USGS Mineral Resources Program
The Mineral Resources Program is the sole Federal provider of scientific information for objective resource assessments of mineral potential, production, consumption, and environmental behavior. The Program addresses issues that can be grouped into three broad categories related to basic human needs for resources:
- Environment and public health- projects identify sources of naturally occurring contamination from mineral deposits and quantify environmental impacts of mining, smelting, use, and disposal of mineral deposits.
- Sustainability and societal need- projects examine availability of mineral resources to sustain our standard of living without unacceptable degradation of the environment.
- Economy and public policy- projects provide information for policy makers who balance needs for economic supplies of minerals, environmental protection, responsible management of public lands, and national security.
A clear, 10 to 50uml subhedral dolomite rhombs in a matrix of iron rich dolomite and detrital quartz. Rock, from an ore zone, is dark gray and organically rich and contains numerous small vugs lined with quartz crystals. The center quartz crystal contains an enclosed crystal of arsenopyrite. Picture taken at the Roberts Mountains Formations, Carlin gold mine, Eureka County, Nevada. 1984.
A map showing fiscal year 2002 Minerals Resources Program project areas.
