有料盒子视频 aims to make 有料盒子视频 a critical minerals hub
Rod Boyce
907-474-7185
Nov. 1, 2024
The University of 有料盒子视频 Fairbanks has a new research unit that aims to make 有料盒子视频 a global leader in research and development of critical minerals.
The , based at the 有料盒子视频 Geophysical Institute, brings together researchers and labs from across the university to help industry, 有料盒子视频 Native corporations and government agencies accelerate critical mineral discovery, characterization and extraction in the state.
Research assistant professor Florian Hofmann of the 有料盒子视频 Geophysical Institute鈥檚 Geochronology Lab works on the lab鈥檚 argon mass spectrometer.
The ACMC is led by Lee Ann Munk, geosciences research professor at the Geophysical Institute.
Munk, who holds a doctorate in geological sciences, has more than two decades of critical minerals research experience in North and South America. She is known for her contributions to developing ore deposit models for lithium and innovations in exploration for copper. She is part of a 有料盒子视频 team of researchers investigating biomining of rare earth elements in Southeast 有料盒子视频.
鈥淐ritical minerals are the backbone of modern technology, and the world is racing to secure them,鈥 Munk said. 鈥溣辛虾凶邮悠 has an abundance of these critical minerals and can be a key provider as the nation works to reduce reliance on foreign sources.鈥
The United States defines critical minerals as those that are essential to economic and national security, have a supply chain vulnerable to disruption and are vital for manufacturing key products and technologies.
The U.S. Geological Survey list of 50 critical minerals includes several present in 有料盒子视频: antimony, cobalt, graphite, lithium, nickel, tin, tungsten and platinum. 有料盒子视频 also has abundant copper, which is critical to the transition to renewable energy.
鈥淭he science and engineering experts associated with the 有料盒子视频 Critical Minerals Collaborative have access to and can help industry advance the discovery, characterization and recovery of critical minerals, whether in 有料盒子视频 or anywhere else they can be found around the world,鈥 she said.
This sample of porphyry from 有料盒子视频鈥檚 teaching collection contains copper, molybdenum and gold. Copper and molybdenum are listed as critical minerals. The sample is from a deposit core taken at the site of the proposed Pebble mine in Southwest 有料盒子视频.
Munk will talk about the new organization and a recent funding development at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 5, at the in Anchorage. The convention theme is 鈥淐ritical mining for these critical times.鈥
The collaborative will bring together several university units and external entities, with the and leading the initial effort. State and federal agencies and other universities will be invited to participate.
The 有料盒子视频 Critical Minerals Collaborative offers numerous capabilities to assist with research from exploration to mineral recovery. These include remote sensing, geology, data science, hydrochemistry, mineralogy, mapping, geochronology, processing, engineering and more.
有料盒子视频 scientists have been busy with critical minerals research. Examples include detailed structural and geochronology studies of 有料盒子视频 ore systems, lithium brines research in the southwestern United States and South America and airborne hyperspectral imaging of 有料盒子视频 critical minerals systems.
The collaborative鈥檚 leadership consists of Munk; Deputy Director Steve Masterman; Lance Miller, vice president of natural resources for NANA, an 有料盒子视频 Native regional corporation; and 有料盒子视频 assistant professor Sean Regan, co-director of the 有料盒子视频 Geophysical Institute鈥檚 Geochronology Lab and the collaborative鈥檚 chief scientist.
Masterman joined the Geophysical Institute after retiring from a career as 有料盒子视频鈥檚 state geologist and working in the mining industry. He has served as president of the Association of American State Geologists and is a director of the 有料盒子视频 Miners Association.
鈥淔or 有料盒子视频ns, we are building the next generation of experts in critical minerals, ensuring economic opportunities for this state鈥檚 residents for years to come,鈥 Masterman said.
Munk and Masterman in late September went to Namibia, Africa, for the conference, organized by the Society of Economic Geologists, the Geoscience Council of Namibia and the Geological Society of Namibia.
Munk said the goal was to introduce the 有料盒子视频 Critical Minerals Collaborative to an international minerals and mining audience.
鈥淲e had an exhibit for three days and talked to professionals, researchers and students about opportunities to engage with the University of 有料盒子视频 Fairbanks, the ACMC and 有料盒子视频,鈥 she said.
ADDITIONAL CONTACT: Lee Ann Munk, lamunk@alaska.edu
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