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Earth MRI

Earth MRI

The goal of Earth MRI is to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework in the United States and to identify areas that may have the potential to contain undiscovered critical mineral resources. Enhancement of our domestic mineral supply will decrease the Nation’s reliance on foreign sources of minerals that are fundamental to our security and economy.

Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
State-of-the-art geologic maps, large geophysical surveys, and topographic lida…
Options for exploring Earth MRI related geospatial data
USGS Earth MRI publications
Multimedia
Learn what Earth MRI is, why it's needed, and implementation plans
link
Earth MRI data and applications graphic
link

Earth MRI

Earth MRI

The goal of Earth MRI is to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework in the United States and to identify areas that may have the potential to contain undiscovered critical mineral resources. Enhancement of our domestic mineral supply will decrease the Nation’s reliance on foreign sources of minerals that are fundamental to our security and economy.

Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
State-of-the-art geologic maps, large geophysical surveys, and topographic lida…
Options for exploring Earth MRI related geospatial data
USGS Earth MRI publications
Multimedia
Learn what Earth MRI is, why it's needed, and implementation plans
Filter Total Items: 216
Featured Story
Image shows a hyperspectral map of deposit types

Seeing the Earth in a new light: How Earth MRI data is deepening our understanding of minerals on the landscape

Activity
Map of the US, Alaska and Puerto Rico filled in by data type: geophysics, geologic mapping, geochemistry, Lidar, Mine Wastes, hyperspectral.

Earth MRI Progress

Activity
Image showing outline of a geologic map with a mineral, crane, water droplet, hazard sign and electricity symbol in a circle.

Earth MRI in Action

Animated GIF
GIF showing data acquisition increases from 2019-2024 of Earth MRI mapping data within the US, Alaska and Puerto Rico.

Earth MRI Progress GIF

Charts or Graphs
Map of the US, Alaska and Puerto Rico filled in by data type: geophysics, geologic mapping, geochemistry, Lidar, Mine Wastes, hyperspectral.

Earth MRI Progress Map 2024

Charts or Graphs
Map of the US, Alaska and Puerto Rico filled in by data type: geophysics, geologic mapping, geochemistry, Lidar, Mine Wastes, hyperspectral.

Earth MRI Progress Map 2023

Charts or Graphs
Map of the US, Alaska and Puerto Rico filled in by data type: geophysics, geologic mapping, geochemistry, Lidar, Mine Wastes, hyperspectral.

Earth MRI Progress Map 2019

Charts or Graphs
Map of the US, Alaska and Puerto Rico filled in by data type: geophysics, geologic mapping, geochemistry, Lidar, Mine Wastes, hyperspectral.

Earth MRI Progress Map 2021

Charts or Graphs
Map of the US, Alaska and Puerto Rico filled in by data type: geophysics, geologic mapping, geochemistry, Lidar, Mine Wastes, hyperspectral.

Earth MRI Progress Map 2022

Charts or Graphs
Map of the US, Alaska and Puerto Rico filled in by data type: geophysics, geologic mapping, geochemistry, Lidar, Mine Wastes, hyperspectral.

Earth MRI Progress Map 2020

Infographics
Infographic showing accomplishments from Earth MRI's first five years. Click for full text.

Earth MRI First Five Years Accomplishments

Charts or Graphs
Map of the US with Alaska and Puerto Rico with many colorful splotches across it.

Earth MRI Mineral Systems Map Colorful

Charts or Graphs
Gray splotches showing parts of the US that are part of a mineral system.

Earth MRI Mineral Systems Map Gray

General
Coordination icon

About Earth MRI Partnerships

State News Release
A map of western Texas is overlayed with a blue polygon survey footprint.

Low-Level Fixed Wing Aircraft Flights to Image Geology Over Parts of Texas

State News Release
A map showing the survey footprint of the Colorado Mineral Belt EMRI flight

USGS Earth MRI invests in Colorado critical mineral mapping

Research
Half-meter-thick quartz veins cut across outcrops of granitic gneiss on Divide Mountain along the Alaska-Yukon border

Alaska Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)

Data Release
Collage of images of an earthquake, scientists in flood with instruments, a volcano erupting, and seismic illustration.

X-ray diffraction data and estimates of mineral abundances based on Rietveld refinement for mine wastes collected through the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative

State News Release
A map of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin is shown with a survey footprint outlined in blue.

Media Advisory: media invited to view aircraft, equipment slated to map Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin critical mineral potential during low-level flights

State News Release
A blue outline of the Elk Creek Earth MRI survey footprint covers portions of Nebraska and Kansas.

Critical mineral mapping across regions of Nebraska, Kansas underway thanks to Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments in Earth MRI

General
9 Jars full of collected soil samples in front of 4 stacked, cardboard boxes.

Data Preservation and Dissemination

General
Earth MRI - Shaded relief map of high-resolution magnetic anomaly data over southeast Missouri flown for the Earth MRI project.

Mapping and Science

State News Release
A map over California's Mojave Desert outlines an Earth MRI airborne electromagnetic survey footprint

Low-level helicopter flights to image geology in southern California

State News Release
Airborne electromagnetic survey being conducted

USGS invests $4.8 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for five airborne electromagnetic surveys across the nation

State News Release
A shaded red area is overlayed on a map of New Mexico, outlining the design of an Earth MRI survey footprint.

USGS invests Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to map critical mineral resources in New Mexico

faq
Earth MRI data and applications graphic

What is Earth MRI?

State News Release
A map of Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin is shown with a survey footprint outlined in blue.

Media Alert: Low-level helicopter flights to image geology over parts of Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin

State News Release
A blue area is highlighted over a portion of southeastern Wyoming outlining the Earth MRI survey footprint of the area.

USGS invests in geologic data collection across southeastern Wyoming

State News Release
A blue survey footprint is outlined over a map of the intersection of South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa

USGS invests Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to map critical mineral potential along South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota borders

State News Release
A map of western Texas is overlayed with a blue polygon survey footprint.

USGS invests $3.4 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to map critical mineral resources in western Texas

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