The search for rare earth elements (REES) in lignite coal seams with X-ray diffraction (XRD): A case study from the Cretaceous Eagle Formation, Elk Basin, Park County, Wyoming, USA
Nichols, Johnathon Schwartz, Julia Parcell, William C.
Nichols, Johnathon
Schwartz, Julia
Parcell, William C.
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2024
Type
Conference paper
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Keywords
Cretaceous Eagle Formation,Elk Basin,Rare earth elements
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Citation
Nichols, J., Schwartz, J., & Parcell, W. (2024). The search for rare earth elements (REES) in lignite coal seams with X-ray diffraction (XRD): A case study from the Cretaceous Eagle Formation, Elk Basin, Park County, Wyoming, USA. Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs, 56(5). 10.1130/abs/2024AM-404857
Abstract
REEs are essential to the economy of the United States and our infrastructure; without a domestic source, our national security could be threatened. In response, the US governments has been incentivizing locating sources of REEs in domestic territory. Some areas of interest include pre-existing quarries and mines, as these sites are already exposed and well-researched, allowing for a more economically efficient usage with less environmental impact when compared to creating new mining sites.
This case study investigates a prospective source of REEs in the Eagle Formation, exposed in Elk Basin Oil field in Park County, Wyoming, USA. The Late Cretaceous Eagle Formation is composed of light gray to tan coarse-grained sandstones that contain well-exposed lignite outcrops. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray fluroscence (XRF) analysis allows us to view the elemental and mineral composition of lignite and surrounding strata, looking for host minerals that could contain REEs and establishing a chemostratigraphic framework for the Eagle Formation. These chemostratigraphic and analytical techniques are being applied to draw connections between the Eagle's lignite coal seams and minerals that contain REEs.
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Description
Four Wichita State students presented their research at the National Geological Society of America meeting Sept. 22-25, 2024, in Anaheim, California. The students were accompanied by faculty researchers Dr. Will Parcell, chair and associate professor of geology, and Julia Schwartz, assistant educator in geology.
At the time of the conference, Jonnathon (Ricky) Nichols was a senior in geology and secondary education in earth and space science.
A list of WSU research presented at the conference can be found here: https://news.wichita.edu/2024/09/25/geology-students-present-research-at-national-conference/
At the time of the conference, Jonnathon (Ricky) Nichols was a senior in geology and secondary education in earth and space science.
A list of WSU research presented at the conference can be found here: https://news.wichita.edu/2024/09/25/geology-students-present-research-at-national-conference/
Publisher
Geological Society of America
Journal
Book Title
Series
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs
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Use and Reproduction
Archival Collection
PubMed ID
ISSN
0016-7592