Energy Resources Program
Addressing the challenge of increasing demand for energy sources by conducting basic and applied research on geologic energy resources
Addressing the challenge of increasing demand for energy sources by conducting basic and applied research on geologic energy resources
Mineral Resources Program
Delivering unbiased science and information on mineral resource potential, production, consumption, and how they interact with the environment.
Delivering unbiased science and information on mineral resource potential, production, consumption, and how they interact with the environment.
Science and Decisions Center
An interdisciplinary organization advancing the use of science in natural resource decision making.
An interdisciplinary organization advancing the use of science in natural resource decision making.
SHRIMP-RG Lab
Supporting scientists and students to analyze specimens for a variety of scientific research objectives.
Supporting scientists and students to analyze specimens for a variety of scientific research objectives.
TRIGA Reactor
Supporting science by providing information on geologic, plant, and animal specimens to advance methods and techniques unique to nuclear reactors.
Supporting science by providing information on geologic, plant, and animal specimens to advance methods and techniques unique to nuclear reactors.
Energy and Minerals Mission Area
The Energy and Mineral Resources Mission Area conducts research and assessments that focus on the location, quantity, and quality of mineral and energy resources, including the economic and environmental effects of resource extraction and use.
News
USGS makes $4.25 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds available for critical mineral mapping in Alaska
USGS makes $4.25 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds available for critical mineral mapping in Alaska
Traversing the Sea for Science: How USGS Uses the Federal Fleet to Study Natural Hazards, Resources, and More
Traversing the Sea for Science: How USGS Uses the Federal Fleet to Study Natural Hazards, Resources, and More
USGS makes $10 million available for state geologic, geochemical mapping projects through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-Funded Earth Mapping Resources Initiative
USGS makes $10 million available for state geologic, geochemical mapping projects through Bipartisan Infrastructure Law-Funded Earth Mapping Resources Initiative
Publications
Alaska focus area definition for data acquisition for potential domestic sources of critical minerals in Alaska for antimony, barite, beryllium, chromium, fluorspar, hafnium, magnesium, manganese, uranium, vanadium, and zirconium
Phase 3 of the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) focuses on geologic belts that are favorable for hosting mineral systems that could contain the critical minerals antimony, barite, beryllium, chromium, fluorspar, hafnium, magnesium, manganese, uranium, vanadium, and zirconium. Prior phases of the Earth MRI program in Alaska focused only on rare earth elements, aluminum, cobalt, graphi
Focus areas for data acquisition for potential domestic resources of 13 critical minerals in the conterminous United States and Puerto Rico — Antimony, barite, beryllium, chromium, fluorspar, hafnium, helium, magnesium, manganese, potash, uranium, vanadiu
The Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI) is conducted in phases to identify areas for acquiring new geologic framework data to identify potential domestic resources of the 35 mineral materials designated as critical minerals for the United States. This report describes the data sources and summary results for 13 critical minerals evaluated in the conterminous United States and Puerto Ric
By
Energy and Minerals Mission Area, Mineral Resources Program, Central Energy Resources Science Center, Geology, Energy & Minerals Science Center, Geology, Geophysics, and Geochemistry Science Center, Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center, Earth Mapping Resources Initiative (Earth MRI)
Assessing mineral supply concentration from different perspectives through a case study of zinc
Increasing demand for nonfuel mineral commodities has increased concerns regarding the reliability of their supplies. “Criticality” assessments over the past decade have attempted to capture this concern through a set of indicators, the most common of which quantifies the risk associated with market concentration by applying the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) to the world production of a given c
Science
Ultramafic lands: Sustainability Challenges and Resource Opportunities
Ultramafic lands are geologically and ecologically diverse areas that host naturally elevated concentrations of chromium (Cr), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and scandium (Sc). While Cr is a potential carcinogen, Co, Mn, Ni, and Sc are considered critical minerals in the United States owing to their importance in current electric battery formulations. The research conducted...
Geophysical Imaging for Critical Mineral Resources in the Southern Basin and Range
Reliance on imports for many critical mineral commodities (including rare earth elements) puts the U.S. at high risk for supply disruption. Undiscovered deposits of some of these critical and strategic minerals undoubtedly exist in the United States, but a lack of modern geological, geophysical, and topographic data makes exploration challenging. This project plans to improve our knowledge of the...
Saucer Shark Project
The Saucer Shark is a Magnetometer Payload suspended below an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) to reduce platform induced magnetic noise while maintaining high sensitivity. This payload is an evolution in the geomagnetic sensing realm; boasting a high and adjustable sampling rate, low noise, ease of portability (additionally used as a walking ground survey), real-time data downlink, user interface...