Senior Geologist
Utah Geological Survey
Bio:
Andrew Rupke is a senior geologist with the Utah Geological Survey specializing in industrial minerals. He joined the UGS in 2010 and, prior to that, worked as a geologist in the mining industry for over 6 years. His work and research at the UGS focuses on Utah’s diverse industrial mineral resources including lithium, potash, phosphate, pozzolan, high-calcium limestone, and others. Other research areas have included monitoring the chemistry of Great Salt Lake and the salinity dynamics of the north arm.
Title: Great Salt Lake Mineral Resources – Context and Change Over Time
Abstract: Minerals have been extracted from Great Salt Lake for well over a century. However, the nature and magnitude of that extraction have changed substantially over time. Currently, the lake’s resources are situated in a geopolitical context that is focused on critical minerals, mineral resources that are considered to have potential for supply disruption. Emphasis on critical minerals has led to heightened exploration interest in many areas, including Great Salt Lake. The lake’s resources include at least three critical minerals—potassium, magnesium, and lithium. Extraction of these mineral commodities, either directly or indirectly, has occurred for several decades at the lake. Using available lake chemistry data, the Utah Geological Survey evaluated the change in these resources over time with particular attention to lithium. Results suggest that a substantial resource for these commodities remains and that the lithium resource, in particular, may be recharging over time. The full study can be read at: https://doi.org/10.34191/OFR-769.
