Energy-Related Rare Earth Element Sources

Kolker, Allan; Lefticariu, Liliana; Anderson, Steven T.

doi:10.1007/978-3-031-31867-2_3

Cited by 2 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 225 publications

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“…The U.S. Department of Energy has established an REE enrichment cutoff of 300 ppm on a whole rock basis for concentrations to be considered economically viable (Bagdonas et al, 2022;Yesenchak et al, 2022;Kolker et al, 2024). In this study, REE concentrations greater than 200 ppm on a whole rock basis were considered REE enriched.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rare earth element enrichment in coal and coal-adjacent strata of the Uinta Region, Utah and Colorado

Coe,

Birgenheier,

Fernandez

et al. 2024

Front. Earth Sci.

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This study aims to quantify rare earth element enrichment within coal and coal-adjacent strata in the Uinta Region of central Utah and western Colorado. Rare earth elements are a subset of critical minerals as defined by the U.S. Geological Survey. These elements are used for a wide variety of applications, including renewable energy technology in the transition toward carbon-neutral energy. While rare earth element enrichment has been associated with Appalachian coals, there has been a more limited evaluation of western U.S. coals. Here, samples from six active mines, four idle/historical mines, four mine waste piles, and seven stratigraphically complete cores within the Uinta Region were geochemically evaluated using portable X-ray fluorescence (n = 3,113) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (n = 145) elemental analytical methods. Results suggest that 24%–45% of stratigraphically coal-adjacent carbonaceous shale and siltstone units show rare earth element enrichment (>200 ppm), as do 100% of sampled igneous material. A small subset (5%–8%) of coal samples display rare earth element enrichment, specifically in cases containing volcanic ash. This study proposes two multi-step depositional and diagenetic models to explain the enrichment process, requiring the emplacement and mobilization of rare earth element source material due to hydrothermal and other external influences. Historical geochemical evaluations of Uinta Region coal and coal-adjacent data are sparse, emphasizing the statistical significance of this research. These results support the utilization of active mines and coal processing waste piles for the future of domestic rare earth element extraction, offering economic and environmental solutions to pressing global demands.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rare earth element enrichment in coal and coal-adjacent strata of the Uinta Region, Utah and Colorado

Coe,

Birgenheier,

Fernandez

et al. 2024

Front. Earth Sci.

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Coal ash resources and potential for rare earth element production in the United States

Reedy,

Scanlon,

Bagdonas

et al. 2024

Int J Coal Sci Technol

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The renewable energy industry is heavily reliant on rare earth elements, underscoring the need to develop resources and production. The objective of this work was to estimate coal ash resources and potential for extraction of rare earth elements using data for the US. Data on spatiotemporal variability in coal ash resources and disposition were compiled from various federal databases and rare earth elements levels in ash were compiled from the literature. Results show that ~ 52 gigatons (Gt) of coal were produced in the US (1950–2021). Power plants account for most of the coal use, particularly since 1980. Coal ash (5.3 Gt) represents a mean of 10% of coal by weight, ranging from 6% for subbituminous to 14% for lignite. About 70% of coal ash is potentially accessible for rare earth element extraction (1985–2021) and was disposed in landfills and ponds with the remaining coal ash used onsite or sold. Median values of total rare earth elements are much higher in ashes derived from the Appalachian Basin (median 431 mg/kg) than in the Illinois (282 mg/kg) or Powder River basins (264 mg/kg). Considering the market value of rare earth oxides, potentially accessible ash volumes, and percent rare earth element extraction (30% Appalachian and Illinois Basins; 70% Powder River Basin) results in an estimated $8.4 billion value. This study provides fundamental information on accessible coal ash resources in the US, linkages to coal sources, and preliminary estimates of rare earth element levels for future development within the US.

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Energy-Related Rare Earth Element Sources

Cited by 2 publications

References 225 publications

Rare earth element enrichment in coal and coal-adjacent strata of the Uinta Region, Utah and Colorado

Rare earth element enrichment in coal and coal-adjacent strata of the Uinta Region, Utah and Colorado

Coal ash resources and potential for rare earth element production in the United States

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