State geologist visits Worland to discuss rare elements

WORLAND - The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Worland Field Office hosted a presentation about Wyoming's rare earth elements (REE) on Wednesday, by Wayne M. Sutherland of the Wyoming State Geological Survey. Afterward, Sutherland visited the Worland lab of BLM geologist Marilyn Wegweiser and staff, where the geologists examined the atom count of various minerals using an electron microscope, and discussed field research in Wyoming.

"The Wyoming State Geological Survey was given a state grant in 2012, to study rare earth elements, and the report was written, but there was money left over so the Legislature asked us to continue," remarked Sutherland. "We did some further investigation and ended up collecting 275 samples from across the state."

According to the BLM, REE have been known in Wyoming since the 1930s, with minor production reported from a few small deposits. Early exploration focused on associated minerals and elements such as uranium and thorium. Modern technology has significantly reduced the cost of multi-element analyses and has helped provide data that can aid exploration across the state for other potential economic resources.

"The Legislature didn't restrict what we could sample," said Sutherland, "So that also included arsenic and uranium, where it could be found." The analysis of arsenic is important, noted Sutherland "because, high levels of arsenic is a pathfinder to gold."

While Wyoming never had a widely publicized gold rush like California or Montana, it did experience gold rushes in 1842 and 1867, with the culmination being a major strike in the area of South Pass. "For a major gold rush to happen, you've got to have three things: the actual gold, publicity, and a market for the stuff," explained Sutherland.

The elements found and identified by Sutherland and the State Geological Survey could have future use, and lead to further economic development. Currently, China accounts for 90 percent of REE, used in everything from high speed internet and data cable to batteries. "The biggest expense on our end has been collecting the samples," said Sutherland. "The result of our survey gives an indication for prospectors and corporations to explore further."

Sutherland noted that the department's full-spectrum analysis and report will be available online (wsgs.wyo.gov/minerals/wyodog) by the end of June.