Utah Geological Survey

Project Title: Geochemical Reconnaissance of Alunite Deposits in Southwest Utahproject Period: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027 (3 Years)project Purpose: Alunite Is an Important Potential Source of Both Aluminum (AL) and Potash (aspotassium Sulfate or K2SO4) and the Proposed Project Will Provide New Data on Potentially Significantalunite Replacement Deposits in and Near the Pink Knolls and Broken Ridge Mining Districts in Utah.limited Information Is Available for These Deposits and Geochemical Sampling of These Areas Could Providefoundational, Publicly Available Data. the Primary Goal of This Study Is to Better Define the Geochemistry,grade, and Extent of the Deposits as an Al Resource and to Identify Potential for Associated Critical Mineralssuch as Gallium (ga). the Targeted Alunite Deposits for This Study Have Potential to Enhance Thesignificance of the Nearby Blawn Mountain Deposit, the Largest Alunite Deposit in the United States. Theblawn Mountain Deposit Has Attracted Development Interest Over the Last Two Decades and Has Been Welldefined as a Significant Potential Source of Al and Potassium Sulfate. the Alunite Deposits Proposed Forstudy Are Between 5 and 16 Miles From the Blawn Mountain Deposit and Could Represent Importantexpansions of the Blawn Mountain Resource Should It Be Mined in the Future. Beyond Delineating Thealunite Resources, This Geochemical Reconnaissance Could Provide Helpful Data for Later Studies Seeking Toidentify Other Deposits Genetically Related to the Advanced Argillic Alteration That Produced the Alunite.activities to Be Performed: the Utah Geological Survey Proposes to Collect 400 to 500 Samples Andmap the Extents of the Alunite Deposits Within the Proposed Project Area. the Utah Geological Survey Willalso Map Important Geologic Structures That May Be Associated With the Deposits. Detailed Descriptions Ofthe Deposits Will Also Be Completed.deliverables and Expected Outcomes: a Database of Geochemistry From the Samples Collected and Asummary Report Describing the Alunite Deposits Will Be Available to the Public. the Summary Report Willinclude Maps Showing the Extent of the Deposits as Well as Any Other Useful Data Generated From Theproject. These Deliverables Will Be Downloadable by the Public on the Utah Geological Survey Website.intended Beneficiaries: the Resulting Data From This Project Will Be Useful to Industry (e.g., Mining Andexploration Companies), Government Agencies (e.g., the U.s. Bureau of Land Management, the Utahschool and Institutional Trust Lands Administration), Academia, and the Public.subrecipient Activities: N a