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| | Purdue University | Dr. Kelsey Prissel | Assistant Professor |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| Dr. Kelsey Prissel is a geochemist who specializes in rocks and minerals formed at high temperatures. She has significant expertise with a diverse set of analytical methods used to characterize the geochemistry and mineralogy of rock samples, including but not limited to optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), electron probe microanalysis (EPMA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). She has access to resources and numerous analytical facilities at Purdue that would facilitate the rapid characterization of rare earth deposits. |
| IN |
| | Purdue University | Roger C. Wiens | Professor |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| In the last 15 years my career has focused on developing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) elemental quantification of geological targets. LIBS can uniquely quantify lithium abundances to ~5 ppm in field targets, and can quantify all elements (including Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, REEs, ...) with its emission spectra. I am familiar with hand-held commercial LIBS instruments and their applicability and calibration challenges. I have developed stand-off LIBS that can analyze multiple targets rapidly at distances of up to 30 ft (10 meters). I have published over 100 papers on various aspects of LIBS applied to geochemical problems. |
| IN |
| | Purdue University | Douglas Schmitt | Brand Professor of Unconventional Resources |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| Extensive experience in geophysical and stress determination field and laboratory physical property investigations with a particular emphasis on drilling projects. Experiences have included borehole geophone, DAS, logging, and core investigations in surface and underground environments for mineral exploration (Canada, Finland, Sweden), geothermal (Canada, Idaho), underground waste disposal (Canada, Indiana), damaged fault and rock mass characterization (Indiana, Yucatan, Alpine Fault), and hydrocarbon reservoir monitoring (Canada). Currently leading or involved with the geophysical and logging efforts associated with the International Continental Drilling Program upcoming drilling for REEDrill (Carbonatite, Malawi), COSC-2 (Hard rock, Sweden), DEEPDust (Sediments, Oklahoma), and Colorado Plateau (Tectonics, Ground Water, New Mexico & Arizona). Lab facilities include 240 channel wired and 110 nodal geophones, 6000lb force truck mounted seismic vibrator and truck mounted field laboratory, 1800 m slimline logging system, specialized laboratory facilities for seismic measurements on core samples under in situ saturation, stress, and temperature conditions and Hoek Cell system for rock strength. Currently Editor for the Journal of Geophysical Research - Solid Earth and to be appointed to Independent Advisory Group for the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (Canada). |
| IN |
| | Odyssey Marine Exploration | John M Oppermann | VP, Director of Research and Scientific Services |
Small Business
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Other Energy Technologies
| Odyssey is unlocking the potential of subsea mineral resources to meet today’s global needs and power the future. With nearly 30 years of deep-ocean expertise, we lead in the exploration, validation, and responsible development of critical minerals found in the seabed.
We work directly with governments to identify and assess mineral potential within their Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), helping to build national capacity and ensure regulatory compliance from the start.Our focus is on minerals that matter—those essential for reducing carbon emissions through renewable energy technologies and improving global food security through enhanced fertilizer production.Exploration is the first step. Before these minerals can be brought to the surface, projects must be developed, resources must be validated, and environmental and societal impacts must be assessed. Our partnerships are built on shared values.
Minerals of interest includes polymetallic nodules, heavy mineral sands and REE's |
| FL |
| | University of Iowa | Hang Chen | Assistant Professor |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| I am an Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa with expertise in advanced geophysical methods for resource characterization. My research integrates cutting-edge geophysical techniques, machine learning, and advanced inversion algorithms to address critical exploration challenges. I specialize in developing novel geophysical inversion technologies that incorporate multiple constraints and datasets, with particular strengths in Induced Polarization (IP), Self-Potential (SP), electromagnetic (EM), and electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) methods. These techniques are highly sensitive to ion dynamics and electrochemical processes - critical factors in rare earth element (REE) deposit characterization, as they can detect complex mineralization patterns and alteration zones through their distinctive electrical signatures.
My technical capabilities encompass advanced 4D geophysical imaging and inversion technology, multi-physics integration of electrical, electromagnetic, and seismic methods, AI-driven data interpretation and pattern recognition, and real-time monitoring systems. Additionally, my expertise in hydrologic processes is valuable for understanding REE transport and concentration mechanisms, particularly in weathering-related deposits where hydrological controls significantly influence mineralization patterns. REE deposits present unique challenges due to their complex geological settings and subtle surface expressions, which my integrated geophysical-hydrological approach directly addresses.
