Burger, M.H., and Long, K.R., 2018, Rhenium occurrences in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F7KP81F2.
Summary
This data release provides descriptions of more than 100 mining districts, mines, and mineral occurrences (deposits and prospects) within the United States that are reported to contain enrichments of rhenium (Re). These mineral occurrences include mined deposits, exploration prospects, and other occurrences with notable concentrations of rhenium. The inclusion of a particular mineral occurrence in this database is not meant to imply that it has economic potential. Rather, these occurrences were included to capture the distribution and characteristics of the known, reported rhenium occurrences in the United States. Rhenium is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust. Most rhenium occurs in the mineral molybdenite, where the [...]
Summary
This data release provides descriptions of more than 100 mining districts, mines, and mineral occurrences (deposits and prospects) within the United States that are reported to contain enrichments of rhenium (Re). These mineral occurrences include mined deposits, exploration prospects, and other occurrences with notable concentrations of rhenium. The inclusion of a particular mineral occurrence in this database is not meant to imply that it has economic potential. Rather, these occurrences were included to capture the distribution and characteristics of the known, reported rhenium occurrences in the United States.
Rhenium is one of the rarest elements in the Earth's crust. Most rhenium occurs in the mineral molybdenite, where the rhenium substitutes for molybdenum. Rhenium is produced as a byproduct from roasting molybdenum concentrates recovered from mining porphyry copper deposits. Because the United States contains many porphyry copper mines and deposits, decisions had to be made by the authors regarding the addition or exclusion of copper and molybdenum deposits in the dataset, based principally on the published descriptions of the occurrence of rhenium in those deposits. The level of detail describing the rhenium occurrence varies widely, ranging from rhenium resources to general descriptions about the occurrence of rhenium.
The entries and descriptions in the database were derived from published papers, reports, data, and internet documents, published from 1917 to 2018, representing a variety of sources, including geologic and exploration studies described in State, Federal, and industry reports. Although an attempt was made to capture as many examples as possible, this dataset is a progress report that is part of an ongoing effort. The authors welcome additional published information in order to continually update and refine this dataset.
This dataset is part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to understand the attributes and geologic distribution of critical mineral resources, both globally, and in particular, in the United States. As described in USGS Professional Paper 1802 (published in 2017; available at https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/pp1802), the United States continues to become more dependent on imports to meet the domestic demands for an increasing number of mineral commodities. Many mineral commodities are now produced primarily or entirely outside of the United States, creating the potential for supply interruptions in the foreseeable future, or in the long term. These important but highly dependent mineral commodities are deemed critical and (or) strategic resources. Rhenium represents a prime example of a “critical mineral resource”. Rhenium is primarily used for high-temperature superalloys (used to manufacture turbine blades) and in platinum-rhenium catalysts to produce high-octane, lead-free gasoline. While rhenium is present in copper-molybdenum deposits in the United States, the United States has insufficient processing capacity to meet domestic need for rhenium. The United States ships molybdenum concentrates to Chile for recovery and then imports the refined rhenium. Recycling of rhenium is possible, but recycled material does not meet the global demand. This dataset was compiled to provide base layers of information that identify and describe the known rhenium deposits and prospects in the United States. This compilation is intended to contribute to our geologic understanding of rhenium deposits in the United States, and to assist in evaluating their resource potential.