Priority 2: characterization of selected mine tailings for critical mineral potential in virginia.priority 3: attend the 2025 earth MRI workshopproject period: 9 15 2025 through 9 14 2027AWARD…

The Virginia Department of Energy received a $346,519.91 cooperative agreement award from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Office of Acquisitions and Grants under the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (CFDA 15.073) effective September 15, 2025, through September 14, 2027. Under this agreement, the Department will characterize mine tailings at four selected Virginia mine sites (two active and two inactive) to assess their potential as sources of critical minerals, including rare earth elements, manganese, titanium, and chromium. The project directly supports national efforts to secure domestic critical mineral supplies by identifying and quantifying critical elements and mineral phases through analysis of the physical and chemical properties of tailings at these locations.

The Department will deliver a publicly available geochemical and mineralogical dataset and a comprehensive final report containing physical characteristics, volume estimates, mineralogical and chemical compositions, and resource estimates for critical minerals. Additional deliverables include field notes, drilling data, geospatial information, and a digital archive of all collected field and laboratory data. The project results will benefit primary stakeholders including the Virginia Department of Energy, USGS Earth MRI Program, mining companies exploring tailings reprocessing opportunities, geoscientists, and state geological surveys compiling resource inventories. The Department will also participate in the 2025 Earth MRI Workshop to coordinate project goals, findings, and partnerships with the broader research community.

Activities

To characterize the physical and chemical properties of mine tailings at two active and two inactive mine sites. To identify and quantify critical elements and mineral phases of interest, including rare earth elements (rees), manganese (MN), titanium (TI), and chromium (CR). To contribute a comprehensive dataset and analysis to the USGS earth MRI program and public stakeholders. To attend the earth MRI 2025 workshop to coordinate project goals, findings, and partnerships.deliverables and expected outcomes: a publicly available geochemical and mineralogical dataset. A comprehensive final report detailing: physical characteristics and volume estimates of tailings. Mineralogical and chemical compositions. Resource estimates for critical minerals. Field notes, drilling data, and supporting geospatial information digital archive of all collected field data and lab results.

Intended beneficiaries

Primary stakeholders: virginia department of energy, USGS earth MRI program mining companies exploring tailings reprocessing opportunities. Geoscientists studying the formation of critical minerals. State geological surveys compiling resource inventories.

Subrecipient activities

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