8
PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS
The New Mexico coal, humate, and clinker deposits are
relatively low in REE (325 ppm TREE), Li (90 ppm),
V (168 ppm), Co (51 ppm), Ni (108 ppm), Zr
(557 ppm), Hf (14 ppm), and many other critical min-
erals compared to normal economic deposits. However,
some of these rocks are enriched in Al2O3 (as much as
40%) and Sr (as much as 3740 ppm), both critical min-
erals. Common minerals hosting the critical minerals in
these rocks include clay minerals, zircon, and rutile/ana-
tase. Potential geologic sources of REE and other critical
minerals in New Mexico coal, humate, and clinker deposits
include Proterozoic granitic and metamorphic rocks (such
as those found in the Zuni and Nacimiento Mountains),
the Jurassic-Cretaceous arc volcanism and magmatism
forming the Mogollon Highlands to the south and west,
and recycling of older sediments, although hydrothermal
or weathering fluids could concentrate some of the criti-
cal minerals. More chemical and mineralogical analyses are
required to fully understand the distribution and origin of
REE and critical minerals in these deposits. As the demand
for some of these elements increases because of increased
need and short supplies, the dollar value per ton of ore
rises, enhancing deposit economics. Ultimately, economic
potential will most likely depend upon production of more
than one commodity, maybe even from coal, humate, and
clinker deposits.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This report is part of on-going studies of mineral resources
in New Mexico, supported by the New Mexico Bureau
of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR), Nelia
Dunbar, Director and State Geologist. Current research
is funded through a DOE grant Carbon Ore, Rare Earth
Elements, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) assess-
ment of San Juan River-Raton Coal Basin, New Mexico,
DE-FE0032051. Thanks to Mark Leo-Russell for database
support, students of the NMBGMR Economic Group for
sample collecting and prepration (especially Abena Serwah
Acheampong-Mensah, Zohreh Motlagh Kazemi, Harriett
Tetteh, Anita Appah, and Brielle Hunt).
Any persons wishing to conduct geologic investi-
gations on the Navajo Nation must first apply for and
receive a permit from the Minerals Department, P.O.
Box 1910, Window Rock, Arizona 6515 and telephone
no. 928-871-6588.
REFERENCES
Brister, B.S. and Hoffman, G.K., 2002, Fundamental geol-
ogy of San Juan Basin energy resources in Brister, B.S.
and Price, L.G., eds., New Mexico energy, present and
future: Decision-makers field conference 2002, San
Juan Basin, 156 p.
Dai, S. and Finkelman, R.B., 2018, Coal as a promising
source of critical elements: Progress and future pros-
pects: International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 186,
p. 155–164.
Finkelman, R.B., Dai,S., and French, 2019, The importance
of minerals in coal as the hosts of chemical elements: A
review: International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 212,
17 p.
Hoffman, G. K., 1996, Coal resources of New Mexico,
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources,
Resource Map, v. 20, 22 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:1,000,000.
Figure 10. Box and whisker plots of V (ppm) in coal,
humate, and clinker samples. See Table 1 for summary of
coal fields and Figure 5 for key
Toadlena
Figure 11. Box and whisker plots of Al2O3 (%)in coal,
humate, and clinker samples. See Table 1 for summary of
coal fields and Figure 5 for key
PRELIMINARY CONCLUSIONS
The New Mexico coal, humate, and clinker deposits are
relatively low in REE (325 ppm TREE), Li (90 ppm),
V (168 ppm), Co (51 ppm), Ni (108 ppm), Zr
(557 ppm), Hf (14 ppm), and many other critical min-
erals compared to normal economic deposits. However,
some of these rocks are enriched in Al2O3 (as much as
40%) and Sr (as much as 3740 ppm), both critical min-
erals. Common minerals hosting the critical minerals in
these rocks include clay minerals, zircon, and rutile/ana-
tase. Potential geologic sources of REE and other critical
minerals in New Mexico coal, humate, and clinker deposits
include Proterozoic granitic and metamorphic rocks (such
as those found in the Zuni and Nacimiento Mountains),
the Jurassic-Cretaceous arc volcanism and magmatism
forming the Mogollon Highlands to the south and west,
and recycling of older sediments, although hydrothermal
or weathering fluids could concentrate some of the criti-
cal minerals. More chemical and mineralogical analyses are
required to fully understand the distribution and origin of
REE and critical minerals in these deposits. As the demand
for some of these elements increases because of increased
need and short supplies, the dollar value per ton of ore
rises, enhancing deposit economics. Ultimately, economic
potential will most likely depend upon production of more
than one commodity, maybe even from coal, humate, and
clinker deposits.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This report is part of on-going studies of mineral resources
in New Mexico, supported by the New Mexico Bureau
of Geology and Mineral Resources (NMBGMR), Nelia
Dunbar, Director and State Geologist. Current research
is funded through a DOE grant Carbon Ore, Rare Earth
Elements, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) assess-
ment of San Juan River-Raton Coal Basin, New Mexico,
DE-FE0032051. Thanks to Mark Leo-Russell for database
support, students of the NMBGMR Economic Group for
sample collecting and prepration (especially Abena Serwah
Acheampong-Mensah, Zohreh Motlagh Kazemi, Harriett
Tetteh, Anita Appah, and Brielle Hunt).
Any persons wishing to conduct geologic investi-
gations on the Navajo Nation must first apply for and
receive a permit from the Minerals Department, P.O.
Box 1910, Window Rock, Arizona 6515 and telephone
no. 928-871-6588.
REFERENCES
Brister, B.S. and Hoffman, G.K., 2002, Fundamental geol-
ogy of San Juan Basin energy resources in Brister, B.S.
and Price, L.G., eds., New Mexico energy, present and
future: Decision-makers field conference 2002, San
Juan Basin, 156 p.
Dai, S. and Finkelman, R.B., 2018, Coal as a promising
source of critical elements: Progress and future pros-
pects: International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 186,
p. 155–164.
Finkelman, R.B., Dai,S., and French, 2019, The importance
of minerals in coal as the hosts of chemical elements: A
review: International Journal of Coal Geology, v. 212,
17 p.
Hoffman, G. K., 1996, Coal resources of New Mexico,
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources,
Resource Map, v. 20, 22 p., 1 sheet, scale 1:1,000,000.
Figure 10. Box and whisker plots of V (ppm) in coal,
humate, and clinker samples. See Table 1 for summary of
coal fields and Figure 5 for key
Toadlena
Figure 11. Box and whisker plots of Al2O3 (%)in coal,
humate, and clinker samples. See Table 1 for summary of
coal fields and Figure 5 for key