Images

2025 List of Critical Minerals

The 2025 List of Critical Minerals includes 60 critical minerals. 50 of these were also included on the 2022 List of Critical Minerals, and 10 are new. There are 15 rare earth elements included on the List. 

This is an image of the sign that was placed at the 2025 GSA annual meeting to designate the USGS NCGMP-hosted BSGMC. 

This is an image of the top three winners from the competition holding their awards along with award presenters. 

This picture illustrates a BSGMC participant student poster presented at GSA. 

Terry Lee from the University of Nevada, Reno, 1:24,000-Scale Geologic Map of the Western Half of the Franklin Lake NW 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Ruby Mountains-East Humboldt Range Metamorphic Core Complex, Northeast Nevada.

This picture illustrates a BSGMC participant student poster presented at GSA. 

Terri Zach, University of Kentucky, Geology of the Survey Peak 7.5' Quadrangle, Wyoming: Using Detailed Mapping to Reconstruct the Paleo-Topography of the Northern Teton Range and Implications for the Paleo-Teton Collapse Hypothesis.

This picture illustrates a BSGMC participant student poster presented at GSA. 

David Canova, University of Barcelona, Salt structures in the Eastern External Betics fold and thrust belt, SE Iberia—Geologic maps, cross sections, and palinspastic reconstructions. 

Alaska Science Center Data Management staff organize, scan, and digitally archive physical data. Once published as part of a data release, the physical data are organized and placed into banker boxes, labeled with pertinent information, such as the data release DOI, and moved to a secure location.

Isolated USGS mineral specimen featuring almandite garnet and calcite. High-definition image showing crystal structure and contrasting color.

High-definition image of an isolated aluminum specimen with smooth surface and subtle oxidation.

Isolated barite specimen from the USGS mineral collection. High-definition image showing tabular crystal structure and pale color.

High-definition image of a barite specimen showing layered structure and subtle color variations.

Isolated USGS mineral specimen of barite with visible crystal faces and granular texture.

High-definition image of barite specimen with fibrous structure and pale yellow color.

 High-definition image of beryllium ore with visible mineral inclusions and rough texture.

Isolated beryllium ore specimen showing coarse texture and light coloration. High-definition USGS mineral image.

Isolated blister copper specimen from the USGS mineral collection. High-definition image showing rough surface and oxidized color.

USGS mineral specimen of blue calcite. High-definition image showing translucent structure and soft blue color.

High-definition image of calcite and sphalerite specimen from the USGS mineral collection. Image shows layered structure and metallic inclusions.

Isolated black calcite specimen from the USGS mineral collection. High-definition image showing dark coloration and crystal texture.

USGS mineral specimen of blue calcite. High-definition image showing translucent structure and soft blue color.

High-definition image of blue calcite specimen with layered crystal structure and pale blue hue.