Project title geochemistry of critical minerals in mine wastes in new mexicoperiod of performance 9 1 2022 through 8 31 2024THERE are tens of thousands of inactive or abandoned mine features in 274…

Project title geochemistry of critical minerals in mine wastes in new mexicoperiod of performance 9 1 2022 through 8 31 2024THERE are tens of thousands of inactive or abandoned mine features in 274 mining districts in new mexico NM including coal, uranium, metals, and industrial minerals districts however, many of these mines have not been inventoried or prioritized for reclamation many of these mines have existing mine wastes, generated during mineral production, which could have potential for critical minerals, especially since the actual mineral production was generally for precious and base metals and not critical minerals the purpose of this project is to 1 characterize and estimate the critical mineral endowment of mine wastes in three mining districts in NM copper flat at hillsboro, black hawk in burro mountains, and carlisle center mines in steeple rock district and 2 beta test USGS procedures and provide informal feedback after contacting land owners, nmbgmr staff will troubleshoot USGS procedures by sampling and characterizing the mine features in the three districts deliverables include a map with locations and tonnages including densities of mines and waste materials, revised USGS sops, sampling field sheets, chemical database with metadata and other information, report on characterization of mine wastes chemistry, mineralogy, physical, microbial , progress reports every 6 months, archive all solid samples, detailed methodology, and publishing of a final peer reviewed technical report by nmbgmr open file or bulletin this project is important to the state of NM because critical mineral resources must be identified before land exchanges, withdrawals or other land use decisions are made by government officials future mining of mine wastes that potentially contain critical minerals will directly benefit the economy of NM possible RE mining of mine wastes could clean up these sites and pay for reclamation furthermore, this project will include training of younger, professional geologists and students in economic and reclamation geology by the PIS