As the importance and dependence of specific mineral commodities increase, so does concern about their supply. The United States is currently 100 percent reliant on foreign sources for 20 mineral commodities and imports the majority of its supply of more than 50 mineral commodities. Mineral commodities that have important uses and face potential supply disruption are critical to American economic and national security. However, a mineral commodity's importance and the nature of its supply chain can change with time; a mineral commodity that may not have been considered critical 25 years ago may be critical today, and one considered critical today may not be so in the future. The U.S. Geological Survey has produced this volume to describe a select group of mineral commodities currently critical to our economy and security. For each mineral commodity covered, the authors provide a comprehensive look at (1) the commodity's use; (2) the geology and global distribution of the mineral deposit types that account for the present and possible future supply of the commodity; (3) the current status of production, reserves, and resources in the United States and globally; and (4) environmental considerations related to the commodity's production from different types of mineral deposits. The volume describes U.S. critical mineral resources in a global context, for no country can be self-sufficient for all its mineral commodity needs, and the United States will always rely on global mineral commodity supply chains. This volume provides the scientific understanding of critical mineral resources required for informed decisionmaking by those responsible for ensuring that the United States has a secure and sustainable supply of mineral commodities.

Mineral Commodity Summaries 2019

This comprehensive resource is published on an annual basis, and is considered the earliest Government publication to furnish estimates covering nonfuel mineral industry data for the United States and worldwide. Each chapter of this 2015 edition includes information on events, trends, and issues for each mineral commodity as well as discussions and tabular presentations, including data sheets on domestic industry structure, Government programs, tariffs, 5-year salient statistics, and world production and resources for more than 90 minerals and materials. The Mineral Commodity Summaries (MCS) is the earliest comprehensive source of 2014 mineral production data for the world. More than 90 individual minerals and materials are covered by two-page synopses. For mineral commodities for which there is a Government stockpile, detailed information concerning the stockpile status is also included in the two-page synopsis. Abbreviations and units of measure, and definitions of selected terms used in the report, are in Appendix A and Appendix B, respectively. "Appendix C--Reserves and Resources" includes "Part A--Resource/Reserve Classification for Minerals" and "Part B--Sources of Reserves Data." A directory of USGS minerals information country specialists and their responsibilities is Appendix D. Numerous charts and tables representing United States domestic and worldwide resources are contained within this volume for each mineral to provide a method for quick finding of the information related to a specific mineral. In year 2014, 12 states each produced more than $2 billion worth of nonfuel mineral commodities. These States include --Arizona, Nevada, Minnesota, Texas, Utah, California, Alaska, Florida, Missouri, Michigan, Wyoming, and Colorado. Global commodity traders, economists, construction industry engineering executives, geologists, mining engineers, and statisticians my highly desire the information contained in this annual resource. It is highly recommended that academic libraries with geology and mining engineering programs, special libraries within these fields, and public libraries place an updated annual copy of this primary source work in their business/economic and reference collections.

This illustrated report is published annually to furnish estimates covering nonfuel mineral industry data. Data sheets contain information on the domestic industry structure, Government programs, tariffs, and 5-year salient statistics for more than 90 individual minerals and materials. Each chapter includes information on events, trends, and issues for each mineral commodity, as well as discussions and tabular presentations on domestic industry structure. Maps, charts, presentations, tables, and graphs are included throughout this text. Geoscientists, petroleum engineers, global community traders, construction industry engineering executives soil scientists, miners, economists, trade brokers specializing in mineral commodities and imports/exports, mineral manufacturers, statistical professionals, and American citizens may be interested in this updated historical reference. Students pursuing coursework for a Bachelor of Science or advanced degree in environmental science, geosciences, or geology may be interested in this volume for research. It is highly recommended that academic libraries with geology and mining engineering programs, special libraries within these fields, and public libraries place an updated annual copy of this primary source work in their business/economic and reference collections.

Minerals are part of virtually every product we use. Common examples include copper used in electrical wiring and titanium used to make airplane frames and paint pigments. The Information Age has ushered in a number of new mineral uses in a number of products including cell phones (e.g., tantalum) and liquid crystal displays (e.g., indium). For some minerals, such as the platinum group metals used to make cataytic converters in cars, there is no substitute. If the supply of any given mineral were to become restricted, consumers and sectors of the U.S. economy could be significantly affected. Risks to minerals supplies can include a sudden increase in demand or the possibility that natural ores can be exhausted or become too difficult to extract. Minerals are more vulnerable to supply restrictions if they come from a limited number of mines, mining companies, or nations. Baseline information on minerals is currently collected at the federal level, but no established methodology has existed to identify potentially critical minerals. This book develops such a methodology and suggests an enhanced federal initiative to collect and analyze the additional data needed to support this type of tool.

This illustrated report is published annually to furnish estimates covering nonfuel mineral industry data. Data sheets contain information on the domestic industry structure, Government programs, tariffs, and 5-year salient statistics for more than 90 individual minerals and materials. Each chapter includes information on events, trends, and issues for each mineral commodity, as well as discussions and tabular presentations on domestic industry structure. Maps, charts, presentations, tables, and graphs are included throughout this text. Geoscientists, petroleum engineers, global community traders, construction industry engineering executives soil scientists, miners, economists, trade brokers specializing in mineral commodities and imports/exports, mineral manufacturers, statistical professionals, and American citizens may be interested in this updated historical reference. Students pursuing coursework for a Bachelor of Science or advanced degree in environmental science, geosciences, or geology may be interested in this volume for research. It is highly recommended that academic libraries with geology and mining engineering programs, special libraries within these fields, and public libraries place an updated annual copy of this primary source work in their business/economic and reference collections. Related collections: Minerals & Metals resources collection is available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/minerals-metals Environmental Protection & Conservation collection can be found here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/environmental-protection-conservation Engineering: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/engineering Economic Indicators: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/economic-indicators

The Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) of the U. S. Department of Energy commissioned the National Research Council (NRC) to undertake a study on required technologies for the Mining Industries of the Future Program to complement information provided to the program by the National Mining Association. Subsequently, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also became a sponsor of this study, and the Statement of Task was expanded to include health and safety. The overall objectives of this study are: (a) to review available information on the U.S. mining industry; (b) to identify critical research and development needs related to the exploration, mining, and processing of coal, minerals, and metals; and (c) to examine the federal contribution to research and development in mining processes.

Summaries of the major features of the geology of North America and the adjacent oceanic regions are presented in 20 chapters. Topics covered include concise reviews of current thinking about Precambrian basement, Phanerozoic orogens, cratonic basins, passive-margin geology of the Atlantic and Gulf Coast regions, marine and terrestrial geology of the Caribbean region and economic geology.