Mineral Resources and Society: A Review of the U.S. Geological Survey's Mineral Resource Surveys Program Plan (1996)

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EVALUATION OF THE MRSP PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 39 SUBPROGRAMS SIDEBAR 2.1 SELECTED GRAND CHALLENGES IN MINERAL DEPOSIT RESEARCH (1) Understand the origins of giant ore deposits and their relation to smaller deposits. A disproportionately large share of world production of any mineral commodity comes from a few very large deposits, and the United States is fortunate in possessing a number of these large deposits commonly referred to as giants. (2) Determine the timing and duration of ore-forming and ore-modifying processes. There is great promise for rapid advances in this area of research due to recent advances in analytical techniques. Better information about the timing and duration of ore-forming processes will improve mineral resource assessments and mineral exploration. (3) Understand low-temperature thermodynamics and kinetics of water- rock interactions in order to predict the environmental behavior of mineral deposits. This area of research is relevant to environmental stewardship in active mines and to remediation of abandoned mine sites. (4) Conduct continental reconstruction research that investigates the relations of ore deposits to crustal evolution. This area of research is applicable to mineral assessments and may prove useful for locating buried ore deposits. Subprogram Recommendations The panel recommends the following changes and modifications to the Resource Investigations Subprogram: Recommendation I Merge two components of the Mitigation Studies Subprogram, namely, (1) Studies in Support of Remediation, and (2) Environmental Behavior of Mineral Deposits, into the Resource Investigations Subprogram, as recommended in the section on Mitigation Studies (see Recommendation D above). A suggested name for this 

EVALUATION OF THE MRSP PLAN AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR 40 SUBPROGRAMS combined subprogram is the “Resource and Environmental Investigations Subprogram.” The rationale for this recommendation is discussed in greater detail in the evaluation of the Mitigation Studies Subprogram. This recommendation is repeated here because it effects both the Mitigation Studies Subprogram and the Resource Investigations Subprogram. Recommendation J Revitalize the core competence to conduct basic and applied research on mineral deposits under the Resource Investigations Subprogram, which provides essential information for other MRSP subprograms and numerous users. A continued decline in funding for this subprogram proposed in the Plan will adversely impact the entire MRSP. For example, research on the origins of mineral deposits and the age of mineralization is required to improve mineral resource assessments. Likewise, an understanding of the low-temperature thermodynamics and kinetics of water–rock interactions is essential to predicting the environmental behavior of mineral deposits. The panel recommends that basic research elements in the MRSP should be emphasized, but internal competition for funds and better priority setting methods should be developed. Recommendation K Continue basic research conducted under two components in the Resource Investigations Subprogram—Mineral-Resource Frontiers and Mineral-Deposit Studies—such as low-temperature chemistry of water-rock interaction, timing of ore-forming processes, origin of giant ore deposits, and ore deposit evolution as related to continental reconstruction. Recommendation L Evaluate the feasibility of replacing the Cooperative Industry and International Investigations element with a CRADA system, whereby industrial and foreign government users would provide funding toward needed MRSP research. The Geological Survey of Canada's Industrial Partners Program is a potential model for industry-MRSP joint efforts (Appendix D). This evaluation could be conducted by an external advisory panel (see General Recommendation 4).