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Advisory committee discusses mineral extraction study scope and large lab variability for ion analyses
Summary
Committee received a Mineral Extraction Study scope and an outline of major data inventory gaps and costs; UGS/USGS staff highlighted substantial inter‑lab variability analyzing major ions in hypersaline samples and recommended developing SOPs and targeted grants to standardize methods.
Committee members reviewed the Mineral Extraction Study scope and funding options and held an extended technical discussion about laboratory methods for high‑salinity samples.
Project leads said the study will inventory diversions and mass transfers, identify data gaps, and produce refined cost and task schedules by early 2025. A preliminary budget figure of roughly $1.4 million was proposed to produce an initial deliverable and to permit better scoping and costing of subsequent tasks. The committee discussed possible funding sources (cooperative accounts, advisory council funds, and legislative or federal appropriations) and timing to align design work for potential berm modifications with funding windows.
On analytical methods, Andrew (UGS) described persistent variability in major‑ion and trace analyses across labs, noting both inter‑lab and intra‑lab inconsistencies when handling hypersaline matrices. He said typical lab approaches use large volumetric dilutions and optical ICP methods, which can introduce substantial error at brine concentrations. “There’s a variety of challenges…there just aren’t labs that really specialize in dealing with brines,” he told the group.
Members recommended a focused effort to develop best practices or an SOP for ion analysis in brine matrices, potentially funded through the tech‑team grants or a targeted procurement that would create consistent local capability. The committee agreed to form a small working group to scope the SOP and to bring a proposed scope to the tech‑team meeting for potential funding.
Next steps: scope an ion‑analysis SOP pilot, list required laboratory capabilities in procurement language, and consider funding incentives to build local lab capacity; continue the Mineral Extraction Study to identify the critical data gaps that the SOP will support.
