RFQ 140G0126Q0297

Statement of Work – Mineral Separation Services

I - General Information:

A - Introduction:

The USGS – Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center in Reston, VA requires mineral separation of geologic samples. This work will support multiple Mineral Resource Program (MRP)-funded projects that require zircon, apatite, or other high-purity mineral separates for data collection and hypothesis testing.

B - Background:

Mineral separation is a necessary step for collecting most geochronological data. It is also valuable for separating heavy mineral phases that can be analyzed for their mineralogy or geochemical compositions to test geologic hypotheses. Geologists use geochronological information to piece together models about the timing and nature of certain geologic events, such as intrusion of magma bodies, or the timing of metamorphosis deep within mountain belts. We also examine the “heavy” mineral content of sedimentary material because it tells us about the drainages that contributed to that sediment. All this information is extremely valuable for piecing together geologic histories and characterizing potential critical mineral-hosting systems.

Multiple new MRP-funded projects have made plans to separate minerals from samples.

However, the existing facilities at the US Geological Survey are sparsely staffed and severely backlogged. Current wait times for mineral separation are a bottleneck, causing multiple projects to wait months, and in some cases over a year, for mineral separates. Staff departures in the last year and the addition of multiple new MRP-funded projects put further strain on the in-house system. These new projects require faster, flexible mineral separation methods to insure that data collection stays on track for each project’s goals.

C - Scope:

The general purpose of this work is to establish a five-year contract for mineral separation services. Mineral separation involves physically breaking down a rock sample into individual mineral grains, followed by density- and magnetic-based methods to separate individual grains by their physical properties. The starting material could be solid whole rock samples or unconsolidated sediment.

II - Work Requirements:

A - Technical Requirements:

1. The contractor shall have a record of proven experience in mineral separation in support of geological research projects. The contractor shall maintain a facility dedicated to mineral separation with a trained technical staff experienced in dealing with a range of geological material. The contractor shall be able to accommodate kilogram-sized samples as well as small samples no greater than several grams of drillcore material. The contractor must

• be able to break down rock samples using electro pulse disaggregation methods in addition to standard jaw crusher techniques, and

• perform mineral separation in-house (i.e., no third party).

The contractor shall work with the USGS staff to identify appropriate mineral separation methods based on the starting sample material (e.g., whole rock or unconsolidated sediment) and target heavy mineral phases (e.g., zircon, apatite, monazite). This will be determined on a sample-by-sample basis.

The contractor shall receive rock and (or) sediment samples, record the samples received and any specific processing notes or modifications in a digital format (e.g., Excel file) within two business days of receiving samples. This information shall be provided to the USGS contact listed on the sample submission form for verification.

The contractor shall be responsible for performing the agreed-upon mineral separation methods within six weeks of receipt. If more time is required, the contractor shall notify the USGS-provided contact via email or phone. All separate mineral splits should be clearly labeled with the original sample identifier and split properties.

Within six weeks of receipt, the vendor will return to the USGS any remaining original material, all mineral splits, and a digital report that details the results. If more time is required, the contractor shall notify the USGS-provided contact via email or phone.

2. Quality will be assessed by USGS staff by looking at the purity of mineral separates.

Specifically, adequate processing will separate minerals of different densities and magnetic susceptibility into different splits during processing. Our plan to assure quality is to check each returned mineral separate to ensure the minerals of interest are sufficiently concentrated for hand-picking, and that concentrates are largely free of other mineral phases.

B - Deliverables:

1. The contractor shall deliver the requested mineral concentrates (or “splits”) from each sample, a brief report summarizing the results of separation, and any remaining material to USGS.

2. The contractor shall return products to USGS six weeks after initial receipt or provide notification if more time is required.

III - Supporting Information:

A - Place Of Performance: A facility dedicated to mineral separation.

B - Period Of Performance: Five-year project with samples provided on an as-needed basis.

C- Level of Knowledge or Skills Required: Contractor shall have trained technical staff experienced in performing mineral separation methods on a range of geological material.