Grant: Alliance Grants

Rare earth elements (REEs) are raw materials that are crucial for the energy transition required to achieve a lower carbon society. However, Canada lacks a steady domestic supply of these materials, leaving the country dependent on foreign sources. Finding reliable and concentrated domestic sources of REEs is essential to promote Canada's economic, social, and environmental well-being.Significant concentrations of REE mineral occurrences have been found in rocks located in northern Saskatchewan, but their distribution and genesis are poorly understood. To enhance our understanding of these anomalous REE concentrations, our University of Saskatchewan research team will conduct a three-year multidisciplinary study in collaboration with the Saskatchewan Research Council, where Canada's first Rare Earth Processing Facility resides, and three Saskatchewan-based mineral exploration companies. This study will involve the detailed geological mapping of these areas to understand structural controls on the occurrence of these rocks, as well as follow-up laboratory studies, including mineral chemistry analysis, isotope geochemistry, geochronological studies, and geospatial modeling, which is important for a holistic understanding of these mineral enrichments and their geological context. Collaborations between academia and industry are essential to ensure that fundamental research is effectively translated into real-world benefits for Canadians. This research will produce a series of toolsets that exploration companies can use to efficiently identify and exploit domestic REE sources, thus strengthening Canada's global economic position. In addition, inclusive training opportunities will be provided to build the next generation of geoscientists.