Proposal title: evaporites in western oklahomaproject period: 03 01 2026 02 28 2029AWARD purpose:the oklahoma geological survey (OGS) proposes an earthmri-funded geochemical survey of the evaporite…

The U.S. Geological Survey awarded a cooperative agreement totaling $329,996 to the University of Oklahoma on March 1, 2026, to conduct a geochemical survey of evaporite deposits in western Oklahoma under the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (CFDA 15.073).

The University of Oklahoma, operating through its Office of Research Administration, will characterize the geochemical composition of salt, gypsum, and anhydrite deposits across western Oklahoma to assess their potential for critical mineral enrichment, particularly lithium, magnesium, and potash. The three-year project, running through February 28, 2029, will complete reconnaissance geochemical sampling of evaporites in the region and compile a geochemical database with geospatial maps. The deliverables will incorporate geochemical data from the USGS, sample images, in-house electron microprobe, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and portable X-ray fluorescence analyses. The sample set includes existing core specimens held in the Oklahoma Geological Survey's Oklahoma Petroleum Information Center Core Repository.

Work is performed in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative facilitates geologic and geochemical mapping activities and geophysical data collection to assess critical mineral potential nationwide, authorized under Public Law 117-58 and directed at expanding understanding of domestic critical mineral resources.

Proposal title: evaporites in western oklahomaproject period: 03 01 2026 02 28 2029AWARD purpose:the oklahoma geological survey (OGS) proposes an earthmri-funded geochemical survey of the evaporite deposits (salt, gypsum, and anhydrite) in western oklahoma. These evaporite deposits are part of the greater permian evaporite basin, which extends some 250,000 square miles over oklahoma, kansas, texas, new mexico and colorado. The basin is characterized by significant gypsum, anhydrite, and salt deposits, along with varying amounts of interbedded, fine-grained sedimentary rocks (primarily, siltstones, shales, and carbonates). In western oklahoma, the evaporite deposits range in thickness from 100S to 1000S of feet thick and are often referenced for their compositional purity. However, little is known about their composition in terms of critical minerals, which could also be significant, particularly, with lithium, magnesium and potash. Thus, the primary goal of this study will be to characterize the geochemical composition of the evaporites, to better ascertain their overall critical mineral potential in the western part of oklahoma. Activities: this three-year project aims to complete an earth-MRI geochemical survey of evaporites (gypsum, anhydrite, and salt) in western oklahoma. The funding of this project will allow for a more complete GEO-sampling of the evaporites in this portion of the state and should give US a better understanding of their potential for critical mineral enrichment, as well as the overall critical mineral distribution of the entire area. The sample set could also include samples from core already in the OGS-oklahoma petroleum information center (opic) core repository. The well-documented geochemical database (with corresponding geospatial maps) will include geochemical data from USGS, sample images, in-house OGS electron microprobe SEM xrdanalyses, and pxrf.deliverables outcomes: deliverables will be reconnaissance geochemical data of evaporite deposits (salt and gypsum) in western oklahoma. The data will be compiled into a geochemical database containing: 1) location and stratigraphic descriptions (including field pictures) of theentire sample set, 2) geochemical analyses obtained from samples sent to USGS 3) portable XRF analyses of each sample prior to submittal to USGS, and 4) in-house qualitative (EDS) and quantitative (WDS and XRD) geochemical data of selected samples. A comprehensive summary report (including geospatial and geochemical maps) will be submitted at the completion of the project and published in a peer-reviewed publication that will be available to the public. Progress reports as dictated will also be prepared every 6 months for the duration of the project.beneficiaries: the primary beneficiaries of the proposed database will be state governmentagencies and the public.