Economic Geology — Federal Grants

EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP): AI-Driven Multifunctional Polymer Research

Guoqiang Li · Louisiana State University

Supporting the Success of Physical and Quantitative Sciences Scholars in Rural Appalachia

Anna Mummert · Marshall University Research Corporation

Conference: Multi-disciplinary views of subduction processes

Kathleen Surpless · Trinity University

EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP): Empowering STEM doctoral education through cohort-based NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program

Lingyu Yu · University of South Carolina at Columbia

EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP): University of Delaware

Louis Rossi · University of Delaware

EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP): Fueling the Research Pathway: Fellowships for High-Impact Training at the University of Nebraska

Jennifer Wood · University of Nebraska-Lincoln

EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP): Research, Leadership, and Service - Louisiana Tech University

Collin Wick · Louisiana Tech University

EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP): AIM Fellows - Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Industry PhD Fellowships with data science, cybersecurity, and online safety

Christopher Danforth · University of Vermont & State Agricultural College

Developing STEM Identities and Geoarchaeological Innovation through Immersive Technology for Workforce Pathways

Laurie Miroff · SUNY at Binghamton

Research-based Interventions for Engaging Low-Income Undergraduates in STEM

Daniel Asunskis · Black Hills State University

Stereo and Chemoselective Inclusion Complexations by Chiral Pillararenes and Ultra-Deep Molecular Baskets in Water

Jovica Badjic · OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, THE

Excellence in Research: Empowering Sustainable Aquaponics with AI and Robotics for Enhanced Resource Efficiency

Chyer Kim · Virginia State University

X ENERGY, LLC

COMPETITIVE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT: ADVANCED REACTOR DEMONSTRATION FOA# DE-FOA-0002271 PATHWAY 1 ADVANCED REACTOR DEMONSTRATIONS (DEMOS) AWARD TO X ENERGY, LLC THIS PROGRAM IS INTENDED TO FACILITATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF U.S. PRIVATE INDUSTRY ADVANCED NUCLEAR REACTOR DEMONSTRATIONS. IT WILL PROVIDE FUNDING FOR SEVERAL ADVANCED REACTORS THAT ARE RELIABLE, COST EFFECTIVE, LICENSABLE, AND COMMERCIALLY VIABLE. THESE DESIGNS ARE EXPECTED TO ENABLE A MARKET ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH COMMERCIAL REACTOR SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE THAT ARE SAFE AND AFFORDABLE TO BOTH CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE WHEN COMPARED TO COMPETING, ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY IN THE NEAR- AND MID-TERM. THESE DESIGNS ARE EXPECTED TO PROVIDE SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENTS IN SAFETY, SECURITY, ECONOMICS, AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OVER CURRENT NUCLEAR POWER PLANT DESIGNS.

