Gallium Deposits in the United States

Dates

Publication Date: 2021-02-22

Citation

Karl, N.A., Gnesda, W.R., Mauk, J.L., and Ringer, A.L., 2021, Gallium Deposits in the United States: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9S73UYY.

Summary

This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release provides the descriptions of the only U.S. sites—including mineral regions, mineral occurrences, and mine features—that have reported production and (or) resources of gallium (Ga). The sites in this data release have contained resource and (or) past production of more than 16 metric tons Ga metal, which was the approximate average annual consumption of Ga in the U.S. from 2016 through 2020. This dataset contains the Round Top deposit in Texas and the Apex deposit in Utah. Gallium occurs in many different minerals and rocks where substitution takes place with elements of similar size, such as zinc, or similar charge, such as aluminum. Therefore, Ga is primarily recovered as a byproduct [...]

Summary

This U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data release provides the descriptions of the only U.S. sites—including mineral regions, mineral occurrences, and mine features—that have reported production and (or) resources of gallium (Ga). The sites in this data release have contained resource and (or) past production of more than 16 metric tons Ga metal, which was the approximate average annual consumption of Ga in the U.S. from 2016 through 2020. This dataset contains the Round Top deposit in Texas and the Apex deposit in Utah.

Gallium occurs in many different minerals and rocks where substitution takes place with elements of similar size, such as zinc, or similar charge, such as aluminum. Therefore, Ga is primarily recovered as a byproduct of processing aluminum or zinc ores (Foley and others, 2017). Some U.S. zinc deposits contain up to 50 parts per million Ga, but Ga is not currently recovered from U.S. mineral deposits.

Gallium is necessary for strategic, consumer, and commercial applications. Gallium is used in thin-film photovoltaics, and is important as an application for clean energy technologies. In 2020, the U.S. was 100 percent net import reliant on Ga from countries such as China, United Kingdom, Germany, and others (U.S. Geological Survey, 2021).

The entries and descriptions in the database were derived from published papers, reports, data, and internet documents representing a variety of sources, including geologic and exploration studies described in State, Federal, and industry reports. Resources extracted from older sources might not be compliant with current rules and guidelines in minerals industry standards such as National Instrument 43-101 (NI 43-101). The presence of a Ga mineral deposit in this database is not meant to imply that the deposit is currently economic. Rather, these deposits were included to capture the characteristics of the largest Ga deposits in the United States. Inclusion of material in the database is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. The authors welcome additional published information in order to continually update and refine this dataset.

Foley, N.K., Jaskula, B.W., Kimball, B.E., and Schulte, R.F., 2017, Gallium, chap. H of Schulz, K.J., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., Seal, R.R., II, and Bradley, D.C., eds., Critical mineral resources of the United States—Economic and environmental geology and prospects for future supply: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1802, p. H1–H35, https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1802H.

U.S. Geological Survey, 2021, Mineral commodity summaries 2021: U.S. Geological Survey, 200 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/mcs2021.

Contacts

Point of Contact :: Jeffrey L Mauk
Originator :: Nick A Karl, William R Gnesda, Jeffrey L Mauk, Amanda L Ringer
Metadata Contact :: Carma A San Juan
Data Owner :: Mineral Resources Program
SDC Data Owner :: Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
USGS Mission Area :: Energy and Minerals
Distributor :: U.S. Geological Survey - ScienceBase
Publisher :: U.S. Geological Survey

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USGS_Gallium_US_Metadata.xml “Data documentation and instructions” Original FGDC Metadata	View	91.72 KB	application/fgdc+xml
USGS_Gallium_US_Thumbnail.png “Sphalerite ore, and imagery of Round Top, Texas”		3.96 MB	image/png
USGS_Gallium_US_Shapefiles.zip “Gallium Shapefiles (and CSV files)”		74.08 KB	application/zip
USGS_Gallium_US_Metadata.zip “Gallium Metadata (XML, HTML, TXT)”		85.61 KB	application/zip
USGS_Gallium_US_Geodatabase.zip “Gallium Geodatabase”		432.23 KB	application/zip
USGS_Gallium_US_Excel.zip “Gallium data (Excel files and Data Dictionary)”		336.01 KB	application/zip
USGS_Gallium_US_CSV.zip “Gallium data (CSV files and Data Dictionary)”		14.85 KB	application/zip
00Readme_Gallium.txt “Readme file”		4.28 KB	text/plain

Extension: USGS_Gallium_US_Map_Service.zip
USGS_Gallium_US_Map_Service.sd “ArcGIS service definition, contains mxd and GIS data”		1.06 MB

Related External Resources

Type: Web Link

Other products by and additional information on the USGS Mineral Deposit Database Project	https://www.usgs.gov/usmin
USGS Mineral Deposit Database interactive map and downloadable data	https://mrdata.usgs.gov/deposit/
Additional interactive maps and downloadable data: USGS Mineral Resources Online Spatial Data	https://mrdata.usgs.gov/
USGS National Minerals Information Center (NMIC): Gallium Statistics and Information	https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nmic/gallium-statistics-and-information
Professional Paper 1802-H By: Nora K. Foley, Brian W. Jaskula, Bryn E. Kimball, and Ruth F. Schulte	https://doi.org/10.3133/pp1802H

Purpose

This dataset was developed as part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Geological Survey to identify and quantify known significant deposits of critical minerals within the United States. In the case of gallium (Ga), sites listed herein have reported production and (or) resources of more than 16 metric tons Ga metal, which was the approximate average annual consumption of Ga in the U.S. from 2016 through 2020. The geospatial data provide location, geologic description, and production and resource information. In general, the USGS uses this information to identify and quantify known resources of critical minerals, delineate mineral resource permissive tracts (geographic areas in which specific types of mineral deposits may occur), develop assessments of potential undiscovered mineral resources, determine where and how environmental effects of mining may be observed, and understand the natural variability found in mineral deposits of particular types. The data also support the Federal strategic objective to secure reliable supplies of critical minerals by providing information for geoscience research and mineral exploration to State and Federal agencies, private industry, and the general public.

Gallium Deposits in the United States

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