While much of it is often hidden from view, our modern society depends heavily on a wide range of minerals and materials. Advanced technologies in particular may rely on rare earth elements or on other more abundant minerals that are only found in certain key deposits scattered around the world. This fact and the global nature of the trade thus required can lead to significant geopolitical, economic, and environmental implications. While researchers may know, for example, how to create a new “super” material in the lab, the question often then becomes whether it can be produced at scale and sourced in an ethically responsible manner.  

The National Minerals Information Center is a free resource maintained by the United States Geological Survey (USGS).  It provides data on supply and demand of metals, aggregates, and other industrial minerals along with information on their use and strategic importance.

Mineral Commodity Summaries (MCS) are provided for over 90 minerals, and these are updated annually. These can be viewed individually on the website or downloaded as a full report.  Past reports are available back to 1996.  The website also features a variety of interactive maps and data tables.  A typical MCS report will include information on domestic production and use, statistics on imports and exports, U.S. government stockpile status, and information on key events, trends, and issues that may impact demand or availability.

Mineral Industry Surveys (MIS) provide monthly or quarterly data on production, distribution, and available stocks of selected minerals. This data is compiled from numerous sources and all references are cited. Some of these sources are not readily available to the general public, which makes the surveys especially useful.  Each MIS report also identifies the commodity specialist(s) at USGS who prepared it and provides their contact information.

In addition to the two major series above, country-level summary reports are provided for nations around the world. The recency of the data and the level of detail included varies widely from one location to the next, presumably reflecting the availability of reliable source information.  Similarly state-level reports are provided for individual states within the United States.

Numerical and GIS data is also available on the website and should serve the needs of the more advanced user. In conclusion, the National Minerals Information Center provides a wealth of useful information on industrial minerals and materials and is highly recommended for those seeking to learn more about such topics. 

Edward Lener, Director of Collections, University Library, Virginia Tech University

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