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Mineral Resources Program images.
From Maybe to Mineable
Scientists use different terms to communicate the strength of evidence - or uncertainty - for mineable minerals.
On a scale from less information and higher uncertainty to more information and lower uncertainty:
From Maybe to Mineable
Scientists use different terms to communicate the strength of evidence - or uncertainty - for mineable minerals.
On a scale from less information and higher uncertainty to more information and lower uncertainty:
Critical Mineral Focus Areas in the Conterminous United States Infographic Poster (24" X 36" original size)
Critical Mineral Focus Areas in the Conterminous United States Infographic Poster (24" X 36" original size)
The life cycle of molybdenum, from primary material to downstream products.
The life cycle of molybdenum, from primary material to downstream products.
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.
USGS Mineral Resources Program coloring page for the mineral galena and the critical mineral lead.
USGS Mineral Resources Program coloring page for the mineral galena and the critical mineral lead.
USGS Mineral Resources Program Critical Mineral Word Scramble Puzzle: Tantalum
USGS Mineral Resources Program Critical Mineral Word Scramble Puzzle: Tantalum
USGS Mineral Resources Program coloring page for the critical mineral barite.
Barite, chemical formula BaSO4, is a critical mineral. Fun fact: barite is one of the heaviest minerals that isn't a metal.
USGS Mineral Resources Program coloring page for the critical mineral barite.
Barite, chemical formula BaSO4, is a critical mineral. Fun fact: barite is one of the heaviest minerals that isn't a metal.
Critical Mineral Crossword Puzzle: Rhenium.
Rhenium is listed as "critical mineral". Learn about where we get rhenium and how we use it by solving the crossword puzzle clues!
More information
Critical Mineral Crossword Puzzle: Rhenium.
Rhenium is listed as "critical mineral". Learn about where we get rhenium and how we use it by solving the crossword puzzle clues!
More information
Critical Mineral Crossword Puzzle: Manganese
Manganese is listed as a "critical mineral". Learn about where we get manganese and how we use it by solving the crossword puzzle clues!
More information:
Critical Mineral Crossword Puzzle: Manganese
Manganese is listed as a "critical mineral". Learn about where we get manganese and how we use it by solving the crossword puzzle clues!
More information:
False color phase map of host breccia sample from Hicks Dome, Illinois. Image includes the phases of: pyrite, fluorite, quartz, barite-celestite, brookite-anatase, fluorapatite, illite, and dolomite-calcite with Mg-enrichment.
False color phase map of host breccia sample from Hicks Dome, Illinois. Image includes the phases of: pyrite, fluorite, quartz, barite-celestite, brookite-anatase, fluorapatite, illite, and dolomite-calcite with Mg-enrichment.
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.
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.
The List of Critical Minerals Informs:
Supply chain risk mitigation
Federal policy and strategy
Stockpiles
Permitting Processes
The List of Critical Minerals Informs:
Supply chain risk mitigation
Federal policy and strategy
Stockpiles
Permitting Processes
Map showing locations of placer mines in the Alaska Resource Data File (ARDF, red crosses), primary mineral districts that contain targeted critical minerals (black boxes) and locations that were sampled by the USGS in 2022 through 2024 (yellow stars).
Map showing locations of placer mines in the Alaska Resource Data File (ARDF, red crosses), primary mineral districts that contain targeted critical minerals (black boxes) and locations that were sampled by the USGS in 2022 through 2024 (yellow stars).
Critical Minerals Coloring Sheet: lepidolite
The critical mineral lithium is sourced from lithium brines, spodumene (LiAlSi2O6), petalite (LiAlSi4O10), and lepidolite (a Li-rich mica). Fun fact: lithium is the lightest metal!
Critical Minerals Coloring Sheet: lepidolite
The critical mineral lithium is sourced from lithium brines, spodumene (LiAlSi2O6), petalite (LiAlSi4O10), and lepidolite (a Li-rich mica). Fun fact: lithium is the lightest metal!
Scheelite (CaWO₄) specimen fluorescing bright blue under shortwave ultraviolet illumination. Scheelite’s intense blue response is caused by intrinsic activation within the mineral lattice, distinguishing it from most fluorescent minerals whose glow results from trace impurities. This mineral naturally occurs and serves as a main source of tungsten.
Scheelite (CaWO₄) specimen fluorescing bright blue under shortwave ultraviolet illumination. Scheelite’s intense blue response is caused by intrinsic activation within the mineral lattice, distinguishing it from most fluorescent minerals whose glow results from trace impurities. This mineral naturally occurs and serves as a main source of tungsten.
Scheelite (CaWO₄) is pictured here under regular lighting, revealing its typical honey-orange crystal formation atop a paler host rock. This mineral naturally occurs and serves as a main source of tungsten.
Scheelite (CaWO₄) is pictured here under regular lighting, revealing its typical honey-orange crystal formation atop a paler host rock. This mineral naturally occurs and serves as a main source of tungsten.