| Illinois Basin Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals Initiative |  |  |
Project Information
| Prime Performer: | University of Illinois (Champaign, IL) | Agreement Number: | FE0032049 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Project Duration: | 09/21/2021 - 08/30/2024 | Total Award Value: | $2,426,926 | |
| Technology Area: | Enabling Technologies | DOE Share: | $1,999,942 | |
| Key Technology: | Performer Share: | $426,984 | ||
Project Description
Carbon ore, rare earths and critical minerals (CORE-CM) projects focus on six objectives: (1) basinal assessment of CORE-CM resources, (2) basinal strategies for reuse of waste streams, (3) basinal strategies for infrastructure, industries, and businesses, (4) technology assessment, development, and field testing, (5) technology innovation centers, and (6) stakeholder outreach and education. This Illinois Basin CORE-CM project will evaluate the domestic occurrence of strategic elements in coal, coal-based resources, and waste streams from coal use in the region of the Illinois Basin. The Illinois State Geological Survey-led project will conduct a basin-wide assessment of CORE-CM in coal, coal-based, and waste stream resources that will include CORE-CM availability and abundances. Additionally, the project will assess the mining practices, separation technologies, and local infrastructure necessary to produce and provide CORE-CM resources for U.S. industry and stimulate regional economic growth. The project team performing this work includes state geological surveys, regional universities, national laboratories, and industries active in the region of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, and Tennessee. The Illinois Basin assessment will catalog and model existing geochemical and geological data to identify areas of CORE-CM resources in the area having potential economic viability. Regional infrastructure, industries, and businesses, either existing or required to integrate and utilize CORE-CM resources in the IB, will be evaluated. A strategic stakeholder and outreach program will be designed to engage relevant industries and commercial interests. Technologies most relevant to the Illinois Basin distribution and occurrence of CORE-CM in relation to mining techniques, the processing and separation of CORE-CM, and the incorporation of CORE-CM into products will be identified, characterized, and described. A technology innovation center will be developed to address IB CORE-CM-specific analytical challenges, extraction requirements, resource assessments, and product creation and will serve as a focus for outreach, industry participation, and the pursuit of commercial opportunities.
Project Benefits
CORE-CM projects will develop and implement strategies that enable each specific U.S. basin to realize its full economic potential for producing rare earth elements, critical minerals and high-value, nonfuel, carbon-based products from basin-contained resources.
Presentations, Papers, and Publications
- The Illinois Basin Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals Initiative (Nov 2024)
Final Technical Presentation - Illinois Basin (IB) Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative (Oct 2021)
Kickoff Meeting Slides
Contact Information
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