The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is set to invest over $1.9 million to map critical mineral resources in Montana. This funding, a part of the President’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support the USGS Mineral Resources Program’s Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) and its efforts to enhance scientific innovation and map vital critical minerals.
The Earth MRI investment, which provides a total of $320 million over 5 years through the USGS, aims to advance our understanding of the Nation’s geology and improve knowledge of domestic critical mineral resources. The funding will enable traditional geologic mapping as well as cutting-edge airborne geophysical surveys in southwest Montana, specifically focusing on the Boulder Batholith and its surrounding areas.
Covering a vast area of more than 2,700 square miles, the geophysical survey led by the USGS will utilize the latest technological developments to develop high-resolution three-dimensional representations of geology up to depths of 3,280 feet below the surface. These 3D models and maps will provide valuable insights into the distribution of groundwater, mineral resources, and potential natural hazards. The data collected will be publicly available and used by the Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, as well as the USGS, to guide more detailed geologic mapping on a local scale.
The airborne geophysical surveys help pinpoint the areas where follow-up geologic mapping efforts will provide the most value, says Eric Anderson, a USGS research scientist leading the survey. The survey results cover wide areas and can identify anomalies that scientists can examine in the field, giving us a better idea of potential natural resources like critical minerals and groundwater, or even natural hazards like seismic faults.
The Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology will also conduct additional geologic mapping for critical mineral commodities within the surveyed area. These mapping efforts will further refine our understanding of the underlying geology in areas of interest. Additionally, data preservation efforts managed through the USGS National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program will make historical critical minerals information electronically available to the public.
The purpose of these projects is to create modern geologic and geophysical maps that enhance our understanding of the region’s geology and identify potential critical mineral resources. This region in Montana holds known and potential undiscovered critical mineral potential linked to rocks similar to those that host the world-class porphyry copper deposit in Butte, MT. Commodities such as arsenic, antimony, tellurium, bismuth, tin, gallium, tungsten, and other minerals are essential components in various products, from household appliances and electronics to electric vehicles and low-carbon energy technologies like batteries, wind turbines, and solar power generation.
These maps and datasets play a crucial role in numerous geoscience fields, informing infrastructure projects and improving our understanding of groundwater resources and earthquake hazards.
The Earth MRI program is a collaborative effort between the USGS and state geological surveys across the United States. Its goal is to modernize our understanding of the Nation’s geology and mineral resources. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law has accelerated mapping efforts in areas with potential for hosting critical mineral resources.
By investing in the mapping of critical mineral resources in Montana, the USGS is taking a significant step towards securing vital resources for the Nation’s supply chains, economy, and national defense. The knowledge gained from these mapping projects will not only benefit Montana but also contribute to our overall understanding of critical minerals across the United States.
With this funding, scientific innovation and geologic mapping will pave the way for a better understanding of our natural resources and their potential contributions to a sustainable and resilient future.
