This is the Full Version of an online summary presentation made by I2M’s Chief Geologist, Michael D. Campbell, for the AAPG Action Conference in the Theme 9 Session entitled: “The Critical Energy Minerals, The Next Energy Frontier,” on September 29th, 2020.

Introduction by Session Chair, Lindsay Ross (here). Abstract: (here).

Released via YouTube entitled: “The Sources of Rare Earth Elements in the U.S. and the World,”

Please note that the first version of the presentation contains time gaps between some of the slides in the discussion. The time could be used to study the content of the slide, but these gaps will be eliminated in the next updated version of the presentation.

PDF Version (here), contains all the links and references consulted for this presentation. It would be useful to open both YouTube and PDF files side-by-side for ease of access to supporting information. Also note that the PDF contains information that may not have been discussed during the narration or has been updated since the discussion was recorded.

Summary Coverage of Presentation:

REEs are apparently distributed throughout the universe and solar systems, Moon, meteorites, Earth’s crust, sea-floors, coal and lignite, and groundwater, — REE mineralization processes on Earth, often involve uranium, thorium and other critical elements and minerals.

Deposits and Mines Reviewed in China, U.S. (Texas, Wyoming, New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Nebraska, Alaska), Australia, Greenland, Scandinavia, Russia.

  • History of REE Development: REE offer special properties for industrial applications …. Expanding use,
  • As new REE applications were developed by the academic-industrial Complex in U.S. and Overseas,
  • Major worldwide research efforts began in early 2000s with explosion of technical papers after 2010 dealing with exploration projects, nature of REE in deposits in the U.S. and worldwide,
  • REE demand, mining, and prices have increased (with some pullback) as China held back price-controlled REE supplies with the REE Price Boom of the 2010-2013,
  • Other REE sources are being sought as coproducts of metalliferous mining, recycling of electronic waste, coal-lignite, waste ash, byproducts of phosphate mining, deep-sea nodules and mattes, but with some environmental concerns along supply chain,
  • Competition in REE mining and processing depends ore grade of specific REE availability with REE demand expanding … mine production only  amounting to about 170,000 metric tons in 2018, but increased to 210,000 tons in 2019, (Rare Earth Oxides produced worldwide), and
  • Likely increase by 7% to 12% /yr in the future ….

Note: UCOM also prepared a special presentation for the 2020 ACE that is available by Michael D. Campbell, Chairman, EMD’s Uranium (Nuclear & REE) Committee:. entitled: “Uranium and Nuclear Power are on the Move …“.

YouTube: (here). Please note that the first version of this presentation also contains time gaps between some of the slides in the discussion. The time could be used to study the content of the slide, but these gaps will be eliminated in the next updated version of the presentation.

PDF (here), for links and references. Also note that the PDF contains information that may not have been discussed during the narration or has been updated since the discussion was recorded.

Note: See the other presentations made by EMD personnel at the AAPG-EMD YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCI3dyuNS2IhDZA7qjdwte3Q/

Also see the new I2M Consulting YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCJPymncJcynMCbWWSJEhh-g?disable_polymer=true