230-4 Subsurface Mafic and Ultramafic Rock Mapping and Analysis for Carbon Mineralization in the United States (SubMAP-CO2)

Session: The Power of Hard Rocks: Driving the Energy Transition and Serving Society (Posters)

Poster Booth No.: 269

Presenting Author:

Estibalitz Ukar

Authors:

Ukar, Estibalitz¹, Kelemen, Peter Boushall², Arasada, Rama Chandrudu³, Bhattacharya, Shuvajit⁴, Ugurhan, Mert⁵, Gil Egui, Ramon⁶, Owusu-Adjapong, Edwina⁷, Fall, András⁸, Teng, Yuntian⁹, Espinoza, David Nicolas¹⁰, Gale, Julia F. W.¹¹, Horne, Elizabeth A.¹², Moscardelli, Lorena G.¹³

(1) Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA, (2) Columbia University, Palisades, NY, USA, (3) Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, (4) Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA, (5) Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, (6) Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, (7) Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA, (8) Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Bureau of Economic Geology, Austin, TX, USA, (9) Hidebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA; Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington, USA, (10) Hidebrand Department of Petroleum and Geosystems Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA, (11) Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA, (12) Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA, (13) Bureau of Economic Geology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA,

Abstract:

Permanent CO₂ storage through carbon mineralization in mafic and ultramafic rocks offers a safe and scalable pathway to support global decarbonization goals. However, the distribution, extent, and properties of suitable subsurface formations across the United States remain poorly constrained, limiting widespread deployment. To identify mineralization-based in situ CO₂ storage opportunities, we conducted a national assessment of the characteristics and storage potential of mafic and ultramafic rocks within the uppermost 5 km of the continental crust. This effort included compiling a database of historical well penetrations into basement rocks, with emphasis on mafic and ultramafic lithologies; mapping and estimating the volume of suitable geologic units using aeromagnetic data; and collecting and analyzing core and outcrop samples for mineralogical and geochemical characterization. Laboratory carbonation experiments quantified the carbon uptake potential of representative ultramafic rocks. We performed a source-to-sink assessment integrating geologic suitability with proximity to industrial CO₂ sources, infrastructure, land and water use, and deployment feasibility. Applying these constraints reduced the accessible storage area by over 80%. Our results highlight the most promising opportunities in small, spatially isolated zones with favorable source-sink pairing, particularly in the Central-North region near the Great Lakes and along parts of the East Coast. While potential also exists in parts of the West Coast, proximity to CO₂ sources remains a limitation. All findings will be made publicly available via the SubMAP-CO₂ open-access platform, designed to inform future research, pilot projects, and commercial-scale carbon removal. We invite continued community engagement to expand and refine this resource over time.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-10506

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