We assess geologic energy resources.
We lead the government in developing the List of Critical Minerals.
We analyze global supply, demand and trade to strengthen mineral supply chains.
We study mine wastes across the Nation and their potential as a resource.
Energy and Minerals Mission Area
We are the Nation’s primary source of impartial scientific information on geologic energy and mineral resources and their supply chains. We deliver actionable science that informs crucial resource management decisions and investments impacting the Nation.
Our Earth MRI initiative is mapping geology and mineral resources across the Nation. We also lead development of the List of Critical Minerals.
Meet our Research Programs
Meet our Research Programs
Our Programs deliver actionable science about the Nation's geologic resources.
Discover our Science
Discover our Science
Click on each topic below to learn about our science and its impact.
News
USGS to invest $1.1 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to district-scale hyperspectral survey of Arizona, New Mexico
USGS to invest $1.1 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to district-scale hyperspectral survey of Arizona, New Mexico
USGS releases first-ever map of potential for geologic hydrogen in U.S.
USGS releases first-ever map of potential for geologic hydrogen in U.S.
USGS invests $3.8 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to map critical minerals across the Ozark Plateau
USGS invests $3.8 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding to map critical minerals across the Ozark Plateau
Publications
Radiogenic strontium- and uranium-isotope tracers of water-rock interactions and hydrothermal flow in the Upper Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Plateau Volcanic Field, USA
Natural radiogenic isotopes (primarily 87Sr/86Sr) from hot springs in the Upper Geyser Basin of the Yellowstone Plateau volcanic field and associated rocks were used to evaluate groundwater flow patterns, water-rock reactions, and the extent of mixing between various groundwater sources. Thermal waters have very low uranium concentrations and 234U/238U activity ratios near 1.0, which...
Near surface sediments introduce low frequency noise into gravity models
3D geologic modeling and mapping often relies on gravity modeling to identify key geologic structures, such as basin depth, fault offset, or fault dip. Such gravity models generally assume either homogeneous or spatially uncorrelated densities within modeled rock bodies and overlying sediments, with average densities typically derived from surface and drill-hole sampling. The noise...
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...