JEFFERSON CITY – The Department of Natural Resources’ Missouri Geological Survey welcomed local leaders and industry professionals to its Rolla campus on Wednesday, Nov. 13, for a tour and ribbon-cutting ceremony for its newly renovated Rock Lab. Over the past year, the agency has transformed the facility from a storage space to a modern Earth sciences laboratory. During the event, MoDNR officials shared that even more changes will be coming to the Rolla campus in the coming years.
“These projects are the latest evidence of how important mastery of Earth sciences will be for Missouri’s future,” said Department of Natural Resources Director Dru Buntin. “They also show how the Department of Natural Resources will undertake the steps necessary to improve the quality of life for Missouri’s residents while guaranteeing our state stays ahead of the competitive curve.”
State Geologist and Director of the Missouri Geological Survey Carey Bridges said among the operations that will be conducted in the Rock Lab are reviewing and cataloging well cuttings from across Missouri, as well as hosting various geologic investigations.
“The new equipment in our renovated Rock Lab includes new workstations, wash basins, lighting and climate control,” Bridges said. “There is also better integration of computer and internet technology, allowing for use of the latest programs and digital tools. This will allow our geologists to focus more on the science that underlies the fundamentals of geology. The lab’s expanded size will also create more shared workspace for geologists in different units. The sharing of knowledge from our most senior geologists focusing on geologic investigations with those working in the field will help foster new insights.”
In addition to opening the Rock Lab, Bridges shared that the Missouri Geological Survey’s McCracken Core Library will be relocating from its current Twitty Drive location in Rolla to a newly constructed facility on Fairgrounds Road. In partnership with Missouri University of Science and Technology, the new core library will also be hosting significant critical minerals research.
“MGS and Missouri S&T are helping lead the search into whether Missouri contains economically viable deposits of critical minerals that include rare earth elements,” Bridges said. “Together, we’re working through the Critical Minerals and Materials for Advanced Energy Tech Hub. Within the new core library, that work will have a place on which to build itself up.”
A new Itrax Core Scanner that contains an XRF device can collect elemental information as detailed as one-millimeter increments. Beyond just photographing samples, a radiography camera will also enable study of the interior of the library’s core samples. A magnetic susceptibility sensor will further collect magnetic data.
“Rest assured, if there is evidence of critical minerals or rare earth elements, our geologists will find it,” Bridges said. “Put together, the relatively small investments we’re making here in Rolla could bring about a discovery that possibly makes headlines and creates thousands of new jobs for Missourians. The journey to that potential future is starting right now as we cut this ribbon.”
Other plans for the Rolla campus include constructing a new entrance for the Buehler Building and renovating its Ed Clark Museum of Missouri Geology.
The site of the new MGS Core Library will be where the current Phelps County Road & Bridge Department is situated at 204 Fairground Road. This is immediately adjacent to the MGS campus in Rolla. Phelps County has already secured property to relocate its road and bridge department operations to Phelps County Road 3080 between Rolla and St. James.