Priority 2: mine waste characterization of old lead belt district chat piles- bonne terre, national, and rivermines sitesproject period: 9 1 2024 through 8 31 2026AWARD purpose: the missouri…

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) under the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (CFDA 15.073) provides $211,463 to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MODNR) to investigate mine waste characterization in the Old Lead Belt District of Missouri. Over the 2-year project period from September 2024 to August 2026, MODNR will conduct field work and sampling of chat piles at the Bonne Terre, National, and Rivermines sites to determine the critical mineral potential of these mine waste sites. The project will produce geospatial data, geochemical analysis, and a final interpretative report that will be made publicly available. Additionally, MODNR will send two staff members to a workshop hosted by USGS in Reston, VA in October 2024 to gain knowledge on planning future Earth MRI projects in Missouri. This award supports USGS's broader initiative to map and assess critical mineral resources across the United States through collaborative research with state geological surveys and other partners.

Activities

The missouri geological survey (MGS) plans to conduct mine waste characterization of the DOE run company chat piles at bonne terre, national, and rivermines sites in the mississippi valley-type old lead belt subdistrict. Field work and sampling is planned for a two-year time frame and will be supported by sampling protocols and guidance provided by USGS. Samples will be sent to USGS for detailed geochemical analysis. Work will be completed in FY26. In addition, MGS will send 2 staff members to the planned in-person workshop in reston, VA in october 2024. The workshop is crucial to all current and future earth MRI related projects in missouri.deliverables and outcomes: deliverables for this priority will include all relevant geospatial data collected at site characterization, geochemical data from field work at the site, and a final interpretative report with details on methods, data used, and site descriptions upon completion of the project. Field maps and notebooks will be archived upon completion. Data from the project will be made available to the public.

Intended beneficiaries

Government, academic, and industry geologists will have greater access to geochemistry data collected in the piles, as will other government and planning entities. By attending the workshop, MGS will gain knowledge on how to plan for future earth MRI projects in the state.subrecipients: there are no subrecipients associated with this project.