Critical Mineral Resources of the United States: Economic and Environmental Geology and Prospects for Future Supply

This book presents resource and geologic information on the following 23 mineral commodities currently among those viewed as important to the national economy and national security of the United States: antimony (Sb), barite (barium, Ba), beryllium (Be), cobalt (Co), fluorite or fluorspar (fluorine, F), gallium (Ga), germanium (Ge), graphite (carbon, C), hafnium (Hf), indium (In), lithium (Li), manganese (Mn), niobium (Nb), platinum-group elements (PGE), rare-earth elements (REE), rhenium (Re), selenium (Se), tantalum (Ta), tellurium (Te), tin (Sn), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), and zirconium (Zr). For a number of these commodities—for example, graphite, manganese, niobium, and tantalum—the United States is currently wholly dependent on imports to meet its needs. The first two chapters (A and B) deal with general information pertinent to the study of mineral resources. Chapters C through V describe individual mineral commodities and include an overview of current uses of the commodity, identified resources and their distribution nationally and globally, the state of current geologic knowledge, the potential for finding additional deposits nationally and globally, and geoenvironmental issues that may be related to the production and uses of the commodity.

Chapter A: Critical mineral resources of the United States—An introduction

Chapter B: Environmental considerations related to mining of nonfuel minerals

Chapter C: Antimony

Chapter D: Barite (Barium)

Chapter E: Beryllium

Chapter F: Cobalt

Chapter G: Fluorine

Chapter H: Gallium

Chapter I: Germanium and indium

Chapter J: Graphite

Chapter K: Lithium

Chapter L: Manganese

Chapter M: Niobium and tantalum

Chapter N: Platinum-group elements

Chapter O: Rare-earth elements

Chapter P: Rhenium

Chapter Q: Selenium

Chapter R: Tellurium

Chapter S: Tin

Chapter T: Titanium

Chapter U: Vanadium

Chapter V: Zirconium and hafnium

Economists, commercial enterpries reliant on mineral resources, economic forecasters, federal officials and Congressional members with responsibility for rules and regulations associated with mineral resources.