Global Platinum-Group Resources Estimated at More than 150K Metric Tons plus 1 more

[USGS Newsroom <oc_web@xxxxxxxx>]

Title: USGS Newsroom

Global Platinum-Group Resources Estimated at More than 150K Metric Tons plus 1 more

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Global Platinum-Group Resources Estimated at More than 150K Metric Tons

Posted: 15 May 2014 06:00 AM PDT

Summary: The first-ever inventory and geological assessment of known and undiscovered platinum-group element (PGE) resources estimates that more than 150,000 metric tons of PGEs may exist in the two southern African countries that produce most of the global supply of these critical elements.

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Contact Information:

Mike Zientek ( Phone: 509-368-3105 ); Diane Noserale ( Phone: 703-648-4333 );

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The first-ever inventory and geological assessment of known and undiscovered platinum-group element (PGE) resources estimates that more than 150,000 metric tons of PGEs may exist in the two southern African countries that produce most of the global supply of these critical elements.

The USGS study identifies 78K metric tons of known PGE resources in South Africa and Zimbabwe and estimates 75K metric tons in PGE resources that may be present, but are undiscovered. This is more than 20 times the total tonnage produced since the 1920s when PGE mining began in these countries.

The U.S. is 90 percent reliant on imports of PGEs which are essential for cleaning automobile exhaust, for manufacturing glass, fertilizer, high-octane fuel, and a variety of chemicals, including cancer fighting drugs. They are widely used in jewelry and electronics such as hard drives, circuitry, and cell phones. PGEs could play a crucial role in fuel cell technology to produce clean energy for cars, homes, and businesses.

The identified resources will meet global demand for many decades, given current growth rates and with supplies also coming from recycling, according to the study. About 90 percent of PGEs in the Earth occur in limited areas of only three countries: South Africa’s Bushveld Complex, Zimbabwe’s Great Dyke, and Russia’s Norilsk region.

“The potential global PGE supply is nearly double what we understood from previous studies, but the geographic concentration of the world’s resources in a few locations leaves the supply of this critical resource open to short-term disruptions,” said USGS Mineral Resources Program Coordinator Larry Meinert. “The supply will more likely be affected in the short term by social, environmental, political and economic factors than from depletion from mining. This finding is consistent with previous studies of known PGE resources and with other studies that characterize future supplies of mineral resources that are critical to the nation,” said Meinert.

For example, water and energy supply shortages, which are common in southern Africa, could result in sudden PGE supply disruptions and may limit the recoverability of resources using advanced methods.

Increased population and higher standards of living have doubled global demand for PGEs in only 20 years. The global net demand for PGEs in 2012 was approximately 470 metric tons.

The USGS Mineral Resources Program delivers unbiased science and information to understand mineral resource potential, production, consumption, and how minerals interact with the environment.

Graph showing the amounts of PGE and minor gold in three major areas compared with the rest of the world. (High resolution image 1.2 MB)

Meeting the Elevation Needs of the Nation

Posted: 14 May 2014 08:00 AM PDT

Summary: Want to know how elevation will benefit your state? The USGS National Geospatial Program is advancing the 3D Elevation Program, known as 3DEP, in response to the growing need for high-quality three-dimensional representations of the Nation’s natural and constructed features

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Nearly 25 state-specific fact sheets are now available to understand 3DEP applications

Contact Information:

Mark Newell, APR ( Phone: 573-308-3850 ); Pat  Phillips ( Phone: 703-648-5931 ); Vicki  Lukas ( Phone: 703-648-4646 );

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Want to know how elevation will benefit your state? The USGS National Geospatial Program is advancing the 3D Elevation Program, known as 3DEP, in response to the growing need for high-quality three-dimensional representations of the Nation’s natural and constructed features. 3DEP uses modern technology to systematically collect high-density light detection and ranging (lidar) elevation data over the U.S. and interferometric synthetic aperture radar (ifsar) data above Alaska where cloud cover and remote locations preclude the use of lidar for much of the State. 

"Looking at lidar is like looking at the world through 3D glasses” said Kevin Gallagher, the USGS Associate Director for Core Science Systems. “Phenomena that were once obscured are suddenly fully evident in rich color and detail. As you might expect, the applications of such new and transformational data are growing rapidly, from civil engineering, precision agriculture and flood inundation modeling, to forest management, intelligent vehicle navigation and emergency response. A national dataset of such data will drive innovation, transform government and industry, and stimulate the economy."

Elevation data are essential to a broad range of applications and support a large range of business uses including national security, wildlife and habitat management, water resource management, and geologic hazards mitigation, to name a few.

Examples of how each state benefits from current high accuracy elevation data are explained in the 24 3DEP state fact sheets available on the 3DEP or The National Map websites. Those states include:

Alabama Alaska California Colorado Florida Idaho Kentucky Louisiana

Maine Maryland Minnesota Missouri Montana New Mexico New York North Dakota

Oregon Rhode Island South Dakota Tennessee Texas Virginia Washington Wisconsin

Remaining state-specific fact sheets will continue to be released in the near future.

The use of 3DEP technology has been recommended and endorsed by National Digital Elevation Program Committee and its 12 member agencies, the National States Geographic Information Council, the Management Association for Private Photogrametric Surveyors and the National Geospatial Advisory Committee.

Since 1990, USGS has collected National Elevation Data and has the Federal lead responsibility for terrestrial elevation data. The 3DEP project is designed to fulfill that coordination responsibility and to assure the Nation receives the essential high quality coverage.

For more information, visit the 3D Elevation Program (3DEP) website.

Lidar image showing the upper parts of the landslide that occurred in northwest Washington on March 22, 2014. (high resolution image)	Enhanced lidar image from the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, October 2012. (high resolution image)