Critical Minerals of Utah, Second Edition

Abstract

Utah is a state with diverse geology and natural resources, and this diversity extends to mineral resources that are deemed critical by the U.S. Department of the Interior. Utah’s critical mineral portfolio includes current producers, known resources, areas of past production, and undeveloped occurrences. This report, now in its second edition, summarizes the geographic and geologic distribution of critical minerals within Utah. Utah is notable for being the global leader in beryllium production; being the only domestic producer of magnesium metal; being one of only two states producing lithium (as of publication); and being a byproduct producer of tellurium, platinum, and palladium from the world-class Bingham Canyon mine, which is one of only two domestic tellurium producers. Utah has known resources of aluminum, fluorspar, germanium, gallium, indium, vanadium, and zinc, as well as past production and occurrences of many other critical minerals. In total, Utah currently produces 6 critical minerals, has known resources of 7 more, and hosts an additional 27 as past producers and/or occurrences with limited potential for economic development.