This infographic displays the different minerals located in mobile devices. Included within this infographic are:
How can I find U.S. Bureau of Mines publications?
After 85 years of service, the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) closed in 1996. Certain functions, such as the collection, analysis, and dissemination of minerals information, have been returned to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). For information on former USBM programs or publications, please see the following sources:
- Selected U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) Publications
- Historical Files from Federal Government Mineral Exploration-Assistance Programs, 1950 to 1974
- The National Technical Reports Library (part of the National Technical information Service) has a "legacy" collection of USBM publications dating from 1910-1996. These publications represent most of the research work done by the USBM in the fields of mining technology, mine safety and health, and the mineral industry.
- The National Archives and Records Administration also has records for the U.S. Bureau of Mines. Some records from regional offices go back to the 1860s.
- The Minerals Information Program was transferred to U.S. Geological Survey, now a part of our Mineral Resources Program. Send an email to minerals@usgs.gov
- Interlibrary loan - get assistance from a reference librarian at a public or private library.
USGS information about mines is on our Mineral Resources Online Spatial Data website.
Related
How do we extract minerals? How do we extract minerals?
The primary methods used to extract minerals from the ground are: Underground mining Surface (open pit) mining Placer mining The location and shape of the deposit, strength of the rock, ore grade, mining costs, and current market price of the commodity are some of the determining factors for selecting which mining method to use. Higher-grade metallic ores found in veins deep under the Earth’s...
How does mine drainage occur? How does mine drainage occur?
Mine drainage is surface water or groundwater that drains from an active or abandoned mine. In some cases, pyrite (an iron sulfide mineral) is exposed and reacts with air and water to form sulfuric acid and dissolved iron. Some or all of this iron can precipitate to form the red, orange, or yellow sediments in the bottom of streams containing mine drainage. The acid runoff further dissolves heavy...
How large is a lifetime supply of minerals for the average person? How large is a lifetime supply of minerals for the average person?
At today's level of consumption, the average newborn infant will need a lifetime supply of: 871 pounds of lead 502 pounds of zinc 950 pounds of copper 2,692 pounds of aluminum 21,645 pounds of iron ore 11,614 pounds of clays 30,091 pounds of salt 1,420,000 pounds of stone, sand, gravel, and cement Learn more: Mineral Resources: Out of the ground...into our daily lives
How many pounds of minerals are required by the average person in a year? How many pounds of minerals are required by the average person in a year?
To maintain our standard of living, each person in the United States requires over 40,630 pounds of minerals each year: 10, 765 pounds of stone 7,254 pounds of sand and gravel 685 pounds of cement 148 pounds of clays 383 pounds of salt 275 pounds of iron ore 168 pounds of phosphate rock 35 pounds of soda ash 34 pounds of aluminum 12 pounds of copper 11 pounds of lead 6 pounds of zinc 5 pounds of...
Minerals in Mobile Devices — Infographic
This infographic displays the different minerals located in mobile devices. Included within this infographic are:
Loading Coal in the Trapper Mine
Coal is loaded into trucks at the Trapper Mine in northwest Colorado.
Coal is loaded into trucks at the Trapper Mine in northwest Colorado.
Soil Sampling Near Uranium Mine
USGS Scientists Sarah Davis, Taylor Mills, and David Naftz collect soil samples near the Pinenut uranium mine. Mine features visible in the background include the gray ore stockpile at the far left, the head frame used to access the underground mine workings at mid left, and the detention pond containing all water produced on the mine site on the right.
USGS Scientists Sarah Davis, Taylor Mills, and David Naftz collect soil samples near the Pinenut uranium mine. Mine features visible in the background include the gray ore stockpile at the far left, the head frame used to access the underground mine workings at mid left, and the detention pond containing all water produced on the mine site on the right.
Supergene Leached Zone at Silver Bell Mine
Supergene Leached zone at Silver Bell Mine, AZ.
Supergene Leached zone at Silver Bell Mine, AZ.
Sampling Acid Mine Drainage in Elk_County, PA
Sampling acid mine drainage residuals in Elk County, Pennsylvania. The USGS has pioneered a new use for these residuals that are currently a disposal challenge, using them to filter phosphorus from agricultural and municipal wastewaters.
Sampling acid mine drainage residuals in Elk County, Pennsylvania. The USGS has pioneered a new use for these residuals that are currently a disposal challenge, using them to filter phosphorus from agricultural and municipal wastewaters.
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, UtahDrilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, UtahDrilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Phosphate Mine Pile
A phosphate mine tailing pile taken in the Southern Coastal Plain Ecoregion (FL) in July 2006.
A phosphate mine tailing pile taken in the Southern Coastal Plain Ecoregion (FL) in July 2006.
Abandoned Mine Shaft
An abandoned mine shaft taken in the Mojave Basin and Range Ecoregion (NV) in August 2002.
An abandoned mine shaft taken in the Mojave Basin and Range Ecoregion (NV) in August 2002.
Red and Bonita Mine
Red and Bonita Mine located approximately .4 miles from the Gold King Mine.
Red and Bonita Mine located approximately .4 miles from the Gold King Mine.
Climax Molybdenum Mine
Climax Molybdenum Mine, near Breckenridge, Colorado
Climax Molybdenum Mine, near Breckenridge, Colorado
Stillwater Mine
View of the Stullwater Mine, where rocks are collected for making lunar regolith simulant.