My capabilities include development of specialized inversion algorithms for complex mineral systems, integration of multiple geophysical datasets to reduce exploration uncertainty, application of AI techniques to identify subtle signatures, and collaboration experience with government laboratories including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. I am seeking collaborators with complementary expertise in geochemistry, geology, remote sensing, and other exploration techniques to provide comprehensive REE deposit characterization. |
| IA |
| | Western Digital Technologies | Qing Dai | Distinguished Engineer |
Large Business
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Other Energy Technologies
| Western Digital Technologies is one of only 2 manufacturers of Hard Disk Drive Data Storage companies in the world. We are partners to data center giants where their data are stored in our devices.
With explosion of data and AI, we are scaling to meet growing data storage demand. One key component in our device uses Nd, which is in critical supply. We are interested in investigating alternatives.
We can provide sophisticated characterization methods in new materials development from scanning AES to ESCA, to TEM. |
| CA |
| | Old Dominion University | Nora Noffke | Professor Geosciences |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| Geological exploration of new, unconventional REE resources in Virginia; 5 km x 5 km areas; collaboration with local industry in Virginia |
| VA |
| | University of Minnesota | Yao-Yi Chiang | Associate Professor |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| Dr. Yao-Yi Chiang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Minnesota. His research interests are in spatial artificial intelligence. His research has been supported by NSF, NEH, NIH, DARPA, IARPA, and NGA, as well as by industry leaders including NTT Global Networks and BAE Systems. He has served as a visiting researcher at Google AI, a machine learning consultant at Meta, and Chief Scientist at AirMap.
For more than two decades, Dr. Chiang has led research efforts to automate the extraction, georeferencing, and integration of geographic information from historical maps, producing over 60 peer-reviewed publications. His team has developed machine learning methods to streamline the processing of maps at scale, including georeferencing, feature extraction and linking, large-scale text recognition (supporting the extraction of 100M text labels in the David Rumsey Historical Map Collection), and analysis of map series. In 2022, his team won first place in the DARPA–USGS AI for Critical Mineral Assessment Competition. He was recently the PI of a TA1 effort and Co-PI of a TA2 effort in DARPA’s CriticalMAAS program.
Beyond map processing, Dr. Chiang’s work addresses spatial prediction problems involving multimodal, multiscale, sparse, and unevenly distributed spatiotemporal data. His machine learning technologies have been applied to air quality forecasting, human mobility prediction, and soil type prediction.
Dr. Chiang’s team, with expertise in spatial AI, digital map processing, and multimodal spatial prediction, welcomes collaboration with industry and academic partners for this DOE opportunity. |
| MN |
| | Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University | Daniel Homa | Research Assistant Professor |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| Our research group has developed and demonstrated a distributed sensing system capable of characterizing dynamic and static magnetic fields over long spans (e.g. 2500 sensors over 5km) with a remote interrogation system. Our team recently demonstrated the detection of a 10 pT magnetic flux in an unshield environment with a sensor composed of commercially available components (no attempt to optimize anything, i.e. femtoTesla is well within reason with the appropriate support). The "core" technology allows for a myriad of proven design variants for the detection of ferromagnetic materials, active tuning, and wide (km^2) and small area (mm^2) field mapping. The sensing approach relies on a commercially available ultra-senstive (~picostrain) distributed acoustic sensing system (picoDAS) offerred by Sentek Instrument, LLC. As such, this multi-parement sensing system can also provide end users with co-located acoustic measurements. The simplicity and performance of the scalable sensing cable design has prompted collaboration with a FO/Electrical cable manufacturer to develop a marketable product for a wide host of applications. In addition, our group recently demonstrated the ability to detect electric fields (and distortions) in a distributed fashion via a complimentary design approach that is also amenable to mass production. Our team has a strong desire to collaborate with experts in the field to further develop this technology for the many potential applications in the mining industry and more specifically, real-time characterization of rare earth deposits. Thank you for your time and contact us at any time to talk about working together. |
Website: www.vt.edu
Email: dan24@vt.edu
Phone: 4102624775
Address: 160C Holden Hall / 445 Old Turner Street, Blacksburg, VA, 24060, United States
| VA |
| | Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, University of Nevada Reno | Simon Jowitt | Director |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| The Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology has significant expertise in the processes that form rare earth element and other critical, base, and precious metal deposits, the approaches requires to discover new mineral deposits and resources, and the geometallurgical characterization of mineral deposits and mineralization. The Bureau also has expertise in mineral economics, techno-economic assessment, and the identification and characterization of secondary sources of critical, base, and precious metals, including mine waste. As part of the University of Nevada Reno the Bureau has access to a range of instrumentation such as optical microscopy, SEM and electron microscopy analysis, and hyperspectral and geochemical facilities, in addition to numerous other analytical capabilities. |
Website: https://nbmg.unr.edu/
Email: sjowitt@unr.edu
Phone: 7022876176
Address: Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology, University of Nevada Reno, 1664 N. Virginia St., Mail Stop 178, Reno, NV, 89557-0178, United States
| NV |
| | Illinois State Geological Survey | Jared Freiburg | Mineral Resource Geologist |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| Dr. Jared T. Freiburg is Head of the Critical and Strategic Minerals Section at the Illinois State Geological Survey, where he leads research on the discovery, characterization, and utilization of rare earth element (REE) deposits and associated critical minerals in the Illinois Basin and greater Midwest. With nearly two decades of experience in mineral resource geology and economic geology, Dr. Freiburg has advanced both fundamental science and applied solutions to strengthen domestic critical mineral supply chains. He has served as Principal Investigator or Co-Principal Investigator on numerous federally funded projects, including the DOE Carbon Ore, Rare Earth, and Critical Minerals (CORE-CM) Initiative, the Illinois Rare Earth Novel Extraction & Supply (IRENES) program, multiple USGS Earth MRI investigations, and Department of Defense supported projects focused on high-throughput mineral analysis and supply chain security. His research emphasizes the petrogenesis, mineralogy, and economic potential of REE-bearing deposits, with focus on carbonatite and ultramafic systems such as Hicks Dome, coal-hosted enrichment, and secondary resources including mine wastes and tailings. Recent work has characterized REE occurrences in coal seams and byproducts, clarified the relationships among carbonatites, lamprophyres, and REE-enriched breccias, and advanced mapping and geochemical studies in the Illinois-Kentucky Fluorspar District. These investigations improve understanding of REE mineralization while informing extraction, beneficiation, and recovery strategies. Dr. Freiburg’s team combines advanced laboratory capabilities with field-based investigations to deliver high-resolution mineralogical, geochemical, and petrographic data. ISGS’s state-of-the-art petrographic and mineral characterization facilities support detailed evaluation of ore textures, mineral associations, and beneficiation potential, bridging deposit characterization with process engineering. In addition to technical expertise, Dr. Freiburg has led multi-industry collaborations integrating technoeconomic assessment, regulatory processes, stakeholder engagement, and market transformation. This combination of geologic insight, laboratory infrastructure, and translational experience positions Dr. Freiburg and ISGS as leaders in advancing REE deposit characterization and developing secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals. |
| IL |
| | TerraCore | David Browning | Chief Executive Officer |
Small Business
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Other Energy Technologies
| TerraCore utilizes infrared hyperspectral spectroscopy on drill samples (core, chips, cuttings, bulk material, etc.) to identify minerals with 100% accuracy allowing for comprehensive material typing and domaining. Through infrared imaging, our processing expertise, and our unique viewing and interrogation software, we are transitioning the the way geologists observe, record, and interpret geological data from a manual method to a digital one. A geologist's time is best served interrogating data, not collecting it.
Our systems operate across the visible, near infrared, shortwave infrared, mid-wave infrared, and long-wave infrared regions of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum. The combination of sensors across these wavelengths means our systems can detect every mineral. In addition to the mineral identification, key information such as mineral texture, grain size, and mineral chemistry is also recorded. The datasets are objective, repeatable, and evergreen, allowing them to be interrogated across a project lifecycle. The enhanced knowledge gained from infrared hyperspectral spectroscopy enables proper characterization of the geological material in question. This data reduces drilling, decreases time to discovery, and creates more efficiency during the extraction and processing of the minerals.
