Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP)-or-

Critical Minerals in Illinois

Scott ElrickUniversity of Illinois, Prairie Research Institute, Illinois State Geological Survey

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Background:

This is not the first time you’ve heard about this at IGMAC…effort to get this going has been underway by AASG and USGS for some time

(2017 IGMAC meeting notes)

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Background:

AASG produced this 1 page “Critical Metals…” slide

…to great effect and positive reception.

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Background:

…and a follow up on electric and hybrid cars

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Purpose: 3 goals

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Highlights

Revealing the buried mineral-bearing rocks of the Midcontinent

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Highlights

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Highlights

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Highlights

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Highlights

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Benefits:

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Current status (or what we think we know…):

• $10.6 million in House budget, $7 million in Senate – resolution and conferencing needed

• Grants to states likely would not need match

• Probable National Advisory Panel to administer and direct program

• Focus on ’mineral belts’ rather than specific minerals

• Multi-state proposals likely favored

• An RFP might range from a drill core database compilation, Pre Cambrian subsurface map, critical minerals pre-assessments, 3-D mapping, etc... NOTHING FIRM YET

Critical Minerals Mapping Initiative (3DEEP) – Illinois CMMI map:

As part of the development process USGS asked for example pre-assessment maps.

ISGS responded.

USGS stated that the Illinois critical minerals pre-assessment map was exemplary and worthy of templating for other states to follow… and asked us to write up the methodology.

This is what we did:

1. Basemap – USGS magnetic anomalies (grayscale)

1. Basemap – USGS magnetic anomalies (grayscale)2. Add structural features – fault systems, folds,

and intrusive bodies

1. Basemap – USGS magnetic anomalies (grayscale)2. Add structural features – fault systems, folds,

and intrusive bodies3. Add known mineral and mining districts from

Illinois and adjoining states

1. Basemap – USGS magnetic anomalies (grayscale)2. Add structural features – fault systems, folds,

and intrusive bodies3. Add known mineral and mining districts from

Illinois and adjoining states4. Delineate general ‘area for investigations’:

• Depths to PC <1,000 meters• Mining districts• Fluid flow pathways (regional and basinal)• Intrusive complexes

1. Basemap – USGS magnetic anomalies (grayscale)2. Add structural features – fault systems, folds,

and intrusive bodies3. Add known mineral and mining districts from

Illinois and adjoining states4. Delineate general ‘area for investigations’:

• Depths to PC <1,000 meters• Mining districts• Fluid flow pathways (regional and basinal)• Intrusive complexes

5. Rank targeted areas – priority based on likelihood of critical mineral occurrence.• Close proximity to mining district, intrusive

bodies, and major fault zone ranks high

1. Basemap – USGS magnetic anomalies (grayscale)2. Add structural features – fault systems, folds,

and intrusive bodies3. Add known mineral and mining districts from

Illinois and adjoining states4. Delineate general ‘area for investigations’:

• Depths to PC <1,000 meters• Mining districts• Fluid flow pathways (regional and basinal)• Intrusive complexes

5. Rank targeted areas – priority based on likelihood of critical mineral occurrence.• Close proximity to mining district, intrusive

bodies, and major fault zone ranks high6. Critical and significant elements in ranked areas

listed to communicate to map readers potential for undiscovered mineralization

Looking forward: (cart before the horse-ing)

• Partnerships with Iowa and Wisconsin (Upper MVT District)

• Partnerships with Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana (Fluorspar District / 38th parallel anomaly)

• Use of ISGS geophysics aeromag skills?

• Potential to complement/ augment STATEMAP, EDMAP, etc?

• Developing!