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Energy Resources Program

Addressing the challenge of increasing demand for energy sources by conducting basic and applied research on geologic energy resources

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Mineral Resources Program

Delivering unbiased science and information on mineral resource potential, production, consumption, and how they interact with the environment.

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Science and Decisions Center

An interdisciplinary organization advancing the use of science in natural resource decision making.

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SHRIMP-RG Lab

Supporting scientists and students to analyze specimens for a variety of scientific research objectives.

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TRIGA Reactor

Supporting science by providing information on geologic, plant, and animal specimens to advance methods and techniques unique to nuclear reactors.

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Energy and Minerals

The Energy and Mineral Resources Mission Area conducts research and assessments that focus on the location, quantity, and quality of mineral and energy resources, including the economic and environmental effects of resource extraction and use.

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Energy Resources Program

Eocene basin-floor submarine fan deposits exposed on the mountain, Hyrnestabben.

Conducts basic and applied research on geologic energy resources and on the environmental, economic, and human health impacts of their production and use.The program is also involved in studying the impacts of wind and solar energy development.

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Mineral Resources Program

Geologist doing field work in Alaska

Provides scientific information for objective resource assessments and unbiased research results on mineral potential, production, consumption, and environmental effects. The MRP is the sole Federal source for this information.

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News

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Media Alert: The USGS Announces Low-Level Helicopter Flights in Nevada and Oregon

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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law helps map critical mineral resources in New Mexico

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President Proposes Nearly $1.8 Billion for USGS Science in FY 2024

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Publications

Alaska focus area definition for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals in Alaska for antimony, barite, beryllium, chromium, fluorspar, hafnium, magnesium, manganese, uranium, vanadium, and zirconium

Phase 3 of the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) focuses on geologic belts that are favorable for hosting mineral systems that could contain the critical minerals antimony, barite, beryllium, chromium, fluorspar, hafnium, magnesium, manganese, uranium, vanadium, and zirconium. Prior phases of the Earth MRI program in Alaska focused only on rare earth elements, aluminum, cobalt, graphi
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Energy and Minerals, Mineral Resources Program, Alaska Science Center

Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic resources of 13 critical minerals in the conterminous United States and Puerto Rico — Antimony, barite, beryllium, chromium, fluorspar, hafnium, helium, magnesium, manganese, potash, uranium, vanadiu

The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is conducted in phases to identify areas for acquiring new geologic framework data to identify potential domestic resources of the 35 mineral materials designated as critical minerals for the United States. This report describes the data sources and summary results for 13 critical minerals evaluated in the conterminous United States and Puerto Ric
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Energy and Minerals, Mineral Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center

Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic resources of 11 critical minerals in Alaska—Aluminum, cobalt, graphite, lithium, niobium, platinum group elements, rare earth elements, tantalum, tin, titanium, and tungsten, chap. C of U.S. Geologic

Phase 2 of the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) focuses on geologic belts that are favorable for hosting mineral systems that may contain select critical minerals. Phase 1 of the Earth MRI program focused on rare earth elements (REE), and phase 2 adds aluminum, cobalt, graphite, lithium, niobium, platinum-group metals, tantalum, tin, titanium, and tungsten. This report describes the
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Energy and Minerals, Mineral Resources Program, Alaska Science Center
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Science

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Open pit rare earth element mine at Mountain Pass, California. Stepped sides of the pit and access for mining vehicles shown.

Multidisciplinary Investigations of REE Mineralization at Mountain Pass and in the Southeast Mojave Desert, California

In this time of increased focus on renewable energy technologies, rare earth elements (REEs) are of critical importance. For example, neodymium (Nd) is a REE used in the generator and motor magnets of wind turbines and electric vehicles. Reliance on REE imports puts the U.S. at high risk for supply disruption. The project will integrate geology, geophysics, petrology, geochronology, and economic...
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Energy and Minerals, Mineral Resources Program, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
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Multidisciplinary Investigations of REE Mineralization at Mountain Pass and in the Southeast Mojave Desert, California

In this time of increased focus on renewable energy technologies, rare earth elements (REEs) are of critical importance. For example, neodymium (Nd) is a REE used in the generator and motor magnets of wind turbines and electric vehicles. Reliance on REE imports puts the U.S. at high risk for supply disruption. The project will integrate geology, geophysics, petrology, geochronology, and economic...
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stibnite specimen

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Critical Minerals

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Critical Minerals
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Energy and Minerals, Mineral Resources Program, National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program, National Geological and Geophysical Data Preservation Program, Communications and Publishing
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Bipartisan Infrastructure Law: Critical Minerals

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and Critical Minerals
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Uranium mineralized drill core, Coles Hill deposit, Virginia

Uranium Mineral Systems

To assure adequate uranium to supply electricity from nuclear power, the US Geological Survey is working to better understand the genetic controls, distribution, and quantities of domestic uranium. Because of the heavy reliance on imported uranium, scientists also lead international groups of uranium resource experts to monitor world uranium supply. This research benefits the mining industry...
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Energy and Minerals, Energy Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center
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Uranium Mineral Systems

To assure adequate uranium to supply electricity from nuclear power, the US Geological Survey is working to better understand the genetic controls, distribution, and quantities of domestic uranium. Because of the heavy reliance on imported uranium, scientists also lead international groups of uranium resource experts to monitor world uranium supply. This research benefits the mining industry...
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