DEEP BLUE GEOPHYSICS, LLC

DEEP BLUE GEOPHYSICS, LLC - NEW AWARD CONTROL #3593-1504 DE-FOA-0003593 (ROCKS SBIR/STTR) TITLE: V6EM: UAV-BASED CONTROLLED-SOURCE ELECTROMAGNETICS FOR RAPID ORE CHARACTERIZATION DEEP BLUE GEOPHYSICS, LLC IS DEVELOPING V6EM, A NEXT-GENERATION MINERAL EXPLORATION SYSTEM THAT DEPLOYS COORDINATED DRONE FLEETS TO MAP SUBSURFACE GEOLOGY AT DEPTHS UP TO 1,000 METERS. THE TECHNOLOGY ADAPTS CONTROLLED-SOURCE ELECTROMAGNETIC METHODS, WIDELY USED AND VALIDATED IN OFFSHORE ENERGY EXPLORATION, TO THE CHALLENGE OF LOCATING CRITICAL MINERALS ON LAND. THE SYSTEM WORKS BY TRANSMITTING BROADBAND ELECTROMAGNETIC SIGNALS FROM GROUND-BASED SOURCES WHILE SENSOR-EQUIPPED DRONES FLY OVERHEAD, MEASURING ELECTRIC AND MAGNETIC FIELD RESPONSES AT THOUSANDS OF LOCATIONS. CLOUD-BASED PROCESSING CONVERTS THESE MEASUREMENTS INTO DETAILED 3D IMAGES OF SUBSURFACE ROCK PROPERTIES WITHIN 24 HOURS, FAST ENOUGH TO GUIDE THE NEXT DAY’S FLIGHT PLAN. V6EM ADDRESSES A MAJOR BOTTLENECK IN U.S. MINERAL DEVELOPMENT: CONVENTIONAL GROUND SURVEYS REQUIRE WEEKS OF PERMITTING, VEGETATION CLEARING, AND ELECTRODE INSTALLATION, YET OFTEN PROVIDE ONLY SPARSE COVERAGE WITH SIGNIFICANT UNCERTAINTY. V6EM SURVEYS THE SAME AREA IN DAYS RATHER THAN MONTHS, ACHIEVES MUCH DENSER SPATIAL SAMPLING, AND CAN OPERATE IN TERRAIN DIFFICULT FOR GROUND CREWS, INCLUDING STEEP SLOPES, ACTIVE MINE PERIMETERS, FORESTS, AND ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE LANDS. THE SYSTEM WILL BE VALIDATED AT THREE U.S. SITES REPRESENTING KEY CRITICAL MINERAL DEPOSIT TYPES: RARE EARTH CARBONATITES IN WYOMING, ION-ADSORPTION REE CLAYS IN SOUTH CAROLINA, AND COPPER PORPHYRY SYSTEMS IN ARIZONA. AFTER SUCCESSFUL DEMONSTRATION, DEEP BLUE GEOPHYSICS WILL OFFER V6EM AS A COMMERCIAL SURVEY SERVICE FOR U.S. MINING COMPANIES. ALL HARDWARE MANUFACTURING AND SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT WILL REMAIN U.S.-BASED, SUPPORTING DOMESTIC CAPABILITY IN ADVANCED EXPLORATION TECHNOLOGIES.

TRUSTEES OF THE COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES

PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARYTHE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS) FEDERALLY OWNED ENERGY AND MINERALS RESEARCH FACILITY (EMRF) IN GOLDEN, CO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THEUNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY (USGS) AND COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES.THE USGS GEOLOGY, GEOPHYSICS, AND GEOCHEMISTRY (G3) AND CENTRAL ENERGY RESOURCES (CER), SCIENCE CENTERS PROVIDE UNIQUE RESEARCH AND OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES IN CRITICAL MINERALS, ENERGY RESOURCE EVALUATION, AND OTHER ESSENTIAL ENERGY AND MINERAL PROGRAM PRIORITIES FOR THE USGS AND DOI.THROUGH THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE LAW (BIL), THE USGS WILL VASTLY EXPAND INVESTMENTS IN CRITICAL MINERALS RESEARCH, ADVANCE THE DATA PRESERVATION OF GEOLOGICAL AND GEOPHYSICAL DATA, AND SUPPORT CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW USGS RESEARCH FACILITY TO SUPPORT ENERGY AND MINERALS RESEARCH. THE USGS IS COMMITTED TO INVESTING IN OUR NATION'S INFRASTRUCTURE AND ADVANCING THE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLEAN ENERGY SUPPLY CHAIN. A NEW FACILITY WILL ENABLE COOPERATIVE SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH, EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, AND TECHNOLOGICAL COLLABORATION TO MAXIMIZE CONTRIBUTIONS TO BASIC AND APPLIED EARTH SCIENCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF SOLVING NATURAL RESOURCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS, AND BENEFITTING LOCAL COMMUNITIES, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF COLORADO AND THE NATION.THE BIL PROVIDES $167 MILLION DIRECTLY TO THE USGS TO SUPPORT THE NEW ENERGY AND MINERALS RESEARCH FACILITY (EMRF). FUNDS WILL BE USED FOR DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A USGS-OWNED FACILITY TO SUPPORT ENERGY AND MINERALS RESEARCH AND APPURTENANT ASSOCIATE STRUCTURES, THROUGH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH AN ACADEMIC PARTNER. FUNDING IS PLANNED TO BE AVAILABLE IN FY 2022 UNTIL EXPENDED.ADDITIONAL FY 2023 AND FY 2024 FUNDING IS ANTICIPATED BY THE USGS INFRASTRUCTURE FIVE-YEAR PLAN TO COMPLETE THE PROJECT. ADDITIONAL FUNDING AMOUNTS WILL BE DETERMINED BY THE PROGRAM VALIDATION AND SCHEMATIC DESIGN TASK EFFORTS. USGS ENERGY AND MINERALS SCIENCE CAPABILITIES AND SPACE REQUIREMENTS WILL BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.THE U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY INTENDS TO ESTABLISH A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WITH THE COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES (MINES) FOR THE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW FEDERALLY OWNED ENERGY AND MINERALS RESEARCH FACILITY (EMRF) TO BE LOCATED ON LAND OWNED BY MINES. THE NEW LABORATORY AND OFFICE FACILITY WILL SUPPORT USGS AND MINES ENERGY AND MINERAL SCIENCE OPERATIONS.PHASE 1 OF THE COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT WILL FOCUS ON THE PROGRAM VALIDATION AND SCHEMATIC DESIGN ACTIVITIES OF THE PROJECT. PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT, USGS WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY INVOLVED THROUGHOUT PHASE 1 AND THE ENTIRE PROJECT ENSURING FEDERAL BUILDING REQUIREMENTS ARE INTEGRATED IN THE DESIGN AND THE NEW SPACE SUPPORTS USGS SCIENCE IN FURTHERANCE OF PROGRAMMATIC MISSION REQUIREMENTS.THE PROJECT SHALL BE LOCATED ON THE MINES CAMPUS WITH THE NEW FACILITY BEING ADJACENT TO THE EXISTING USGS GEOLOGIC HAZARDS SCIENCE CENTER.

ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

PROJECT TITLE: SEWARD PENINSULA GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYSPROJECT PERIOD: 03 10 2026 TO 03 09 2029 PURPOSETHIS PROJECT BUILDS UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNITED STATES POTENTIAL TO HOST YET-TO-BE-DISCOVEREDDEPOSITS OF CRITICAL MINERAL RESOURCES THROUGH GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYING OF SELECTED AREAS WITH KNOWNPOTENTIAL AND LIMITED AVAILABLE DATA. THE PROJECT IS PART OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS ONGOING EARTHMAPPING RESOURCES INITIATIVE (EARTH MRI). THE SEWARD PENINSULA GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS PROJECT COVERSMULTIPLE REGIONS OF WESTERN ALASKA.CRITICAL MINERALS ARE MINERAL COMMODITIES THAT ARE BOTH CRITICAL TO THE U.S. ECONOMY AND NATIONALSECURITY AND HAVE A SUPPLY CHAIN VULNERABLE TO DISRUPTION. AS OF 2022, THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY LISTS 50SUCH COMMODITIES. ON THE SEWARD PENINSULA, THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY HAS IDENTIFIED HIGH POTENTIAL FORTIN-TUNGSTEN-TANTALUM-FLUORSPAR, COPPER-COBALT-SILVER-GERMANIUM-GALLIUM, REE-THORIUM-YTTRIUM-NIOBIUMSYSTEMS, AS WELL AS OTHER CRITICAL AND CONVENTIONAL MINERAL RESOURCES.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMEDAIRBORNE MAGNETIC AND RADIOMETRIC DATA WILL BE COLLECTED IN THE SEWARD PENINSULA REGIONS OFALASKA. THE RESULTING HIGH-QUALITY GEOPHYSICAL DATA WILL PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCING FUTUREALASKA DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS AND U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOLOGICAL MAPPINGAND MINERAL-RESOURCE EVALUATIONS.GEOPHYSICAL DATA ARE ROUTINELY USED IN GEOSCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS TO MAP THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OFAN AREA S GEOLOGIC FEATURES IN 2D AND 3D SPACE, AND TO GUIDE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, GEOLOGIC MAPPING,MINERAL-RESOURCE EVALUATIONS, AND EXPLORATION EFFORTS. MAGNETIC DATA IS USEFUL FOR DISTINGUISHING VARIOUSMAGNETIC UNITS AND FOR CORRELATING GEOLOGY THROUGH AREAS COVERED BY VEGETATION AND SURFICIAL DEPOSITS.RADIOMETRIC DATA ARE USEFUL FOR DISTINGUISHING IGNEOUS ROCK SUITES WITH VARYING URANIUM, THORIUM, ANDPOTASSIUM CONTENTS, AND DIFFERENTIATING IGNEOUS ROCKS WITH VARYING MINERAL-RESOURCE POTENTIAL.DELIVERABLESDELIVERABLES FROM THIS PROJECT WILL INCLUDE THE RAW AND PROCESSED MAGNETIC AND RADIOMETRICGEOPHYSICAL DATA. THIS DATA WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND WILL BE PUBLISHED IN A VARIETY OF DIGITAL DATAFORMATS SUITABLE TO USERS OF ALL LEVELS, ENHANCING DATA UPTAKE AND USABILITY.BENEFICIARIESTHE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE ALL PARTIES WITH AN INTEREST IN MINERAL RESOURCESAND THE BEDROCK GEOLOGY OF ALASKA, INCLUDING STATE AND FEDERAL LAND MANAGERS, MINERAL EXPLORATIONCOMPANIES, ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT (ANCSA) CORPORATIONS, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHERS, AND THEINTERESTED PUBLIC.ANTICIPATED SUBRECIPIENTS OF THIS AWARD WILL BE AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICAL CONTRACTORS, AVIATION SERVICEPROVIDERS, AND SUPPORTING BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THESE SURVEYS WILL BE BASED OUT OF.

ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

PROJECT TITLE: TIER-II MAGNETIC AND RADIOMETRIC DATA WITHIN THE WESTERN KUSKOKWIM RIVER (WKR) AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICAL DATA-ACQUISITION REGION FOR THE FFY2023 EARTH MRI PROGRAMPROJECT PERIOD: 07 01 2023 - 06 30 2025PURPOSE: THE RESULTING HIGH-QUALITY GEOPHYSICAL DATA WILL PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCING FUTURE DGGS AND USGS GEOLOGICAL MAPPING AND MINERAL-RESOURCE EVALUATIONS, AND HENCE, UNDERSTANDING OF THE AREA S CRITICAL-MINERAL POTENTIAL AS WELL. MAGNETIC DATA ARE USEFUL FOR DISTINGUISHING VARIOUS MAGNETIC UNITS AND FOR CORRELATING GEOLOGY THROUGH AREAS COVERED BY VEGETATION AND SURFICIAL DEPOSITS. INVERSIONS AND MODELLING OF AVAILABLE MAGNETIC AND ELECTROMAGNETIC DATA ARE USEFUL FOR BUILDING GEOLOGIC-MAP CROSSSECTIONS AND UNDERSTANDING THE 2D AND 3D GEOMETRY OF SUBSURFACE GEOLOGIC BODIES AND STRUCTURES.ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THE DGGS WILL BE THE LEAD GEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR GEOPHYSICAL-SURVEY CONTRACTING, DESIGN, QA QC, AND PUBLICATION. DGGS WILL WORK COLLABORATIVELY WITH THE USGS ON ALL ASPECTS OF GEOPHYSICAL-SURVEY DESIGN AND LOCATION. DGGS WILL CONTRACT DATA ACQUISITION TO PRE-QUALIFIED GEOPHYSICAL DATA-COLLECTION VENDORS THAT ARE ON OUR MASTER AGREEMENT LIST. INDIVIDUAL GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS WILL BE AWARDED TO ONE OR MORE OF THESE VENDORS USING A COMPETITIVE-BID TASK ORDER SOLICITATION (TOS).DELIVERABLES AND OUTCOMES: WITHIN THREE YEARS OF RECEIPT OF FUNDING, ALL DATA FROM THE WKR AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC VIA THE DGGS WEB SITE IN DIGITAL FORMAT AFTER GOING THROUGH THE DGGS PUBLICATION-REVIEW AND APPROVAL PROCESS. DATA WILL BE PROVIDED IN A VARIETY OF INDUSTRY STANDARD FORMATS WITH CLEAR AND CONCISE METADATA AND README FILES.

ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES

PROJECT ABSTRACT SUMMARYPROJECT TITLE: KUSKOKWIM-SEWARD GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYSPROJECT PERIOD: DECEMBER 15, 2024 TO DECEMBER 14, 2027THIS PROJECT BUILDS UNDERSTANDING OF THE UNITED STATES POTENTIAL TO HOST YET-TO-BE-DISCOVERED DEPOSITS OF CRITICAL MINERAL RESOURCES THROUGH GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYING OF SELECTED AREAS WITH KNOWN POTENTIAL AND LIMITED AVAILABLE DATA. THE PROJECT IS PART OF THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS ONGOING EARTH MAPPING RESOURCES INITIATIVE (EARTH MRI). THE KUSKOKWIM-SEWARD GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS PROJECT COVERS MULTIPLE REGIONS OF WESTERN ALASKA.CRITICAL MINERALS ARE MINERAL COMMODITIES THAT ARE BOTH CRITICAL TO THE U.S. ECONOMY AND NATIONAL SECURITY AND HAVE A SUPPLY CHAIN VULNERABLE TO DISRUPTION. AS OF 2022, THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY LISTS 50 SUCH COMMODITIES. THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY IDENTIFIED THE KUSKOKWIM RIVER REGION OF ALASKA AS PROSPECTIVE FOR RARE-EARTH ELEMENTS (REE), TIN-TUNGSTEN SYSTEMS, PLATINUM GROUP ELEMENTS AS WELL AS OTHER CRITICAL AND NON-CRITICAL MINERAL RESOURCES IN MULTIPLE PERMISSIBLE MINERAL-SYSTEM TYPES. ON THE SEWARD PENINSULA, THE U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY HAS IDENTIFIED HIGH POTENTIAL FOR TIN-TUNGSTEN-TANTALUM-FLUORSPAR, COPPER-COBALT-SILVER-GERMANIUM-GALLIUM, REE-THORIUM-YTTRIUM-NIOBIUM SYSTEMS, AS WELL AS OTHER CRITICAL AND CONVENTIONAL MINERAL RESOURCES. AIRBORNE MAGNETIC AND RADIOMETRIC DATA WILL BE COLLECTED IN THE KUSKOKWIM RIVER AND SEWARD PENINSULA REGIONS OF ALASKA. THE RESULTING HIGH-QUALITY GEOPHYSICAL DATA WILL PROVIDE THE FRAMEWORK FOR ENHANCING FUTURE ALASKA DIVISION OF GEOLOGICAL GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS AND U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY GEOLOGICAL MAPPING AND MINERAL-RESOURCE EVALUATIONS. GEOPHYSICAL DATA ARE ROUTINELY USED IN GEOSCIENCE INVESTIGATIONS TO MAP THE SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION OF AN AREA S GEOLOGIC FEATURES IN 2D AND 3D SPACE, AND TO GUIDE SCIENTIFIC STUDIES, GEOLOGIC MAPPING, MINERAL-RESOURCE EVALUATIONS, AND EXPLORATION EFFORTS. MAGNETIC DATA ARE USEFUL FOR DISTINGUISHING VARIOUS MAGNETIC UNITS AND FOR CORRELATING GEOLOGY THROUGH AREAS COVERED BY VEGETATION AND SURFICIAL DEPOSITS. RADIOMETRIC DATA ARE USEFUL FOR DISTINGUISHING IGNEOUS ROCK SUITES WITH VARYING URANIUM, THORIUM, AND POTASSIUM CONTENTS, AND DIFFERENTIATING IGNEOUS ROCKS WITH VARYING MINERAL-RESOURCE POTENTIAL.DELIVERABLES FROM THIS PROJECT WILL INCLUDE THE RAW AND PROCESSED MAGNETIC AND RADIOMETRIC GEOPHYSICAL DATA. THESE DATA WILL BE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND WILL BE PUBLISHED IN A VARIETY OF DIGITAL DATA FORMATS SUITABLE TO USERS OF ALL LEVELS, ENHANCING DATA UPTAKE AND USABILITY.THE INTENDED BENEFICIARIES OF THIS PROJECT INCLUDE ALL PARTIES WITH AN INTEREST IN MINERAL RESOURCES AND THE BEDROCK GEOLOGY OF ALASKA, INCLUDING STATE AND FEDERAL LAND MANAGERS, MINERAL EXPLORATION COMPANIES, ALASKA NATIVE CLAIMS SETTLEMENT ACT (ANCSA) CORPORATIONS, SCIENTIFIC RESEARCHERS, AND THE INTERESTED PUBLIC.ANTICIPATED SUBRECIPIENTS OF THIS AWARD WILL BE AIRBORNE GEOPHYSICAL CONTRACTORS, AVIATION SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND SUPPORTING BUSINESS IN THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THESE SURVEYS WILL BE BASED OUT OF.