NSF-snsf: thermodynamic framework for modeling hydrothermal fluid-rock interaction and the mobility of critical elements in the earth's crust

The National Science Foundation Office of International Science and Engineering awarded $248,900 to New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology on August 15, 2026, under the Office of International Science and Engineering program (CFDA 47.079) for development of a thermodynamic framework modeling hydrothermal fluid-rock interaction and the mobility of critical elements including lithium, copper, nickel, cobalt, and rare earth elements in the Earth's crust.

The project runs through July 31, 2029, with place of performance in Socorro, New Mexico. Work encompasses three research thrusts: developing a novel framework integrating multiple equations of state for different pressure-temperature regimes; improving thermodynamic datasets for aqueous species, minerals, and gases; and applying these models to geochemical systems ranging from near-surface geothermal environments to deep magmatic-hydrothermal ore deposits. The research combines experimental work and geochemical data to model critical element behavior and transport via aqueous complexes in hydrothermal fluids. Broader impacts include student and postdoctoral researcher training, workshops, and student internships. This is a collaborative NSF-SNSF (Swedish Research Council) funded project addressing the accuracy and completeness of thermodynamic modeling, which has applications across geoscience disciplines and supports resource recovery in high-tech and energy industries.

Abstract

Critical elements such as lithium (LI), copper (CU), nickel (NI), cobalt (CO), and the rare earth elements (REE) are important to society. Magnets, computers, cell phones, and batteries all use critical elements. In geological systems, critical elements are transported and enriched by interactions between rocks and fluids. Enrichment can occur at a wide range of pressures and temperatures. These conditions occur in environments such as surface geothermal systems and deep ORE deposits. This project will use experiments and geochemical data to model the behavior of critical elements. Broader impacts include student and postdoctoral researcher training. The project also includes workshops and student internships. This collaborative NSF-snsf funded research project aims at improving geochemical modeling of hydrothermal systems. The focus of the work will be on major rock-forming and critical elements including LI, CU, NI, CO, and the rare earth elements (REE). These are important components in the high-tech and energy industry (i.e., permanent magnets, computers, cell phones, etc.). Thermodynamic modeling of fluid-rock interaction has many geoscience applications from near-surface geothermal to deep magmatic-hydrothermal ORE deposits. Hydrothermal fluids can transport and enrich critical minerals in the earth?s crust via the formation of aqueous complexes. However, the accuracy of thermodynamic models strongly depends on two main challenges: (1) the quality and completeness of thermodynamic datasets for aqueous species, minerals, and gases; (2) the equations of state for calculating the necessary thermodynamic properties over a wide range of pressure and temperature. This project involves three thrusts. Thrust 1 aims at developing a novel framework to integrate multiple equations of state for different pressure-temperature regimes. The framework is built on a strong foundation of open-source tools (thermoecos) for data fitting, modeling, and visualization. Thrust 2 aims to determine the thermodynamic properties of LI, CU, NI, CO, and REE aqueous complexes in hydrothermal solutions. Thrust 3 aims to test and apply the thermodynamic model to natural geothermal systems. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.