__________
The USGS has created man-made moon dirt, or regolith, to help NASA prepare for upcoming moon explorations. Four tons of the simulant is expected to be made by this summer of 2009 and turned over to the scientific community involved in lunar exploration.
View of the Stullwater Mine, where rocks are collected for making lunar regolith simulant.
__________
The USGS has created man-made moon dirt, or regolith, to help NASA prepare for upcoming moon explorations. Four tons of the simulant is expected to be made by this summer of 2009 and turned over to the scientific community involved in lunar exploration.
Related
How do we extract minerals? How do we extract minerals?
The primary methods used to extract minerals from the ground are: Underground mining Surface (open pit) mining Placer mining The location and shape of the deposit, strength of the rock, ore grade, mining costs, and current market price of the commodity are some of the determining factors for selecting which mining method to use. Higher-grade metallic ores found in veins deep under the Earth’s...
How does mine drainage occur? How does mine drainage occur?
Mine drainage is surface water or groundwater that drains from an active or abandoned mine. In some cases, pyrite (an iron sulfide mineral) is exposed and reacts with air and water to form sulfuric acid and dissolved iron. Some or all of this iron can precipitate to form the red, orange, or yellow sediments in the bottom of streams containing mine drainage. The acid runoff further dissolves heavy...
How large is a lifetime supply of minerals for the average person? How large is a lifetime supply of minerals for the average person?
At today's level of consumption, the average newborn infant will need a lifetime supply of: 871 pounds of lead 502 pounds of zinc 950 pounds of copper 2,692 pounds of aluminum 21,645 pounds of iron ore 11,614 pounds of clays 30,091 pounds of salt 1,420,000 pounds of stone, sand, gravel, and cement Learn more: Mineral Resources: Out of the ground...into our daily lives
How many pounds of minerals are required by the average person in a year? How many pounds of minerals are required by the average person in a year?
To maintain our standard of living, each person in the United States requires over 40,630 pounds of minerals each year: 10, 765 pounds of stone 7,254 pounds of sand and gravel 685 pounds of cement 148 pounds of clays 383 pounds of salt 275 pounds of iron ore 168 pounds of phosphate rock 35 pounds of soda ash 34 pounds of aluminum 12 pounds of copper 11 pounds of lead 6 pounds of zinc 5 pounds of...
Minerals in Mobile Devices — Infographic
This infographic displays the different minerals located in mobile devices. Included within this infographic are:
This infographic displays the different minerals located in mobile devices. Included within this infographic are:
Loading Coal in the Trapper Mine
Coal is loaded into trucks at the Trapper Mine in northwest Colorado.
Coal is loaded into trucks at the Trapper Mine in northwest Colorado.
Soil Sampling Near Uranium Mine
USGS Scientists Sarah Davis, Taylor Mills, and David Naftz collect soil samples near the Pinenut uranium mine. Mine features visible in the background include the gray ore stockpile at the far left, the head frame used to access the underground mine workings at mid left, and the detention pond containing all water produced on the mine site on the right.
USGS Scientists Sarah Davis, Taylor Mills, and David Naftz collect soil samples near the Pinenut uranium mine. Mine features visible in the background include the gray ore stockpile at the far left, the head frame used to access the underground mine workings at mid left, and the detention pond containing all water produced on the mine site on the right.
Supergene Leached Zone at Silver Bell Mine
Supergene Leached zone at Silver Bell Mine, AZ.
Supergene Leached zone at Silver Bell Mine, AZ.
Sampling Acid Mine Drainage in Elk_County, PA
Sampling acid mine drainage residuals in Elk County, Pennsylvania. The USGS has pioneered a new use for these residuals that are currently a disposal challenge, using them to filter phosphorus from agricultural and municipal wastewaters.
Sampling acid mine drainage residuals in Elk County, Pennsylvania. The USGS has pioneered a new use for these residuals that are currently a disposal challenge, using them to filter phosphorus from agricultural and municipal wastewaters.
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, UtahDrilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Drilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, UtahDrilling for mineral resources near Canyonlands National Park, Utah
Phosphate Mine Pile
A phosphate mine tailing pile taken in the Southern Coastal Plain Ecoregion (FL) in July 2006.
A phosphate mine tailing pile taken in the Southern Coastal Plain Ecoregion (FL) in July 2006.
Abandoned Mine Shaft
An abandoned mine shaft taken in the Mojave Basin and Range Ecoregion (NV) in August 2002.
An abandoned mine shaft taken in the Mojave Basin and Range Ecoregion (NV) in August 2002.
Red and Bonita Mine
Red and Bonita Mine located approximately .4 miles from the Gold King Mine.
Red and Bonita Mine located approximately .4 miles from the Gold King Mine.
Climax Molybdenum Mine
Climax Molybdenum Mine, near Breckenridge, Colorado
Climax Molybdenum Mine, near Breckenridge, Colorado
Stillwater Mine
View of the Stullwater Mine, where rocks are collected for making lunar regolith simulant.
__________
The USGS has created man-made moon dirt, or regolith, to help NASA prepare for upcoming moon explorations. Four tons of the simulant is expected to be made by this summer of 2009 and turned over to the scientific community involved in lunar exploration.
View of the Stullwater Mine, where rocks are collected for making lunar regolith simulant.
__________
The USGS has created man-made moon dirt, or regolith, to help NASA prepare for upcoming moon explorations. Four tons of the simulant is expected to be made by this summer of 2009 and turned over to the scientific community involved in lunar exploration.
Updated Date: February 3, 2026