USE OF 1970S NURE DATA TO GAIN INSIGHTS INTO CRITICAL MINERAL RESOURCES

Wood, coal, oil, gas, hydroelectric, nuclear, wind, solar – civilization has always depended on energy sources that evolve over time. Coal, oil, and gas have been the primary source of energy for hundreds of years, and resources are probably adequate for some time, but are finite and will be depleted. Exploitation of hydrocarbons has been indicted for undesirable environmental changes.

Nuclear power became available by the 1960s, and in the 1970s nuclear appeared to offer the best source of abundant, cheap, clean, and safe electrical energy. Unfortunately, a general mistrust of atomic energy and several accidents led to a decades-long decline in the use of nuclear power.

A number of governments sponsored regional geochemical surveys during the 1970s. The National Uranium Resource Evaluation (NURE) Program in the U.S. included geochemical, radiometric, and other exploratory studies. Geochemical sampling and analysis of soils, waters, and stream sediments was accomplished by Department of Energy laboratories, and today the U.S. Geological Survey maintains the data online (e.g. https://mrdata.usgs.gov/nure/sediment/) and also stores original sampling maps and sample splits.

Most samples were chemically analyzed by neutron activation methods. In addition to U and Th, this method provided data for elements now known to be critical for efficient production and use of electric energy. For example, data exist for Sm and Nd used for magnets, and for Co, which is important for Li batteries. A supplemental study of heavy mineral separates from selected areas revealed the presence of monazite with percent levels of Nd and Sm.

The existing NURE dataset is not “clean.” Considerable effort will be required before the data can be used for detailed analysis (e.g., see https://www.tableau.com/learn/articles/what-is-data-cleaning). After appropriate “cleaning”, we suggest that these data have great potential in exploration for domestic sources of energy-critical metals today.