The use of the word “mineral” in regards to critical minerals has the potential to be confusing, as the definition above differs from the “traditional” use of this word in geology. A mineral, geologically-speaking, is defined as a naturally-occurring solid substance or material that has a well-defined chemical composition and specific crystalline structure that makes each one unique. When discussing economic geology, mining, or resources, “mineral” more generally refers to the material of interest. This can include materials that are neither solid nor crystalline, such as coal or oil, or simply individual elements and compounds, such as rare earth elements or platinum group elements.

In 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released a list of Critical Minerals for Energy, which were selected under slightly different criteria than the DOI’s list of Critical Minerals. These are non-fuel minerals, materials, or other substances that serve an essential role in various energy technologies and have at-risk supply chains. Materials not already on the DOI list include copper, electrical steel, silicon, and silicon carbide. 

Critical minerals—most of which are actually individual elements—play an important and often overlooked role in society, in part because many are so commonplace and ubiquitous that we may not recognize their importance and prevalence. These minerals and elements are key components in consumer electronics like cellphones, laptops, and TVs; for medical research and imaging; in renewable energy production, such as permanent magnets in wind turbines, photovoltaic cells in solar panels, and nuclear fuel and control rods; in everyday products, like aluminum cans, ceramics, and glass; in the defense industry; and in countless other applications and technologies.

Many critical minerals are known to occur throughout Wyoming, some of which have been historically mined, are currently being produced, or are being actively explored for. More information on critical minerals research at the WSGS, critical mineral potential in Wyoming, and other critical minerals can be accessed from the menu in the upper left, or from the “Critical Minerals” dropdown bar at the top of the page. For spatial information on critical mineral systems in Wyoming, as well as reports and data related to critical minerals, visit the Mineral Resources map. 

Critical Minerals Research at the WSGS

The WSGS has been participating in the U.S. Geological Survey’s (USGS) Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) since 2019. This program is a partnership between the USGS and state geological surveys that aims to develop a better understanding of the geologic framework of the United States, particularly in areas that have the potential to host critical minerals. Earth MRI provides funding to state geological surveys to produce new geologic mapping and conducting geochemical and geochronological reconnaissance projects, as well as acquiring new, high-resolution geophysical and LiDAR data.  

Through this program, the WSGS has received funding for six projects to date as well as contracting services and partnership with the USGS for our state-funded South Pass – Granite Mountains geophysical survey. These Earth MRI-funded projects include: a geochemical reconnaissance and geologic mapping project in the central Laramie Mountains; geochemical and geochronological reconnaissance in the Medicine Bow Mountains; geochemical reconnaissance of the Western Phosphate Field; radiometric and magnetic airborne geophysical survey of the Medicine Bow Mountains; radiometric and magnetic airborne geophysical survey of the Sierra Madre; and an electromagnetic geophysical survey across the Cheyenne Belt. 

As part of our work in the Earth MRI program, the WSGS has worked with the USGS to develop a geodatabase of potential mineral systems across the state. Mineral systems are a key part of understanding the critical mineral potential of a given area, especially if multiple systems have overlapped in a single region. A mineral system is a group of deposit types that occur within specific geologic and tectonic settings. For example, the mineral system type “Mafic Magmatic” includes a variety of deposit models, such as PGE+Ni+Cu-enriched mafic dikes or layered mafic intrusions. Each of these deposit types have characteristic elements associated with them; these include the both principal commodities, which are the primary economic element, and the critical elements, which are usually by-products, co-products, or trace components not recovered at all. A “mineral systems approach” aims to understand how mineralization in an area was shaped by its geologic and tectonic history, rather than studying individual deposits alone. By studying the regional geology and bringing together as many pieces of the story as possible, geologists can begin to understand how to characterize the mineralization with greater context that can guide and refine future exploration.  

The WSGS has also conducted a number of in-house projects investigating critical mineral potential in various geologic environments across the state. Recent examples include a series of studies on heavy mineral sandstones in the Upper Cretaceous units and in the Cambrian Flathead sandstone and other conglomeratic rocks around the state, and an investigation of REE-potential in the Kemmerer coal field. Older publications include the Report of Investigations No. 71, which is a comprehensive report of past WSGS work as well as additional data gathered in 2015. The goal for RI-71 was to provide further geological analysis, beyond our previous Report of Investigations No. 65, on potential deposits and to characterize and catalog these deposits found throughout Wyoming.

Active critical minerals projects at the WSGS are listed on our WSGS Projects page, under the “About” dropdown.