Mining News: News Nuggets: USGS maps critical Alaska minerals

The U.S. Geological Survey Feb. 23 released new maps highlighting areas with potential for placer gold and five critical mineral deposit types in the U.S. Bureau of Land Management’s Central Yukon Planning Area of central and northern Alaska. The maps were created using a geographic information system-based method for identifying areas with mineral resource potential across large regions. A new mapping method, developed in cooperation with the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys as part of a strategic and critical minerals initiative, was applied to the planning area. This study evaluated potential for rare earth deposits associated with alkali-rich intrusive rocks, placer gold deposits, platinum group element deposits associated with iron- and magnesium-rich, silica-poor igneous rocks like basalts, carbonate-hosted copper deposits, sandstone uranium deposits, and tin-tungsten-molybdenum-fluorspar deposits associated with some specialized granites. USGS says the maps are of particular importance because they identify potential sources for critical elements in short supply globally.

- Shane Lasley