Within USA, Alaska shows a high density of critical minerals, especially in cobalt, rare-earth elements, and antimony, indicating its significant potential for resource extraction in remote areas. The western states—particularly Nevada, Utah, and Colorado—also exhibit diverse mineral concentrations, reflecting both geological richness and current or prospective mining activities.
In the eastern United States, clusters are primarily focused in Appalachian and Northeastern states, with notable distributions of minerals like manganese and graphite, essential for battery production and steel manufacturing.
| United States of America | |
|---|---|
| General: | U.S. mineral production contributed more than 105 billion dollars to the U.S. economy in 2023 — a 4 billion dollar increase over 2022 — according to the Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024, released by the U.S. Geological Survey. |
| Policy Framework: | 30 U.S. Code § 21a is referring to national mining and minerals policy. |
| Legal Framework: | The Mining Law of 1872, as amended, is the major Federal law governing locatable minerals. This law allows U.S. citizens the opportunity to explore for, discover, and purchase certain valuable mineral deposits on Federal lands that are open for mining claim location (open to mineral entry). |
| Responsible ministry: | U.S. Department of the Interior https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/mining-and-minerals |
| Permitting procedure: | Internal information (ministry’s website) is available as well external information. |
| Mining potential: | Key minerals are Beryllium, Copper, Iron ore, Barite, Bauxite, Coal, Cobalt, Gold, and Lithium. |
Securing defense critical minerals: Challenges and U.S. strategic responses in an evolving geopolitical landscape
The growing dependence on critical minerals (CMs) for advanced military technologies presents significant and escalating challenges for the United States (U.S.) and its allies. As global competition intensifies and supply chains remain vulnerable to geopolitical...