Laurence Nuelle is the recipient of the Prairie Research Institute’s 2024 Friend of PRI Award, which recognizes service and commitment in helping PRI meet its mission of being the trusted science authority to the state of Illinois.
Nuelle was nominated by the Illinois State Geological Survey Bedrock Geology and Critical and Strategic Minerals sections for his decades-long collaboration with ISGS. Nuelle has a spirit of public service, has hosted and joined research groups, and has fostered collaborations that have led to lasting relationships helping to solve problems critical for U.S. national security.
Nuelle has been at Hicks Dome LLC, where he is currently vice president for critical minerals development, for more than 20 years. Prior to joining Hicks Dome LLC, he spent many years as an exploration geologist at Doe Run Company and as a geologist at the Missouri Geological Survey. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Missouri-Rolla, now named Missouri University of Science and Technology.
By being generous with his knowledge, data, and samples, Nuelle has made significant contributions to PRI and to scientists’ understanding of the origin, geologic nature, and economic importance of the Hicks Dome rare earth element deposit. Numerous critical minerals research funding proposals, including awards from the U.S. Geological Survey and U.S. Department of Energy, have been made possible by Nuelle’s collaboration with ISGS.
“The importance of Larry’s contributions reverberates at local, national, and potentially international scales, as the data and samples he has collected may lead to a domestic critical minerals feedstock located in Illinois. This potential development would significantly strengthen our national resilience to critical mineral supply chain issues,” his recommenders write. “Larry’s steadfast work and dedication to the Hicks Dome rare earth element prospect may also bolster underserved communities in Illinois with high-paying jobs and related support infrastructure.”
