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Selected mineral specimen images and videos about Program activities.

Images

Chart showing list of minerals that the US is import-reliant on China for.
Minerals with Net Import Reliance on China
Minerals with Net Import Reliance on China
Minerals with Net Import Reliance on China

Mineral Commodities with Net Import Reliance on China

USGS collects the Nation’s data on the global production, supply, demand and trade of minerals to inform strategic policy, trade and land-use decisions.

Mineral Commodities with Net Import Reliance on China

USGS collects the Nation’s data on the global production, supply, demand and trade of minerals to inform strategic policy, trade and land-use decisions.

Gallium
Solid Gallium Metal
Solid Gallium Metal
Solid Gallium Metal

Gallium is used in gallium arsenide and gallium nitride compound semiconductors. There is additional production capacity for gallium outside China with the potential to produce gallium in Germany, Kazakhstan and South Korea in response to China’s gallium export ban to the U.S. 

Gallium is used in gallium arsenide and gallium nitride compound semiconductors. There is additional production capacity for gallium outside China with the potential to produce gallium in Germany, Kazakhstan and South Korea in response to China’s gallium export ban to the U.S. 

Diagram showing the flow of water for conventional flotation processing of copper ores (Bleiwas, 2012)
Schematic Diagram of Water Flow for Conventional Flotation Processing of Copper Ores (Bleiwas, 2012)
Schematic Diagram of Water Flow for Conventional Flotation Processing of Copper Ores (Bleiwas, 2012)
Schematic Diagram of Water Flow for Conventional Flotation Processing of Copper Ores (Bleiwas, 2012)

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

Infographic summarizing the process through which the List of Critical Minerals is created. Click for full text.
The Process of Creating the List of Critical Minerals Infographic
The Process of Creating the List of Critical Minerals Infographic
The Process of Creating the List of Critical Minerals Infographic

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

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

Infographic on the methodology used to create the List of Critical Minerals. Click for full text.
Mineral Supply Risk Analysis for the 2022 List of Critical Minerals Infographic
Mineral Supply Risk Analysis for the 2022 List of Critical Minerals Infographic
Mineral Supply Risk Analysis for the 2022 List of Critical Minerals Infographic

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. 

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. 

Videos

2017 Oct. Public Lecture — Global Trends in Mineral Commodity Supplies
2017 Oct. Public Lecture — Global Trends in Mineral Commodity Supplies
2017 Oct. Public Lecture — Global Trends in Mineral Commodity Supplies
  • The U.S. is increasingly reliant on supply of mineral raw materials from other countries.
  • Advanced technologies are increasingly making use of nearly the entire periodic table of the elements.
  • Dynamic studies of critical and strategic mineral supply and demand can identify emerging potential supply risks.
  • The U.S. is increasingly reliant on supply of mineral raw materials from other countries.
  • Advanced technologies are increasingly making use of nearly the entire periodic table of the elements.
  • Dynamic studies of critical and strategic mineral supply and demand can identify emerging potential supply risks.
NMIC - 2017 Mineral Commodity Summaries Release
NMIC - 2017 Mineral Commodity Summaries Release
NMIC - 2017 Mineral Commodity Summaries Release

The National Minerals Information Center, the primary agency for collecting and analyzing nonfuel minerals information, releases the 2017 Mineral Commodity Summaries, a collection of reports on over 85 commodities essential to the U.S. economy and national security.

The National Minerals Information Center, the primary agency for collecting and analyzing nonfuel minerals information, releases the 2017 Mineral Commodity Summaries, a collection of reports on over 85 commodities essential to the U.S. economy and national security.

What's the Big Idea?—Multiple Perspectives to Answer Complex Questions
What's the Big Idea?—Multiple Perspectives to Answer Complex Questions
What's the Big Idea?—Multiple Perspectives to Answer Complex Questions

JoAnn Holloway, biogeochemist with the USGS Mineral Resources Program, explains how interdisciplinary science can help better inform the conditions of a complex ecosystem.

JoAnn Holloway, biogeochemist with the USGS Mineral Resources Program, explains how interdisciplinary science can help better inform the conditions of a complex ecosystem.

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