Images

Our science is supporting the low-carbon energy transition.

The National Minerals Information Center:

Schematic diagram of water flow for conventional flotation processing of copper ores from Bleiwas, D.I., 2012, Estimated water requirements for the conventional flotation of copper ores: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2012–1089, 13 p., available at https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20121089

USGS leads the government in developing the List of Critical Minerals. UGS is required to update the List at least once every three years. The process for developing the List of Critical Minerals is laid out in the Energy Act of 2020 (Section 7002). 

Process

Formulation and expert input

Mineral Supply Risk Analysis for the 2022 List of Critical Minerals

The USGS leads the government in developing the List of Critical Minerals, using a data-driven methodology to assess mineral supply risk.

Critical minerals are essential the Nation’s economy and security, and have supply chains vulnerable to disruption. 

Earth MRI: The First Five Years

The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is modernizing the Nation’s mapping and geoscience data, benefitting regions, states and local communities.

By the Numbers:

40 States and Territories partnered with Earth MRI

Map showing Earth MRI data acquisitions from select years. See all acquisitions here. 

Map showing Earth MRI data acquisitions from select years. See all acquisitions here. 

Map showing Earth MRI data acquisitions from select years. See all acquisitions here. 

Map showing Earth MRI data acquisitions from 2019-2021. See all acquisitions here. 

Map showing Earth MRI data acquisitions from select years. See all acquisitions here. 

Map showing Earth MRI data acquisitions from select years. See all acquisitions here. 

Map showing areas within the 23 mineral systems identified by the Mineral Resources Program and Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI).

Map showing the 23 mineral systems identified by the Mineral Resources Program and Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)

Gif showing increases in Earth MRI mapping data from 2019-2024. You can find all Earth MRI data acquisitions here. 

Pie chart showing relative amounts of copper produced by leading copper producing states in the U.S. in 2019 (derived from data in Flanagan, D.M., 2019, Copper, in Metals and minerals: U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook 2019, v. 1, p. 20.1-20.30.

Global map showing locations of porphyry copper deposits from John, D.A., Ayuso, R.A., Barton, M.D., Blakely, R.J., Bodnar, R.J., Dilles, J.H., Gray, Floyd, Graybeal, F.T., Mars, J.C., McPhee, D.K., Seal, R.R., Taylor, R.D., and Vikre, P.G., 2010, Porphyry copper deposit model, chap. B of Mineral deposit models for resource assessment: U.S.

Photograph of Ray Copper Mine, Arizona, taken by USGS Emeritus Mark Coker, September 1, 2007. Revised for USGS Webpage carousel for brightness, sharpness, contrast, color saturation, and cropping.

Map showing locations of copper producing mines in the Lower Colorado River Basin, produced by Eric Anderson of the Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center on August 19, 2024.

Pie chart showing copper production in leading copper producing U.S. states in 2020 by Eric Anderson of the Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, August 2024

Table of annual water use in acre-feet per year by major copper mines in Arizona from 2004-2008 published by Singh (2010)