Rhenium Occurrences in the United States

Publication Date

2018-03-26

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.

Type: Web Link

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.

ArcGIS Mapping Service

WMS Service

• USGS Data Release Products
• USGS Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center