Partnership Opportunity: Large Airborne Geophysical Survey Initiative in southeast Missouri Background Information: The USGS is embarking on a new three-year study on the setting and origin of iron-oxide copper-cobalt- gold and rare earth element (IOCG-REE) deposits of southeast Missouri. The study is scheduled to start on October 1, 2012 and will include work to determine mineralogy, geochemistry, stable isotopes, radiogenic isotopes, geochronology, fluid inclusion analyses, geochemical modeling, regional tectonics, and a large airborne geophysical initiative. A critical component of the study involves obtaining a new state-of-the-art high resolution airborne magnetic and gravity gradiometry (AGG) survey. The new survey will cover former mines such as Pea Ridge and Boss-Bixby, but also include the surrounding region to the north, east, and south, for a total area covering 25,740 km2. Opportunity Description: The USGS Mineral Resource Program is seeking one or more mining and exploration industry partner(s) with interest in mapping and characterizing the resource potential for concealed IOCG-REE deposits in southeast Missouri. Specifically, the USGS seeks partners willing to enter into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the USGS where funds-in would be required to support the acquisition of new geophysical data to better define the mineral potential within a large and mostly concealed prospective terrane in the conterminous United States. Benefits to CRADA partners: CRADA partner(s) would benefit by obtaining access to the digital flight line data upon completion of the survey and would receive access to intermediate products produced by the USGS including interpretive maps and analyses for their own use. Point(s) of Contact: Contact points of contact within 45 days of this notice. For inquiries about the technical aspects of the project, contact: Anne McCafferty Research Geophysicist U.S. Geological Survey Crustal Geophysics and Geochemistry Science Center Box 25046, Mail Stop 964, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225 Email:
[email protected] Telephone: 303-236-1397 For inquiries about CRADAs, contact: USGS Technology Transfer Office, Sharon Borland, Telephone: (703) 648-6723, Email:
[email protected]