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Selected mineral specimen images and videos about Program activities.
NASA’s ER‑2 high‑altitude research aircraft touches down in Colorado Springs May 11, 2026, after completing a hyperspectral survey flight for the joint USGS–NASA effort to map critical minerals across the western United States.
NASA’s ER‑2 high‑altitude research aircraft touches down in Colorado Springs May 11, 2026, after completing a hyperspectral survey flight for the joint USGS–NASA effort to map critical minerals across the western United States.
Graph of U.S. production (in millions of metric tons) of materials from 1900 to 2020, adapted from Materials flow in the United States—A global context, 1900–2020.
Graph of U.S. production (in millions of metric tons) of materials from 1900 to 2020, adapted from Materials flow in the United States—A global context, 1900–2020.
Infographic flowchart summarizing the USGS methodology for technical input to the 2025 List of Critical Minerals. The full methodology is found here: Methodology and technical input for the 2025 U.S.
Infographic flowchart summarizing the USGS methodology for technical input to the 2025 List of Critical Minerals. The full methodology is found here: Methodology and technical input for the 2025 U.S.
Mine wastes are produced at each stage of mineral production - mine wastes that can contain critical and other minerals, and could potentially be reprocessed. This infographic shows three kinds of mine wastes produced during mineral production, and a sense of scale of how much waste is produced:
Mine wastes are produced at each stage of mineral production - mine wastes that can contain critical and other minerals, and could potentially be reprocessed. This infographic shows three kinds of mine wastes produced during mineral production, and a sense of scale of how much waste is produced:
USGS Mineral Resources Program coloring page for cassiterite and the critical mineral tin.
The mineral cassiterite, chemical formula SnO2, is the most important mineral source for the critical mineral tin. Fun facts: tin is one of the earliest metals used by humans! The chemical symbol for tin, Sn, comes from its Latin name, stannum.
USGS Mineral Resources Program coloring page for cassiterite and the critical mineral tin.
The mineral cassiterite, chemical formula SnO2, is the most important mineral source for the critical mineral tin. Fun facts: tin is one of the earliest metals used by humans! The chemical symbol for tin, Sn, comes from its Latin name, stannum.
USGS Mineral Resources Program color by number for the critical mineral graphite.
USGS Mineral Resources Program color by number for the critical mineral graphite.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across the Western United States and the nation.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across the Western United States and the nation.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across the Western United States and the nation.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across the Western United States and the nation.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across the Eastern United States and the nation.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across the Eastern United States and the nation.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across the Eastern United States and the nation.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across the Eastern United States and the nation.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across Alaska and the nation.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across Alaska and the nation.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across Alaska and the nation.
The USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is accelerating modern geological and geophysical mapping across Alaska and the nation.