Geochemical reconnaissance of alunite deposits in southwest utahproject period: july 1, 2024 to june 30, 2027 (3 years)project purpose: alunite is an important potential source of both aluminum (AL)…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (CFDA #15.073) provides $366,664.35 to the Utah Geological Survey (UGS) to conduct geochemical reconnaissance and mapping of alunite deposits in southwest Utah. The project aims to better define the geochemistry, grade, and extent of the alunite deposits as a potential aluminum and critical mineral resource, including the potential to expand upon the nearby Blawn Mountain alunite deposit. UGS will collect 400-500 samples, map the deposit extents, and describe the geology, with the resulting data and summary report to be made publicly available. This work supports the USGS Earth MRI program's objectives of improving domestic geological frameworks and critical mineral resource identification across the United States.

Activities

The utah geological survey proposes to collect 400 to 500 samples andmap the extents of the alunite deposits within the proposed project area. The utah geological survey willalso map important geologic structures that may be associated with the deposits. Detailed descriptions ofthe deposits will also be completed.deliverables and expected outcomes: a database of geochemistry from the samples collected and asummary report describing the alunite deposits will be available to the public. The summary report willinclude maps showing the extent of the deposits as well as any other useful data generated from theproject. These deliverables will be downloadable by the public on the utah geological survey website.

Intended beneficiaries

The resulting data from this project will be useful to industry (e.g., mining andexploration companies), government agencies (e.g., the U.S. Bureau of land management, the utahschool and institutional trust lands administration), academia, and the public.

Subrecipient activities

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