Upgrade of Fluid Inclusion Research Facilities for Energy Transition Geoscience Research

The Kentucky Geological Survey (KGS) currently operates a Linkam THMSG600 heating-freezing stage, which is used in externally funded fluid inclusion studies in support of energy transition geoscience research projects. As key components to the energy transition, critical minerals offer a potential to replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources. The resulting increase in demand for critical minerals cannot be met by recycling alone. In the past few years, KGS has become one of the leading state geological surveys in critical mineral research attracting several external grants to characterize Kentucky’s critical mineral resource potential. Fluid and melt inclusion analyses are essential components of mineral deposit research. The capabilities at KGS are currently limited to heating experiments up to 600°C and investigations of fluid inclusions in transparent minerals. We request funding to expand these capabilities to up to 1400°C and to include infrared capabilities to enable the study of fluid and melt inclusions in opaque minerals that will allow us to provide a better understanding of germanium, gallium, rare earth element and other critical mineral-bearing mineral occurrences. Furthermore, funds are requested to service and update the existing fluid inclusion infrastructure, and training in melt inclusion analysis. These upgrades will result in a state-of-the-art fluid inclusion research facility at the University of Kentucky. This in turn will enable researchers to compete for further external funding, including from the National Science Foundation, which has identified critical mineral research as one of their top priorities for the current decade.