New mexico arizona borderlands CRD mapping and copper isotope mappingproject period: 02 18 2026 - 02 17 2029PURPOSETHE purpose of this proposed project is to (1) examine the metallogeny and…

The Department of the Interior US Geological Survey Office of Acquisitions and Grants awarded a $385,000 Cooperative Agreement to New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology on February 18, 2026, under the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (CFDA 15.073) to examine critical mineral potential and ore deposit relationships in southwestern New Mexico through geochemical and copper isotope mapping.

The recipient will collect samples from sediment-hosted massive sulfide (CRD) deposits and water samples for copper isotope analysis across districts already being sampled under four concurrent Earth MRI projects: Black Hawk Arsenide Five-Element Vein, Laramide Porphyry Copper Deposits, Mo-W Deposits, and Characterization of Mine Wastes. The geochemical datasets will be integrated with existing geochemical and geophysical data from these four projects to determine relationships between CRD, porphyry copper systems, and molybdenum-tungsten deposits. This work fulfills USGS Earth MRI mandate requirements to contribute to the USMIN National Critical Minerals Database and directly supports critical minerals resource assessment for mining companies and rural communities in the region.

Performance occurs in New Mexico from February 18, 2026, through February 17, 2029.

New mexico arizona borderlands CRD mapping and copper isotope mappingproject period: 02 18 2026 - 02 17 2029PURPOSETHE purpose of this proposed project is to (1) examine the metallogeny and relationshipof the CRD in southwestern new mexico with porphyry copper and MO-w deposits and (2)valuate a relatively new exploration technique, copper isotopes in water samples, as a regionalexploration tool to identify potential copper systems and other deposits in the subsurface. Wepropose to collect (1) samples from the CRD and (2) water samples for copper isotopes fromcrd and districts that the recipient are already sampling in four earth MRI projects in new mexico(black hawk arsenide five-element vein, laramide porphyry copper deposits, MO-w deposits, and characterization of mine wastes). These additional geochemical datasets will be integratedwith the geochemical data of mineralized and nonmineralized samples of these four projects (inprogress) and geophysical data (already flown and data published) to determine the relationshipof CRD with porphyry copper and MO-w deposits. This sampling effort is needed to complete the USGS earth MRI mandate and theusmin national critical minerals database in the united states, including new mexico. Severalmining companies working in these states are interested in understanding the potential for criticalminerals on their properties. Residents of several small communities in rural southwestern U.S.are especially concerned about the mineral resources near their communities and this project willaid in their understanding of these resources in these areas. These data will increase ourunderstanding of ORE formation, mineral-resource potential, production, consumption, disposal, and how minerals and mineral extraction interact with the environment. Activities to be performedthe recipient proposes to examine and sample prospective CRD deposits, mines, and occurrences insouthwest new mexico to determine the critical mineral potential (geochemistry) and samplewaters for copper isotopes. Solid samples will be submitted to USGS for chemical analyses andwater samples to vectores and nmbgmr for chemical analyses. The tasks are:define the sampling methods, using procedures described in mclemore ET AL. (2022),mclemore and owen (2024) and provided by the AMP and vectores.compile maps, available geochemical data for each area to be sampled.coordinate and monitor all project sample collection of up to 200 solid samples and 100WATER samples.construct a well-documented geochemical database of new and existing samples relevantto CRD study, following USGS provision of geochemical data.construct a well-documented geochemical database of copper isotopes in wells andmines from porphyry copper, MO-w, and CRD deposits in southwestern new mexico.write a published comprehensive summary report, including the associated geochemicaldatabase and geospatial map products that presents a regional assessment based on theresults.when possible, use portable XRF unit to provide semiquantitative analysis of all samplesprior to submittal to the USGS analytical laboratory for further geochemical analysis.DELIVERABLES1) geochemical database and accompanying geochemical data sets for the samples analyzed, including copper isotopes and water ANALYSES2) a summary technical report and supporting GIS mapsbeneficiariesstate and federal government decision makers, mining companies, the general public, residentsof several small communities in rural southwestern NM, nmbgmr aquifer mapping program(AMP aquifer mapping program (AMP))principle investigators virginia t. Mclemore (point of contact) and AMY trivitt (CO-PI)