Tolovana geologic mapping projectproject period: 03 01 2026 - 02 28 2029PURPOSETHIS project builds understanding of the united states potential to host yet-to-be-discovereddeposits of critical…

The U.S. Geological Survey awarded the Alaska Department of Natural Resources a cooperative agreement totaling $1.575 million on March 1, 2026, for the Tolovana Geologic Mapping Project under the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (CFDA 15.073).

The project will generate new geologic data to characterize mineral-rich terrain in Alaska's Yukon Tanana Upland region, specifically the Circle, Livengood, Fairbanks, Kantishna River, and Tanana quadrangles encompassing Livengood, Minto, and Manley Hot Springs. The work supports assessment of domestic critical mineral potential, including rare-earth elements, antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, graphite, indium, rhenium, selenium, tin, tellurium, tungsten, platinum-group elements, and conventional resources such as gold, silver, copper, and molybdenum. A team of twelve geologists from the Alaska Division of Geological & Geophysical Surveys and the University of Alaska will conduct field-based geologic mapping, describing, measuring, and sampling bedrock along traverses to fill gaps in geologic knowledge. Because most of the project area is roadless and inaccessible, helicopter support will enable much of the fieldwork. The team will produce a digital geologic map representing bedrock geology, faults, and rock layer orientations, along with published field data and geochemical analyses.

Performance runs from March 1, 2026, through February 28, 2029, with work performed in Alaska.

Tolovana geologic mapping projectproject period: 03 01 2026 - 02 28 2029PURPOSETHIS project builds understanding of the united states potential to host yet-to-be-discovereddeposits of critical minerals, through geologic mapping of selected areas with known potentialand limited available data. The project is part of the U.S. Geological surveys ongoing earthmapping resources initiative (earth MRI). The 2025 tolovana project area lies within theyukon tanana upland (YTU) region in the circle, livengood, fairbanks, kantishna river, andtanana quadrangles and encompasses livengood, minto, and manley hot springs.critical minerals are mineral commodities that are both critical to the U.S. Economy and nationalsecurity and have a supply chain vulnerable to disruption. As of 2022, the U.S. Geologicalsurvey lists 50 such commodities. The U.S. Geological survey has identified the YTU region ofalaska as prospective for rare-earth elements (REE), as well as many other critical minerals, including antimony, arsenic, bismuth, cobalt, graphite, indium, rhenium, selenium, tin, tellurium, tungsten, and the platinum-group elements. Conventional mineral resources include gold, silver, copper, and molybdenum.activities to be performedthis project will generate new geologic data to better describe and understand this mineral-richregion. Geologic mapping produces a digital representation of the areas bedrock geology, including rock types, faults, and the orientations of layered rocks. The geologic map of thetolovana project area will be created by a team of twelve geologists from the state of alaskadivision of geological geophysical surveys and the university of alaska. Because most ofthe area is roadless and inaccessible, much of the work will be supported by helicopter. Thegeological team will describe, measure, and sample bedrock, on foot, along traverses selected tofill gaps in geologic knowledge. In addition to the geologic map, the geologists will generate andpublish field notes and photos, microscope-based rock descriptions, laboratory analyses of rockchemical composition, and estimates of rock ages based on chemical isotopes.deliverablesdeliverables from this project will include a geologic map of the steese project area, includingan accompanying description of map units, correlation of map units diagram, and bedrock crosssections. The map, accompanying booklet, and supporting analytical data releases will bepublished through the alaska division of geological geophysical surveys publicationswebsite by the end of the project period.beneficiariesthe intended beneficiaries of this project include all parties with an interest in mineral resourcesand the bedrock geology of alaska. These data will be used in U.S. Geological survey mineralresource estimates, by mining companies seeking exploration opportunities, and by landmanagement agencies seeking to make informed management decisions. These data will also beuseful to scientific researchers working to understand the geology and geologic history ofalaska, and in cross-disciplinary scientific research where bedrock type may be a factor, forexample, ecology.