Speaker – Heather Hanna, Earth Science, North Carolina Geological Survey (host D. Grimley) Zoom

Seminar Title  – Mine waste as a potential resource: a critical minerals characterization of the Tungsten Queen mine tailings, Vance County, North Carolina

Abstract – Critical minerals are vital to the United States’ economy and national security, but are at high risk for supply chain shortages, necessitating identification of potential domestic sources. Mine waste provides a possible means to help meet the country’s growing critical minerals demand; however, more research is necessary to characterize the critical mineral content of tailings. This study, which represents the most comprehensive critical minerals characterization of the Tungsten Queen mine tailings, is part of a larger effort by the U.S. Geological Survey to better assess the critical mineral potential of mine waste.   

The Tungsten Queen Mine, part of the Hamme Tungsten Mining District in northern Vance County, NC, produced over 1 million short ton units of WO₃ before closing in 1971. The tailings have been identified as a probable resource for the critical mineral tungsten and a possible source for the critical mineral fluorspar, however, additional critical minerals have not been examined. This study analyzed both surficial and core samples from the Tungsten Queen tailings ponds to better understand the concentrations and distributions of critical minerals. These data, combined with the study’s volume analysis, were then used to calculate resource estimates for twelve critical minerals and two non-critical commodities. Finally, acid base accounting data provided a cursory assessment of the tailings’ potential to produce acid.