Date of Graduation
5-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Geology (MS)
Degree Level
Graduate
Department
Geosciences
Advisor/Mentor
Pollock, Erik D.
Committee Member
Potra, Adriana
Second Committee Member
Coffman, Richard A.
Keywords
Carbon Fly Ash; Coal Combustion Residue; Critical Minerals; Economic viability; Geochemistry; Rare Earth Elements
Abstract
The growing demand for critical minerals, coupled with the increasing supply chain vulnerabilities, has intensified the need for alternative domestic resources of critical minerals beyond traditional mining. Many of these critical minerals are essential for advanced technologies, energy storage, and national security, yet the United States remains heavily dependent on foreign imports, particularly from China. This study evaluates the economic potential of critical mineral recovery from Carbon Fly Ash (CFA), a byproduct of coal combustion, to determine its viability as a secondary source of critical minerals. A geochemical and mineralogical assessment was conducted on CFA samples from various storage sites to analyze the concentration of 33 critical minerals. The study identified varying concentrations and economic potential, which are influenced by factors such as the type of coal burned and the scale of the CFA deposits. Results indicate that 24 of these critical minerals exhibit viable economic potential, suggesting that processing CFA for their recovery could offer high financial return while contributing to the strengthening of global infrastructure resilience. Given the growing urgency to reduce reliance on foreign suppliers, especially in light of recent trade restrictions and supply chain disruptions, developing domestic processing infrastructure for critical mineral recovery from CFA could provide a strategic advantage. Additionally, many of these high-value critical minerals co-occur or share similar extraction and processing methods, allowing for cost effective co-recovery. While challenges remain, including CFA heterogeneity and the need for large-scale processing capabilities, the findings of this study underscore the importance of investing in critical mineral recovery from CFA as a means to enhance resource security, strengthen economic resilience, and mitigate risk associated with geopolitical supply constraints.
Citation
Teer, K. D. (2025). Geochemical Analysis for Potential Critical Mineral Resources in Carbon Fly Ash. Graduate Theses and Dissertations Retrieved from https://scholarworks.uark.edu/etd/5656
