Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area | U.S. Geological Survey
Source: https://www.usgs.gov/mission-areas/geology-energy-minerals
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:11
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area | U.S. Geological Survey
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We lead the government in developing the List of Critical Minerals.
What is the List of Critical Minerals?
We provide detailed mapping and foundational data related to geology and mineral resources.
Explore
We assess energy and mineral resources, including in energy and mine wastes.
Learn more
Minerals and American Energy: what's the connection and how is our science helping?
Learn more
Discover our Data
Learn more
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
Home
Education
Programs
Multimedia
Publications
News
Connect
About
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
We lead the Nation’s geologic mapping and provide impartial scientific information on geologic resources and their supply chains. Our work includes leading the development of the List of Critical Minerals, assessing domestic and foreign energy and mineral resources, and mapping areas with resource potential.
Our science informs key investments and crucial resource management decisions to support a strong, secure and sustained Nation.
Connect
Our Mission
Learn more about our mission.
Learn About Us
Our Research Programs
Our Programs deliver actionable science about the Nation's geology and geologic resources.
Energy Resources Program
Mineral Resources Program
National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program
National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program
The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative
Our Science
Click on each topic below to learn about our science.
Mapping and Foundational Data
Energy and Mineral Resource Assessments
Mineral Supply Chain Science
Energy and Mine Waste Science
Educational Resources
New research shows prehistoric lake contributed to the birth of the Grand Canyon
April 16, 2026
New research shows prehistoric lake contributed to the birth of the Grand Canyon
Media Alert: Low-level airplane and helicopter flights to scan geology over southern, central New Mexico
March 13, 2026
Media Alert: Low-level airplane and helicopter flights to scan geology over southern, central New Mexico
Value of U.S. mineral production rose last year, driven by precious metals prices
February 6, 2026
Value of U.S. mineral production rose last year, driven by precious metals prices
View All
April 18, 2026
Quantitative mineral resource assessment of lithium pegmatite deposits in the northern Appalachian orogen, USA
Quantitative mineral resource assessment of lithium pegmatite deposits in the northern Appalachian orogen, USA
Lithium demand is projected to increase more than 48 times by 2040 due to electric vehicle production and other energy storage needs. Most lithium production is outside of the USA, thereby increasing supply chain vulnerability. The combined end use importance and heightened supply risk of lithium make this lightest metallic element a critical commodity to the USA. To mitigate this supply...
Authors
Niki E. Wintzer, Christopher S. Holm-Denoma, Jacob Evan Poletti, Dalton M. McCaffrey, Stanley Paul Mordensky, Erik Roger Tharalson, Collin Cronkite-Ratcliff
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
,
Mineral Resources Program
,
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
,
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
April 16, 2026
Critical minerals in zinc ore—An update on Earth Mapping Resources Initiative Research in the Boulder Batholith region, Montana
Critical minerals in zinc ore—An update on Earth Mapping Resources Initiative Research in the Boulder Batholith region, Montana
No abstract available.
Authors
Sean Patrick Gaynor, Eric D. Anderson, Kyle A. Eastman, Karen Lund, Chris Gammons, Heather A. Lowers, Jay M. Thompson
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
,
Mineral Resources Program
,
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
,
Denver Microbeam Laboratory
,
Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
March 25, 2026
Rare earth element potential in coal and coal ash in the U.S. Gulf Coast
Rare earth element potential in coal and coal ash in the U.S. Gulf Coast
United States heavy reliance on imports of critical minerals (CMs), including rare earth elements (REEs), underscores the importance of development of domestic sources. The study objective was to quantify CM and REE concentrations in coal and coal ash in the US Gulf Coast region. CM and REE concentrations were measured for 118 samples from outcrops and 14 mines in the Gulf Coast. Results...
Authors
Bridget R. Scanlon, Robert C. Reedy, Brent A. Elliott, James C. Hower, J. Richard Kyle, Marek Locmelis, Nolan Theaker, Peter D. Warwick
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
,
Energy Resources Program
,
Mineral Resources Program
,
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
View All
Was this page helpful?
