Mineral Resources External Research Program (MRERP) 2005

The Mineral Resources Program (MRP) offered a grant and/or cooperative agreement opportunity (Word File, 304 KB) to universities, state agencies, industry, or other private sector organizations that have the ability to conduct research in topics that meet the goals of the Mineral Resources Program in March 2005. Sixteen proposals were submitted to the Mineral Resources External Research Program (MRERP) that met the goals of the MRP. The proposals were reviewed by a panel of 6 research scientists (5 from USGS and 1 external to the USGS) and the MRP is pleased to announce that it supported the following six proposals, listed in alphabetical order by principal investigator:

Principal Investigator: Michael Brown, Boswell Wing, and Sarah Penniston-Dorland
Affiliation: University of Maryland
Proposal Title: Petrogenesis of the Platreef, Bushveld Complex, South Africa, Interrogated Using Mass-Independent Sulfur Isotopes

Principal Investigator: Lang Farmer
Affiliation: University of Colorado
Proposal Title: Petrogenesis of Cretaceous, Gold-Related Plutons, Eastern Tintina Gold Province (TGP), Alaska and Yukon: Implications for Ore Genesis and Resource Distribution in the Northern Cordillera

Principal Investigator: Edmond Mathez
Affiliation: American Museum of Natural History
Proposal Title: Investigations of the Geochemical Evolution of the Stillwater Complex and Origin of Platinum Group Element Deposits from Analysis of Lead Isotopes

Principal Investigator: Paul Mueller and David Foster
Affiliation: University of Florida
Proposal Title: Relationship of Lithospheric Age and Composition to Mineral Resources Within, Beneath, and Adjacent to the Belt Basin

Principal Investigator: James Saunders and Willis Hames
Affiliation: Auburn University
Proposal Title: Geochronology of Volcanic-Hosted Low-Sulfidation Au-Ag Deposits, Winnemucca-Sleeper Mine area, Northern Great Basin, USA

Principal Investigator: Aaron Slowey and Gordon Brown
Affiliation: Stanford University
Proposal Title: Environmental Chemistry of Mercury in Sulfidogenic Sediments: A Key to Understanding the Ecological Impact of Mercury and Gold Mining

The goals of the Mineral Resources Program, as described in the MRP five-year plan for fiscal years 1999-2004, are as follows:

1. Understand the geologic setting and genesis of the Nation's mineral resources in a global context, in order to ensure a sustainable supply of minerals for the Nation's future.
2. Understand the influence of mineral deposits, mineralizing processes, and mineral-resource development on environmental integrity, ecosystems, public health, and geologic hazards.
3. Provide objective information and analysis related to minerals issues to support those who make decisions regarding national security, land use, resource policy, and environmental or public health and safety.
4. Collect, compile, analyze, and disseminate data and develop and maintain national and international databases for timely release of information to users.
5. Apply mineral-resource expertise and technologies to non-mineral-resource issues.