Minerals | U.S. Geological Survey
Source: https://www.usgs.gov/science/science-explorer/minerals
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:13
Minerals | U.S. Geological Survey
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Minerals
Science
Science Explorer
Biology
Climate
Coasts
Energy
Environmental Health
Geology
Information Systems
Maps and Mapping
Methods and Analysis
Minerals
Natural Hazards
Ocean
Planetary Science
Science Technology
Water
Mission Areas
Programs
Regions
Science Centers
Observatories
Laboratories
Frequently Asked Questions
Educational Resources
Special Topics
Modern life is built upon minerals. The USGS delivers science that is crucial for finding and managing the mineral resources required to meet our current and future needs for infrastructure, manufacturing and technology.
Minerals are used in nearly every aspect of modern life, from the computers we use to the roads we drive on. Maintaining our infrastructure, manufacturing consumer and defense technologies and adopting low-carbon energy sources all require dependable supplies of minerals. But where does the U.S. mineral supply come from? Where could future supplies come from? And how can the environmental impacts of mineral development be managed or reduced?
The USGS helps answer these questions by studying the full life cycle and supply chains of mineral resources by:
estimating mineral resource availability
researching where and how mineral resources occur, including beneath the ocean, and other planets
providing information on how mineral commodities are produced and traded globally
investigating the environmental impacts of mineral development including the potential for recovering valuable materials from wastes
Policy makers, land managers, industry and the public all rely on USGS science to make decisions about where to get the mineral resources we need and how to use the resources we have.
Learn More About Minerals and USGS Research
Minerals 101
Minerals 101
Critical Minerals
Critical Minerals
Mineral Commodities
Mineral Commodities
Assessments of Mineral Resources
Assessments of Mineral Resources
Legacy Mine Lands
Legacy Mine Lands
Mine Waste as a Resource
Mine Waste as a Resource
Mapping What’s Under Our Feet
Mapping What’s Under Our Feet
Minerals Educational Resources
Minerals Educational Resources
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.
Minerals
Science
Science Explorer
Biology
Climate
Coasts
Energy
Environmental Health
Geology
Information Systems
Maps and Mapping
Methods and Analysis
Minerals
Natural Hazards
Ocean
Planetary Science
Science Technology
Water
Mission Areas
Programs
Regions
Science Centers
Observatories
Laboratories
Frequently Asked Questions
Educational Resources
Special Topics
Modern life is built upon minerals. The USGS delivers science that is crucial for finding and managing the mineral resources required to meet our current and future needs for infrastructure, manufacturing and technology.
Minerals are used in nearly every aspect of modern life, from the computers we use to the roads we drive on. Maintaining our infrastructure, manufacturing consumer and defense technologies and adopting low-carbon energy sources all require dependable supplies of minerals. But where does the U.S. mineral supply come from? Where could future supplies come from? And how can the environmental impacts of mineral development be managed or reduced?
The USGS helps answer these questions by studying the full life cycle and supply chains of mineral resources by:
estimating mineral resource availability
researching where and how mineral resources occur, including beneath the ocean, and other planets
providing information on how mineral commodities are produced and traded globally
investigating the environmental impacts of mineral development including the potential for recovering valuable materials from wastes
Policy makers, land managers, industry and the public all rely on USGS science to make decisions about where to get the mineral resources we need and how to use the resources we have.
Learn More About Minerals and USGS Research
Minerals 101
Minerals 101
Critical Minerals
Critical Minerals
Mineral Commodities
Mineral Commodities
Assessments of Mineral Resources
Assessments of Mineral Resources
Legacy Mine Lands
Legacy Mine Lands
Mine Waste as a Resource
Mine Waste as a Resource
Mapping What’s Under Our Feet
Mapping What’s Under Our Feet
Minerals Educational Resources
Minerals Educational Resources
Was this page helpful?