Our objective is to develop a national-scale, geospatial database that is the authoritative source of the most important mines, mineral deposits, and mineral districts of the United States.
Prospect- and mine-related features on USGS topographic maps
Symbols indicating mining-related features digitized from historical USGS topographic maps in the western part of the conterminous US. Includes prospect pits, mine shafts and adits, quarries, open-pit mines, tailings piles and ponds, gravel and borrow pits, and other features.
USMIN Mineral Deposit Geospatial Data
A developing national-scale geospatial database that will be an authoritative source of information on the most important mines, mineral deposits, and mineral districts of the United States.
Science Issue and Relevance
Horton, J.D., and San Juan, C.A., 2016, Prospect- and mine-related features from U.S. Geological Survey 7.5- and 15-minute topographic quadrangle maps of the United States (ver. 10.0, May 2023): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F78W3CHG.
One of the key missions of the USGS Mineral Resources Program is the collection and dissemination of mineral resources information. This information is used by the USGS, other government agencies (State and Federal), private industry and the general public. An accurate, up-to-date mineral deposit database utilizing current geospatial technologies is needed to meet the needs of USGS research, state and federal land management agencies, private industry, and the general public.
In the 1960's, the USGS and the U.S. Bureau of Mines developed national-scale mine and mineral deposit databases. After the Bureau of Mine's 1996 closure, the USGS acquired custody of their Minerals Availability System (MAS) and Minerals Industry Location System (MILS) databases. In 2000, the MAS/MILS was merged with the USGS Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS) to form a single database. Much of the data initially captured in the Mineral Resource Data System was recorded prior to the development and widespread use of modern geospatial technologies. Additionally, differing data entry procedures of both Bureau of Mines and USGS resulted in different outcomes. Due to these issues, it was decided that the mineral resources database of the U.S. needed to be modernized.
An updated mineral deposit database will provide a high-quality, consistent mine and deposit inventory to support U.S. actions and policies on mineral resources and land management.
Methodology to Address the Issue
Our goal is to develop a national-scale, geospatial database that is the authoritative source of the most important mines, mineral deposits, and mineral districts of the United States. The initial focus was on the western states, with plans to collect data for all of the U.S. Our major tasks are:
-
Compile comprehensive mineral deposit data; focus since May 2017 has been critical minerals
-
Capture mine symbol data from USGS historic topographic maps at 3 scales and multiple versions
Return to Mineral Resources Program | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Mineral Resource Online Data Catalog
GIS and Information Management - GGGSC
Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
- Overview
Our objective is to develop a national-scale, geospatial database that is the authoritative source of the most important mines, mineral deposits, and mineral districts of the United States.
Prospect- and mine-related features on USGS topographic maps
Symbols indicating mining-related features digitized from historical USGS topographic maps in the western part of the conterminous US. Includes prospect pits, mine shafts and adits, quarries, open-pit mines, tailings piles and ponds, gravel and borrow pits, and other features.
USMIN Mineral Deposit Geospatial Data
A developing national-scale geospatial database that will be an authoritative source of information on the most important mines, mineral deposits, and mineral districts of the United States.
Science Issue and Relevance
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.Prospect- and Mine-Related Features from U.S. Geological Survey 7.5- and 15-Minute Topographic Quadrangle Maps of the US
Horton, J.D., and San Juan, C.A., 2016, Prospect- and mine-related features from U.S. Geological Survey 7.5- and 15-minute topographic quadrangle maps of the United States (ver. 10.0, May 2023): U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/F78W3CHG.One of the key missions of the USGS Mineral Resources Program is the collection and dissemination of mineral resources information. This information is used by the USGS, other government agencies (State and Federal), private industry and the general public. An accurate, up-to-date mineral deposit database utilizing current geospatial technologies is needed to meet the needs of USGS research, state and federal land management agencies, private industry, and the general public.
In the 1960's, the USGS and the U.S. Bureau of Mines developed national-scale mine and mineral deposit databases. After the Bureau of Mine's 1996 closure, the USGS acquired custody of their Minerals Availability System (MAS) and Minerals Industry Location System (MILS) databases. In 2000, the MAS/MILS was merged with the USGS Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS) to form a single database. Much of the data initially captured in the Mineral Resource Data System was recorded prior to the development and widespread use of modern geospatial technologies. Additionally, differing data entry procedures of both Bureau of Mines and USGS resulted in different outcomes. Due to these issues, it was decided that the mineral resources database of the U.S. needed to be modernized.
An updated mineral deposit database will provide a high-quality, consistent mine and deposit inventory to support U.S. actions and policies on mineral resources and land management.
Methodology to Address the Issue
Sources/Usage: Public Domain.USMIN MIneral Deposit Database - graphic of the information contained in the database. For mineral deposit data, although prospects are included, the emphasis is on deposits, mines, and districts. Our goal is to develop a national-scale, geospatial database that is the authoritative source of the most important mines, mineral deposits, and mineral districts of the United States. The initial focus was on the western states, with plans to collect data for all of the U.S. Our major tasks are:
-
Compile comprehensive mineral deposit data; focus since May 2017 has been critical minerals
-
Capture mine symbol data from USGS historic topographic maps at 3 scales and multiple versions
Return to Mineral Resources Program | Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center
-
- Science
Below are other science projects associated with this project.
Mineral Resource Online Data Catalog
This project makes the digital spatial data produced by the Mineral Resources Program available via a web portal so that users can easily access spatial data for solving scientific and technical problems: the Mineral Resources Online Spatial Data site.GIS and Information Management - GGGSC
We support the geospatial component of Mineral Resources Program research and provide public access to research results and geospatial information. We facilitate all aspects of the data life cycle, including the publication and archiving of geospatial information and products. We also develop and steward national-scale data layers considered foundational to the Mineral Resources Program as well as...Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
The goal of Earth MRI is to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework in the United States and to identify areas that may have the potential to contain undiscovered critical mineral resources. Enhancement of our domestic mineral supply will decrease the Nation’s reliance on foreign sources of minerals that are fundamental to our security and economy. - Data
- Publications
- News
- Partners