[Rockhounds] Geology of Helium

[Tim Fisher]

Lots of good reading there :)

Tim Fisher
Http://OreRockOn.com 
Email nospam at orerockon.com




-----Original Message-----
From: Rockhounds [mailto:rockhounds-bounces at rockhounds.drizzle.com] On Behalf Of Paul
Sent: Sunday, May 12, 2019 11:52 AM
To: Rockhound List
Subject: [Rockhounds] Geology of Helium

Helium is a nontoxic, chemically inert, light element with a low density, low boiling point and high thermal conductivity. These properties make it not only an ideal, but also essential and irreplaceable, substance for a multitude of uses. As noted in Nicolas (2018), these uses include as a "...coolant for superconductors such as the magnets used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines and particle colliders (e.g., the Large Hadron Collider), in fiber optics and silicon wafer manufacturing, in the space industry, in air tanks for scuba diving, as a shielding gas in arc welding, as a tracer gas for detecting leaks in an industrial high vacuum, in high pressure systems and in balloons, the most commonly known use."

Helium is produced from beneath the ground like natural gas and not from the air. Papers that describe the geology of sources of this crucial
  element can be obtained include:

Broadhead, R.F., 2005. Helium in New Mexico—geologic distribution, resource demand, and exploration possibilities. New Mexico Geology, 27(4), pp.93-101.
https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/publications/periodicals/nmg/27/n4/nmg_v27_n4_p93.pdf
https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/publications/openfile/downloads/400-499/483/New%20Mexico%20helium.pdf

Brown, A.A., 2010. PS Formation of High Helium Gases: A Guide for Explorationists.
Search and Discovery Article #80115 (2010) Posted October 29, 2010 http://www.searchanddiscovery.com/pdfz/documents/2010/80115brown/ndx_brown.pdf.htm

Johnson, E.G., 2013. Helium in Northeastern British Columbia. BC Ministry
  of Natural Gas Development, p.45.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326635872_Helium_in_Northeastern_British_Columbia
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elizabeth_Johnson22

Nicolas, M.P.B. 2018: Summary of helium occurrences in southwestern Manitoba; in Report of Activities 2016, Manitoba Growth, Enterprise and Trade, Manitoba Geological Survey, p. 110–118.
http://www.manitoba.ca/iem/geo/field/roa18pdfs/GS2018-9.pdf

Yurkowski, M.M., 2016. Helium in southwestern Saskatchewan: accumulation and geological setting. Open File Report, 1.
http://www.publications.gov.sk.ca/details.cfm?p=83677
http://publications.gov.sk.ca/documents/310/94157-Open%20File%20Report%202016-1_Yurkowski.pdf

Currently, there is a growing shortage of helium.

WashU Expert: The global helium shortage hits home Wshington University, April 12, 2019 https://source.wustl.edu/2019/04/washu-expert-the-global-helium-shortage-hits-home/

Not just balloons. Helium shortage may deflate MRIs, airbags and research Edward C. Baig and Charisse Jones, USA Today, May 10, 2019 https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/05/10/helium-shortage-could-deflate-mris-manufacturing-and-research/1169464001/

Helium shortage 2019: Why it's harder to throw a party and fill balloons Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press / USA Today, May 9, 2019 https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/05/09/helium-shortage-2019-affecting-parties/1158604001/

Global helium shortage affecting medical and aerospace industries, not just party supply stores, by Gabrielle Moreira, MY9NY_com.
http://www.my9nj.com/group-content-team/global-helium-shortage-affecting-medical-and-aerospace-industries-not-just-party-supply-stores

Helium balloons can be a threat to wildlife.

Well-meaning balloons turn into deadly trash in the water, NOAA, June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20190512180153/https://www.westcoast.fisheries.noaa.gov/stories/2018/08_06112018_balloons.html
https://web.archive.org/web/20181109184949/https://response.restoration.noaa.gov/about/media/hold-those-balloons-they-could-end-ocean.html

Yours,

Paul H.


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