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24-043
Geochemistry of Critical Minerals in Mine Wastes in New Mexico
Virginia T. McLemore
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral
Resources/NM Tech
Evan J. Owen
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral
Resources/NM Tech
ABSTRACT
There are tens of thousands of inactive mine features in 274
mining districts in New Mexico (including coal, uranium,
metals, and industrial minerals districts). However, many
of these mines have not been inventoried or prioritized
for reclamation. Many of these mines have existing mine
wastes, generated during mineral production, which could
have potential for critical minerals, especially since the
actual mineral production was generally for precious and
base metals and not critical minerals. The purpose of this
project is to characterize and estimate the critical mineral
endowment of mine wastes and “beta-test” USGS sampling
procedures. This project is important to the state of New
Mexico because critical mineral resources must be identi-
fied before land exchanges, withdrawals or other land use
decisions are made by government officials. Future min-
ing of mine wastes that potentially contain critical minerals
will directly benefit the economy of New Mexico. Possible
re-mining of mine wastes could clean up these sites and
pay for reclamation. Furthermore, this project will include
training of younger, professional geologists and students in
economic and reclamation geology by the PIs.
INTRODUCTION
Since it was created in 1927, the New Mexico Bureau of
Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR) has col-
lected published and unpublished data on the mining
districts, mines, deposits, occurrences, and mills and is
slowly converting historical data into a relational data-
base, the New Mexico Mines Database (McLemore et
al., 2005a, b McLemore, 2017 geoinfo.nmt.edu/staff
/mclemore/MinesinNewMexico.html). More than 9,000
mines are recorded in the New Mexico Mines Database
and more than 7,000 are inactive or abandoned. The New
Mexico Abandoned Mine Lands Bureau (AMLB) of the
New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources
Department estimates that there are more than 15,000
abandoned mine features in the state (www.emnrd.state
.nm.us/MMD/AML/amlmain.html). The U.S. Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) estimated that more than
10,000 mine features are on BLM lands in New Mexico
and only 705 sites have been reclaimed (www.blm.gov/wo
/st/en/prog/more/Abandoned_Mine_Lands/abandoned
_mine_site.html). Most of these mines have existing mine
wastes, generated during mineral production and explora-
tion that could have potential for critical minerals.
Critical minerals are mineral commodities that are
essential to the economic and national security of the U.S.,
and are from a supply chain that is vulnerable to global and
national disruption. In the mining industry, minerals refer
to any rock, mineral, or other naturally occurring mate-
rial of economic value, including metals, industrial miner-
als, energy minerals, gemstones, aggregates, and synthetic
materials sold as commodities. Thus, the term minerals
include all inorganic substances, as well as hydrocarbons,
such as oil and natural gas, and carboniferous deposits, such
as coal. Many critical minerals are produced in other coun-
tries and 100% imported into the U.S. In many cases, min-
eral deposits are available in the world for specific critical
minerals, but the real challenge for the Nation’s economy
and security is potential supply disruptions. Disruptions in
supply chains can arise for any number of reasons, includ-
ing natural disasters, labor strife, trade disputes, resource
nationalism, conflict, and so on.
24-043
Geochemistry of Critical Minerals in Mine Wastes in New Mexico
Virginia T. McLemore
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral
Resources/NM Tech
Evan J. Owen
New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral
Resources/NM Tech
ABSTRACT
There are tens of thousands of inactive mine features in 274
mining districts in New Mexico (including coal, uranium,
metals, and industrial minerals districts). However, many
of these mines have not been inventoried or prioritized
for reclamation. Many of these mines have existing mine
wastes, generated during mineral production, which could
have potential for critical minerals, especially since the
actual mineral production was generally for precious and
base metals and not critical minerals. The purpose of this
project is to characterize and estimate the critical mineral
endowment of mine wastes and “beta-test” USGS sampling
procedures. This project is important to the state of New
Mexico because critical mineral resources must be identi-
fied before land exchanges, withdrawals or other land use
decisions are made by government officials. Future min-
ing of mine wastes that potentially contain critical minerals
will directly benefit the economy of New Mexico. Possible
re-mining of mine wastes could clean up these sites and
pay for reclamation. Furthermore, this project will include
training of younger, professional geologists and students in
economic and reclamation geology by the PIs.
INTRODUCTION
Since it was created in 1927, the New Mexico Bureau of
Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR) has col-
lected published and unpublished data on the mining
districts, mines, deposits, occurrences, and mills and is
slowly converting historical data into a relational data-
base, the New Mexico Mines Database (McLemore et
al., 2005a, b McLemore, 2017 geoinfo.nmt.edu/staff
/mclemore/MinesinNewMexico.html). More than 9,000
mines are recorded in the New Mexico Mines Database
and more than 7,000 are inactive or abandoned. The New
Mexico Abandoned Mine Lands Bureau (AMLB) of the
New Mexico Energy, Minerals, and Natural Resources
Department estimates that there are more than 15,000
abandoned mine features in the state (www.emnrd.state
.nm.us/MMD/AML/amlmain.html). The U.S. Bureau
of Land Management (BLM) estimated that more than
10,000 mine features are on BLM lands in New Mexico
and only 705 sites have been reclaimed (www.blm.gov/wo
/st/en/prog/more/Abandoned_Mine_Lands/abandoned
_mine_site.html). Most of these mines have existing mine
wastes, generated during mineral production and explora-
tion that could have potential for critical minerals.
Critical minerals are mineral commodities that are
essential to the economic and national security of the U.S.,
and are from a supply chain that is vulnerable to global and
national disruption. In the mining industry, minerals refer
to any rock, mineral, or other naturally occurring mate-
rial of economic value, including metals, industrial miner-
als, energy minerals, gemstones, aggregates, and synthetic
materials sold as commodities. Thus, the term minerals
include all inorganic substances, as well as hydrocarbons,
such as oil and natural gas, and carboniferous deposits, such
as coal. Many critical minerals are produced in other coun-
tries and 100% imported into the U.S. In many cases, min-
eral deposits are available in the world for specific critical
minerals, but the real challenge for the Nation’s economy
and security is potential supply disruptions. Disruptions in
supply chains can arise for any number of reasons, includ-
ing natural disasters, labor strife, trade disputes, resource
nationalism, conflict, and so on.