TerraCore has worked with multiple clients exploring for and producing Rare Earth minerals and has begun to develop spectral libraries specific to these deposit types. The direct identification of Rare Earth minerals by infrared hyperspectral spectroscopy has led our clients to improve their geologic models and create better mine and processing facility designs by gaining a deeper understanding of the presence, distribution, and physical characteristics of the Rare Earth Deposit in question. Infrared hyperspectral spectroscopy has successfully been employed on every deposit type and is now showing its value in Critical Mineral deposits. |
| NV |
| | Sigray | Sylvia Lewis | President |
Small Business
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Other Energy Technologies
| Sigray, Inc. is a San Francisco Bay Area company founded in 2013 with the aim to accelerating scientific progress by providing powerful, synchrotron-grade research capabilities in its laboratory x-ray systems. These systems represent a major step-change from existing laboratory x-ray systems, and their breakthrough performance is uniquely enabled by Sigray’s patented innovations in x-ray components. Sigray’s products have been rapidly adopted by prominent scientific leaders in Asia, America, and Europe. The systems are used by a diverse range of researchers, including both academic (materials scientists, battery researchers, biologists, geologists, etc.) and industrial (semiconductor, pharmaceutical companies, catalysts, battery) researchers.
Micro x-ray fluorescence (microXRF) provides excellent sensitivity for compositional analysis, typically offering 1000X the sensitivity of electron-based spectroscopy (ppm vs. ppt). The primary limitation of laboratory-based microXRF has been the achievable spot sizes, which are typically around 20-50 µm. Sigray’s AttoMap achieves the highest spatial resolutions available, in the range of single-digit micrometers (3-5 µm), through its proprietary x-ray focusing optics. These optics are significantly more efficient and produce much smaller spot sizes than the polycapillary optics used by other laboratory microXRFs.
EclipseXRM is a revolutionary system that bridges the x-ray microscope (XRM) gap between micro-XRM and nano-XRM, achieving spatial resolution below 0.3 µm, even for large samples. This far surpasses the leading flexible XRMs on the market, which are limited to ~0.5 µm spatial resolution.
Both the techniques provide exceptional insights into rare earth characterization. |
| CA |
| | The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | Youzuo Lin | Associate Professor |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| My current research focuses on scientific machine learning, deep learning, and computational methods with applications in subsurface energy exploration and carbon sequestration and monitoring. In particular, I am interested in developing fast and accurate geophysical inversion techniques to characterize subsurface properties. |
| NC |
| | SRI International | Han-Pang Chiu | Technical Director |
Non-Profit
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Other Energy Technologies
| SRI has capabilities in rapid quantitative AI-based analysis tools for large-scale mineral assessment, such as our MAPER system under DARPA CriticalMaaS project. We also have novel sensing technologies developed from other DoD projects, that may be adapted to rare mineral exploration. |
| NJ |
| | Datarock Pty Ltd | Tim Chalke | Business Development Manager |
Small Business
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Other Energy Technologies
| Datarock is a geoscience technology company delivering AI-powered solutions that transform how geological data is interpreted across exploration, resource evaluation, and mining operations. By combining ML, computer vision, and geoscience expertise, our platform enables faster, more consistent insights and integrates seamlessly with existing mining workflows.
We partner with leading resource companies to accelerate the transition from drill core to resource models and feasibility studies. Our production-ready platform automates the interpretation of drill core images, downhole data, and geoscience datasets, reducing manual bottlenecks and enabling consistent, scalable decision-making. The technology is applied across gold, copper, lithium, and rare earth projects, supporting activity from early exploration through to advanced feasibility and operations.
The ARPA-E program’s focus on rapid characterization of rare earth deposits aligns directly with Datarock’s strengths. Assessing ore resources quickly over large spatial scales requires automated data capture, integration, and interpretation. Datarock’s platform delivers this by applying deep learning and computer vision to imagery, geochemical assays, and geophysical datasets, generating standardized, quantitative outputs that feed directly into resource models.
Core Capabilities:
Computer Vision and Core Logging Automation: Automated interpretation of drill core and chip photos to quantify lithology, alteration, veining, textures, and structures relevant to REE characterization.
ML for Multivariate Data: Integration of imagery, assays, hyperspectral, and geophysical signals to build predictive models of mineral domains and grade.
Rapid Domaining and Model Inputs: Tools to generate domain boundaries, vein networks, and geometallurgical parameters for early-stage resource evaluation.
Applied Science and Domain Expertise: Geologists and data scientists ensuring outputs are robust, interpretable, and decision-ready.
Operational Readiness: A secure cloud-based platform deployed with global miners, scaling across projects, sites, and teams.
By contributing to this ARPA-E initiative, Datarock brings proven capabilities in rapid geological data analysis, automation, and interpretation that can significantly accelerate the evaluation of rare earth deposits. We are well positioned to collaborate with drilling technology providers, sensor developers, and research groups- Data to Action |
| VIC |
| | Sandia National Laboratories | Anastasia Ilgen | Distinguished Member of Technical Staff |
Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC)
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Other Energy Technologies
| Anastasia Ilgen is a geochemist at Sandia National Laboratories. She is an expert in interfacial chemistry, and its applications to the separation of rare earth elements (REEs) using porous materials, such as templated oxides, and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Her research focuses on developing environmentally friendly and efficient methods for REE separations.
