Rocky Mountain Rare Earth Element Deposit in Lincoln Creek, Colorado

Highlights

• Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder identified significant rare earth element concentrations in a Lincoln Creek tributary.
• Potential to produce neodymium for 96,000 smartphones annually, with broader extraction possibilities across hundreds of acid mine sites.
• The discovery raises critical environmental and health concerns about water quality, ecosystem impact, and lack of federal REE contamination standards.

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A recent discovery of rare earth elements (REEs) in Lincoln Creek, in the Rockies, southwest of Denver, Colorado, has raised significant questions about the economic and ecological implications of resource extraction in this high-alpine region. Scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder (opens in a new tab) have identified notable concentrations of REEs, such as neodymium, in a mineralized tributary of the Roaring Fork River. This tributary, linked to acid rock drainage processes, releases REEs and other metals like zinc, aluminum, and copper into the water.

Early estimates suggest a substantial economic potential; for instance, the neodymium content alone could support the production of 96,000 smartphones annually. This finding underscores the broader opportunity to tap into similar deposits across Colorado and the Western U.S., where hundreds of acid mine sites exist. Heather Sackett with Aspen Journalism (opens in a new tab) reports on the findings.

“You get a phone’s worth of neodymium coming down the mineralized tributary about every 5½ minutes,” said Adam Odorisio, a graduate student and researcher at CU’s environmental engineering department. “This translates to 96,000 phones per year. What I think is the most striking fact is that this is for one tributary. You multiply this across hundreds of acid mine sites in Colorado and potentially thousands across the Western U.S., and it’s very exciting for resource extraction.” 

Environmental Notes

However, the discovery also raises critical environmental and health concerns. Lincoln Creek serves as a source of drinking water for Front Range cities, yet there are no federal or state water quality standards for REEs. Scientists are uncertain about the potential risks these elements pose to aquatic ecosystems and human health.

Preliminary tests reveal highly acidic water and metal concentrations exceeding safe levels for aquatic life, with contamination linked to both natural processes and historic mining activities. This situation is compounded by climate change, which may intensify acid rock drainage and further exacerbate contamination.

Rare Earth Exchanges Take

While the economic potential of these REEs could position Lincoln Creek as a valuable resource for renewable energy and high-tech industries, unresolved questions remain. How can mining operations mitigate the environmental risks, especially in such a delicate ecosystem? Will resource extraction prioritize sustainable practices and remediation efforts? Furthermore, the lack of established standards for REE contamination complicates efforts to evaluate long-term impacts. These findings signal the need for cautious, data-driven decision-making as stakeholders balance economic opportunities against the risks of ecological degradation and public health concerns.