Rare Earth Elements in ND Presented to the Energy Development and Transmission Committee Senator Rich Wardner, Chair August 14, 2018

Home , Scandium oxide

Ned Kruger North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Geological Survey Rare Earth Elements

• Sixteen elements with specialized properties including strength, magnetism, luminescence, heat resistance...

• In wide-spread use in modern high-technology products.

• Not all that rare – except at ore grade concentrations.

Evolution of computer chip technology

Shultz, K.J., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., Seal, R.R., II, and Bradly, D.C.. Eds., 2017, Critical mineral resources of the United States – Economic and environmental geology and prospects for future supply: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1802, 797 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1802 Evolution of computer chip technology

Electronics Military applications & light-weight • Computers, tablets aerospace components • Cell phones • Televisions Electric and hybrid vehicles

Catalysts Glass polishing & additives • Petroleum refining • Catalytic converters Medical imaging

Renewable Energy Crystals for lasers • Solar panels • Wind power generators Superconductor sensors Energy Efficiency Nuclear control rods • CFL & LED lighting • High power batteries Phosphors, pigments…

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey Slide

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey COMMODITY PRICE PER OUNCE

Gold $1,000.00

$100.00

$10.00

$1.00

$0.10

$0.01 2011 2013 2015 2017 Scandium Oxide Terbium Oxide Dysprosium Oxide Europium Oxide Neodymium Oxide Yttrium Oxide Lanthanum Oxide Cerium Oxide Gold Platinum Silver Source: USGS Mineral Commodity Summary COMMODITY PRICE PER OUNCE

Gold $1,000.00

Scandium $100.00

$10.00 Dysprosium

$1.00

Cerium $0.10

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey Mineral Criticality as defined by the National Academy of Science

A critical mineral…

• performs an essential function for which few substitutes exist.

• has an assessment indicating a high probability of supply being disrupted resulting in a physical unavailability or significantly higher price.

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey LIMIT OF COAL-BEARING ROCKS

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey NORTH DAKOTA COAL MINES

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey URANIUM/MINERALIZED COAL AREA

X X X XX XX XX XXX XXXX X X

X Uranium Mine

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey RARE EARTH SAMPLE SITES

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey RARE EARTH ELEMENT STUDIES

NDGSNDGS

UNDUND Institute Institute for for Energy Energy Studies Studies

EERCEERC Williston Basin, Powder River Basin, (Williston Basin, Powder River Basin, Gulf Coast, Appalachia Gulf Coast, Appalachia)

The Old Church Mine – the first uranium mine in North Dakota North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey RARE EARTH CONCENTRATIONS (ppm) IN COALS & MUDSTONES MEASURED SECTION No. 76 MEASURED SECTION No. 76 Section No. 76 SURVEY RARE EARTH REPORTS

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey RARE EARTH SAMPLE SITES (2015-2016) RARE EARTH SAMPLE SITES (2015-2016)

Logging Camp Ranch LOGGING CAMP RANCH – Section 7 LOGGING CAMP RANCH – Section 7 RARE EARTH ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS (ppm) Section 7

Samples Minimum Maximum Average

Harmon bed 18 209 555 324

Hanson bed 4 102 284 225

H bed 0 0 0 0

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey LOGGING CAMP RANCH – Section 16 LOGGING CAMP RANCH – Section 16 RARE EARTH ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS (ppm) Section 16

Samples Minimum Maximum Average

Harmon bed 1 83 83 83

Hanson bed 1 206 206 206

H bed 5 247 1,026 604

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey GEOLOGIC CROSS-SECTION NORTH OF THE RIVER 1.5 MILES

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey EXPLORATION MODEL: LIGNITE OVERLAIN BY A CHANNEL SANDSTONE

Channel sandstone over lignite (26 samples)

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey HIGH RARE EARTH ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS

Rare earth concentrations > 265 ppm

265 ppm 319 ppm

325 ppm

638 ppm

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey LOGGING CAMP RANCH – Sections 5, 6, & 8 RARE EARTH ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS (ppm) North of River (sections 5, 6, and 8)

Samples Minimum Maximum Average

Harmon bed 18 32 275 112

Hanson bed 13 38 223 126

H bed 2 171 638 404

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey RARE EARTH SAMPLE SITES – lateral sampling (2018)

VOLCANIC ASH SAMPLE SITES RARE EARTH ELEMENTS IN VOLCANIC ASH SAMPLES TAKEN WITHIN AND BENEATH A VOLCANIC ASH DEPOSIT

Ash RARE EARTH ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS > 300 PPM 2015-2016

15 samples RARE EARTH ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS > 300 PPM 2015-2017

28 samples RARE EARTH ELEMENT CONCENTRATIONS > 300 PPM 2015-2018

54 samples NDGS Whole Coal Analyses

1200

900

600 Total Rare Earths (ppm) Earths Rare Total

300 DOE threshold

0 0 1 2 3 Outlook Coefficient

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey 2018 RARE EARTH SAMPLING SITES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY RARE EARTH SAMPLING PROGRAM

North Dakota Department Energy Development & Transmission Committee North Dakota of Mineral Resources Tuesday, August 14, 2018 Geological Survey