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