Ilgen's published works highlight her expertise in designing materials with specific surface chemistries that can selectively bind to individual REEs. She utilizes synchrotron-based X-ray and vibrational spectroscopy techniques to observe chemical pathways and bonding at an molecular scales. This advanced analysis provides a fundamental understanding of how these porous materials function, enabling the rational design of more effective and selective separation agents. Her work offers a promising, sustainable alternative to current REE separation methods that rely on harsh chemicals. |
| NM |
| | Xcalibur Smart Mapping | Teo Hage | Vice President Technology - Xcalibur Smart Mapping |
Small Business
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Other Energy Technologies
| In Collaboration with the Curtin University of Technology, Xcalibur Smart Mapping have been developing an Airborne Raman Spectrometer for the detection of various gases (including Hydrogen). The commercialization of this technology is underway. During the R&D phase it was discovered that the Raman Laser induced significant florescence in many Rare Earth Elements. Some basic proof of concept experiments in our laser lab have validated that Laser Induced Fluorescence Spectrometry (tested on REE samples from around Western Australia) could be a valuable addition to our Airborne Raman Spectrometer or as a standalone instrument (airborne or ground based)
Xcalibur has a track record of designing and constructing complex airborne geophysical equipment for internal use on its own fleet of geophysical aircraft. The company has previously constructed a LIF profiler (in the early 2000's) however its use was limited to mineral spectra identification. Newer quantum optic technology (now commercially available ) will significantly accelerate the construction of an LIF instrument optimized for REE's
Xcalibur Smart Mapping's core expertise is in geophysical mineral exploration (please see our website for details) |
| Western Australia |
| | Ideon Technologies | Adam Melnik | Corporate Development |
Small Business
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Other Energy Technologies
| REVEAL™ for Resources is Ideon’s subsurface intelligence solution that uses our core technology, **muon tomography**, combined with high-resolution imaging and advanced AI analytics to improve geological model accuracy, reduce unnecessary infill drilling, and accelerate resource development decisions. By generating precise, data-driven subsurface models, it increases confidence in orebody delineation while cutting time and costs. Integrated into the broader REVEAL™ platform, it enables mining operators to recover resources more efficiently, lower operational risk, and optimize project economics by targeting deposits with greater certainty and reducing geological uncertainty across the value chain.
We have successfully demonstrated this capability in collaboration with major mining companies worldwide, deploying and activating **hundreds of sensors in critical minerals mines** to deliver actionable, high-resolution subsurface intelligence at scale. These deployments have validated REVEAL™ for Resources’ ability to improve targeting, accelerate timelines, and unlock significant value, establishing its role as a proven, field-tested solution in some of the world’s most important mining operations. |
| BC |
| | University of Arizona | Dean Riley | Dr |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| My background is in mining, geoscience, hyperspectral (visible-shortwave (VSWIR), midwave infrared (MWIR), and longwave infrared (LWIR)) and geophysical sensors and advanced signal processing and I work closely with the College of Optical Sciences. The University of Arizona has laboratory and tripod-based Optical and Infrared Imaging Spectrometers (aka Hyperspectral Instruments), ASD TerraSpec Laboratory Spectrometer (0.4-2.5 µm), ASD FieldSpec 3 Spectroradiometer (0.4-2.5 µm), Specim FX-10 VNIR (0.4-1.0 µm) laboratory imaging spectrometer, Specim SWIR (1.0-2.5 µm) laboratory imaging spectrometer, Specim FX-50 MWIR (2.7-5.3 µm) laboratory imaging spectrometer, Si-ware Neoscanner (1.3-2.5 µm) handheld mem-FTIR, Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Mass Spectrometer (ICP-OES) for solutions ,JEOL 6010L Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) with energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) and cathodoluminescence (CL), QEMSCAN, Thermo-Scientific portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (pXRF), Laser ablation inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (LA-ICP-MS), Lasers: Newwave femtosecond laser and automation; and CETAC 213 nm laser, Thermo-Scientific Element 2 single collector high resolution sector ICP-MS, Thermo-Scientific quadropole ICP-MS, Nu Plasma sector multicollector ICP-MS, Iolite software for control and data reduction, Horiba Raman imaging scanner, Petrographic facilties, Ore microscopes with reflected and transmitted light, Zeiss automated optical imaging facility, CITL cold-cathode cathodoluminescence system, Fluid inclusion facility, Linkham heating/freezing stage, USGS-type heating/freezing stage, Sample preparation facility, Rock saws, Polishing equipment, Wet lab for staining and mineral separation, Mineral Processing facilities include: particle sieves, Atomic force microscope (AFM), Nicolet 6700 FTIR, Wet chemistry laboratories, Atomic absorption spectrometer, drop-weight tester, Lab ball mill, Inductively-coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). |
| AZ |
| | Los Alamos National Laboratory | Kai Gao | Scientist |
Federally Funded Research and Development Center (FFRDC)
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Power Generation: Renewable
| I am a geophysicist with a strong background in exploration and computational geophysics, specializing in advanced seismic imaging and inversion techniques. My work combines physics-based modeling with data-driven approaches to improve subsurface characterization and reservoir/deposit evaluation.
