Geonarrative: the National Mine Waste Inventory
September 29, 2026
Developed by the USGS in coordination with states and other partners, the National Mine Waste Inventory is a first-of-its-kind repository, containing information about the nation’s mine waste sites and their potential resources, including critical minerals. Through this geonarrative web tool, learn more about why the Inventory is needed, how it is being developed, and what it will be used for.
Related
About the DOI Mine Waste Mapping Plan
USGS has a long history as a leader in mine waste science. Now, USGS is leading a plan for the Department of the Interior to map, inventory, and identify opportunities to recover critical minerals from mine waste.
USMIN: National Mine Waste Inventory
USMIN, in partnership with the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, collaborates with state geological surveys to compile a national inventory of mine waste features in the United States. This effort supports resource recovery, environmental risk management, and identification of critical minerals in mine waste.
Critical Minerals in Mine Wastes
We study legacy and active mine wastes to understand whether they could be a source of critical minerals and other commodities, to inform reclamation of mine lands and to improve current and future mining operations.
Related
About the DOI Mine Waste Mapping Plan
USGS has a long history as a leader in mine waste science. Now, USGS is leading a plan for the Department of the Interior to map, inventory, and identify opportunities to recover critical minerals from mine waste.
USMIN: National Mine Waste Inventory
USMIN, in partnership with the USGS Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, collaborates with state geological surveys to compile a national inventory of mine waste features in the United States. This effort supports resource recovery, environmental risk management, and identification of critical minerals in mine waste.
Critical Minerals in Mine Wastes
We study legacy and active mine wastes to understand whether they could be a source of critical minerals and other commodities, to inform reclamation of mine lands and to improve current and future mining operations.