CARBON ORE, RARE EARTH, AND CRITICAL MINERALS (CORE-CM) INITIATIVE WORKING GROUP BEST PRACTICES FOR UNCONVENTIONAL AND SECONDARY RESOURCE CHARACTERIZATION

The Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative for U.S. Basins is a Department of Energy effort aimed at catalyzing economic growth and job creation by developing more stable supplies of rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals and materials (CMMs). These include novel high-value, nonfuel, carbon-based products (CBPs) as part of our next generation of domestic U.S. materials. Research efforts are focused on unconventional and secondary feedstocks, such as coal and coal refuse, coal fly ash, acid mine drainage, oil and gas produced waters, and brines extracted as part of carbon sequestration efforts. These feedstocks are known to contain elevated concentrations of REEs and CMMs, potentially in economic quantities. Currently, 13 awardees positioned across the U.S. in traditionally coal-producing basins are working to assess and quantify their respective basin’s CMM resource potential. They are addressing the upstream and midstream CMMs supply chain and downstream manufacturing of high-value, nonfuel, CBPs through partnerships consisting of private industry; universities; state, local, and federal government personnel; and tribal governments. Additionally, the CORE-CM Initiative has formed three collaborative working groups, one of which is the characterization working group that focuses on the development of a best practices guidance document for the characterization of these unique feedstocks. This guide outlines methods for tasks such as field and waste sampling, various analytical techniques, resource estimation, and site ranking, among others. These efforts build foundational knowledge for current and future application to the development of domestic unconventional and secondary feedstocks, promoting the diversification and resiliency of U.S. CMM supply chains. Additionally, these feedstocks will provide critical contributions to meet the goal of a circular CMM economy.