* Expertise and Background:
-- Seismic imaging methods: full-waveform inversion (FWI), reverse-time migration (RTM), traveltime tomography, active and passive seismic imaging.
-- Machine learning applications for automated seismic interpretation and feature detection (e.g., fault detection).
-- High-performance computing for large-scale seismic simulations and data processing.
* Research Interests:
-- Development of next-generation imaging algorithms for reservoirs and deposits in complex geological setting.
-- Integration of numerical modeling and machine learning for enhanced imaging resolution, accuracy, and efficiency.
-- Innovative approaches to reservoir/deposit characterization through joint inversion and multi-scale imaging.
* Core Capabilities:
-- Algorithm design, optimization, and implementation of advanced geophysical imaging techniques and workflows.
-- Geophysical data analysis, processing, and uncertainty quantification.
-- Translating theoretical advances into practical, field-ready solutions for exploration and development projects. |
| NM |
| | ENERSEP | Tom Shaw | Principal and Geologist |
Individual
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Other Energy Technologies
| Characterization of closed-basin, evaporite deposits concentrating REE developable by solution mining methods. Permitting and execution of geological and geophysical resource appraisal, solution mining planning and permitting, and construction of facilities. |
| TX |
| | Pennsylvania State University | Shimin Liu | Professor of Mining Engineering |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| Rare Earth Extraction technology; Rare Earth Characterization using imaging technologies; Fiberoptic sensing for rare earth formation identifications |
| PA |
| | Step Function | David Tew | CEO & Founder |
Small Business
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Other Energy Technologies
| Step Function (SF) is a small company focused on the development of synergistic multi-material production/sequestration processes. It is being supported by Breakthrough Energy Fellows in the development of waste material or natural mineral based multi-product production processes – with the products/services including hydrogen production, carbon dioxide sequestration and valuable metal recovery. Its processes have been demonstrated in the laboratory at TRL-4 using both industrial wastes and natural minerals. SF has a suite of AI-enhanced but physics-based modeling tools that it uses to rapidly develop its processes for specified input materials and target products (e.g., Ni, Cu, REE, H2, CO2 sequestration). It is seeking to partner with organizations with synergistic capabilities. |
| CT |
| | University of Guelph | Rafael Santos | Prof. Dr. |
Academic
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Other Energy Technologies
| Dr. Rafael Santos received his PhD from the KU Leuven, Belgium, in 2013. He previously worked at Zenon Environmental, Vale Inco, and Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning. He joined the University of Guelph’s School of Engineering in 2017 where he is now an Associate Professor. Santos is a registered Professional Engineer of Ontario.
Santos's main area of research is in the areas of water and solid waste treatment, environmental remediation, applied mineralogy and geochemistry, and carbon dioxide sequestration. Santos is presently working with the ARPA-E Miner program to develop carbon-negative processes for critical metals recovery. Santos has other active research projects on using mine tailings and other natural minerals for metals extraction and for enhanced weathering, ocean alkalinity enhancement, and mineral carbonation applications.
Santos's research team conduct experimentation, characterization and modeling to understand mineral-water-gas reactions and mechanisms, which have proven critical to estimating the rate of weathering of minerals in field applications, performing carbon accounting of intensified processes, understanding the potential for geological hydrogen formation and recovery, and facilitating the commercialization of new carbon sequestration and critical metals recovery technologies. |
| Ontario |
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