Skip to main content
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock (
)
or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
We lead the government in developing the List of Critical Minerals.
What is the List of Critical Minerals?
We provide detailed mapping and foundational data related to geology and mineral resources.
Explore
We assess energy and mineral resources, including in energy and mine wastes.
Learn more
Minerals and American Energy: what's the connection and how is our science helping?
Learn more
Discover our Data
Learn more
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
Home
Education
Programs
Multimedia
Publications
News
Connect
About
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
We lead the Nation’s geologic mapping and provide impartial scientific information on geologic resources and their supply chains. Our work includes leading the development of the List of Critical Minerals, assessing domestic and foreign energy and mineral resources, and mapping areas with resource potential.
Our science informs key investments and crucial resource management decisions to support a strong, secure and sustained Nation.
Connect
Our Mission
Learn more about our mission.
Learn About Us
Our Research Programs
Our Programs deliver actionable science about the Nation's geology and geologic resources.
Energy Resources Program
Mineral Resources Program
National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program
National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program
The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative
Our Science
Click on each topic below to learn about our science.
Mapping and Foundational Data
Energy and Mineral Resource Assessments
Mineral Supply Chain Science
Energy and Mine Waste Science
Educational Resources
New research shows prehistoric lake contributed to the birth of the Grand Canyon
April 16, 2026
New research shows prehistoric lake contributed to the birth of the Grand Canyon
Media Alert: Low-level airplane and helicopter flights to scan geology over southern, central New Mexico
March 13, 2026
Media Alert: Low-level airplane and helicopter flights to scan geology over southern, central New Mexico
Value of U.S. mineral production rose last year, driven by precious metals prices
February 6, 2026
Value of U.S. mineral production rose last year, driven by precious metals prices
View All
April 18, 2026
Quantitative mineral resource assessment of lithium pegmatite deposits in the northern Appalachian orogen, USA
Quantitative mineral resource assessment of lithium pegmatite deposits in the northern Appalachian orogen, USA
Lithium demand is projected to increase more than 48 times by 2040 due to electric vehicle production and other energy storage needs. Most lithium production is outside of the USA, thereby increasing supply chain vulnerability. The combined end use importance and heightened supply risk of lithium make this lightest metallic element a critical commodity to the USA. To mitigate this supply...
Authors
Niki E. Wintzer, Christopher S. Holm-Denoma, Jacob Evan Poletti, Dalton M. McCaffrey, Stanley Paul Mordensky, Erik Roger Tharalson, Collin Cronkite-Ratcliff
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
,
Mineral Resources Program
,
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
,
Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
April 16, 2026
Critical minerals in zinc ore—An update on Earth Mapping Resources Initiative Research in the Boulder Batholith region, Montana
Critical minerals in zinc ore—An update on Earth Mapping Resources Initiative Research in the Boulder Batholith region, Montana
No abstract available.
Authors
Sean Patrick Gaynor, Eric D. Anderson, Kyle A. Eastman, Karen Lund, Chris Gammons, Heather A. Lowers, Jay M. Thompson
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
,
Mineral Resources Program
,
Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
,
Denver Microbeam Laboratory
,
Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
March 25, 2026
Rare earth element potential in coal and coal ash in the U.S. Gulf Coast
Rare earth element potential in coal and coal ash in the U.S. Gulf Coast
United States heavy reliance on imports of critical minerals (CMs), including rare earth elements (REEs), underscores the importance of development of domestic sources. The study objective was to quantify CM and REE concentrations in coal and coal ash in the US Gulf Coast region. CM and REE concentrations were measured for 118 samples from outcrops and 14 mines in the Gulf Coast. Results...
Authors
Bridget R. Scanlon, Robert C. Reedy, Brent A. Elliott, James C. Hower, J. Richard Kyle, Marek Locmelis, Nolan Theaker, Peter D. Warwick
By
Geology, Energy, and Minerals Mission Area
,
Energy Resources Program
,
Mineral Resources Program
,
Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center
View All
Was this page helpful?