What are critical minerals?
We lead the government in developing the List of Critical Minerals.
We lead the government in developing the List of Critical Minerals.
Modernizing Mapping
The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is modernizing mapping of the Nation’s geology and mineral resources.
The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is modernizing mapping of the Nation’s geology and mineral resources.
Mineral Supply Chains
The National Mineral Information Center (NMIC) is the authoritative source of mineral resource information, including statistics on mineral production, trade and supply chain risks.
The National Mineral Information Center (NMIC) is the authoritative source of mineral resource information, including statistics on mineral production, trade and supply chain risks.
Connect with Us
Mineral Resources Program
We are the Nation’s primary source of scientific information about the full life cycle and supply chains of mineral resources. Our science is essential to responsibly managing natural resources and to procuring minerals needed to sustain and advance modern manufacturing, technology, infrastructure, and low-carbon energy production.
Our Data
Our Data
Explore our featured geologic data, mineral assessments, life cycle research and mineral supply chain analyses.
Our Science
Our Science
Click each topic below to explore the impact of our science.
News
Low-level helicopter flights to image geology over Michigan and Wisconsin
Low-level helicopter flights to image geology over Michigan and Wisconsin
Who Collects the Nation’s Mineral Statistics? Meet the National Minerals Information Center
Who Collects the Nation’s Mineral Statistics? Meet the National Minerals Information Center
Maps, Maps, Maps: Where might scientists search for minerals for microchips and other technologies in the U.S.?
Maps, Maps, Maps: Where might scientists search for minerals for microchips and other technologies in the U.S.?
Publications
The abandoned mine inventory of the United States—A brief summary
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021 required the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to inventory abandoned hard-rock mines in the United States. The Department of the Interior’s Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance asked the U.S. Geological Survey’s Mineral Deposit Database project (USMIN) to use existing data sources to build an inventory of all...
The role of bedrock circulation depth and porosity in mountain streamflow response to prolonged drought
Quantitative understanding is lacking on how the depth of active groundwater circulation in bedrock affects mountain streamflow response to a multi‐year drought. We use an integrated hydrological model to explore the sensitivity of a variety of streamflow metrics to bedrock circulation depth and porosity under a plausible extreme drought scenario lasting up to 5 years. Endmember depth...
Widespread occurrence of former anhydrite phenocrysts in Laramide-age magmas related to porphyry-skarn Cu mineralization at Santa Rita and Hanover-Fierro, New Mexico, USA
Reports of magmatic anhydrite are relatively rare, with only ~30 occurrences documented worldwide so far. However, magmatic anhydrite saturation is difficult to recognize because anhydrite decomposes rapidly in near-surface environments. In most cases, only anhydrite inclusions shielded within other phenocryst phases were able to survive. Alternatively, since anhydrite phenocrysts...
Science
Increased Mercury, Reduced Insect Diversity, and Food Web impacts from Historical Mercury Mining
U.S. Geological Survey scientists are seeking to understand the impacts of mercury mining on headwater streams, organisms, and food webs, focused on potential effects from historical mining in central Idaho. Mercury associated with mine waste can leave a legacy of contamination that continues to impact stream health in culturally and ecologically important headwater streams after mining activities...
What are Critical Minerals?
Critical minerals are essential to the economy and national security of the Nation and have supply chains that are vulnerable to disruption. The USGS leads the government in developing the List of Critical Minerals and provides crucial and rich information about critical mineral availability, supply chains, and economic impacts. The USGS uses a cross-sectoral and data-driven approach to developing...
Earth MRI Progress
Earth MRI is a national effort to map critical mineral resources needed to drive the U.S. economy and national security, searching below ground and in tailings from old mines. As directed by the Energy Act of 2020, the U.S. Geological Survey has identified 50 critical minerals essential to the U.S. economy and national security, with a supply chain vulnerable to disruption. We partner on this...