Mining in the United States has been active since the beginning of colonial times, but became a major industry in the 19th century with a number of new mineral discoveries causing a series of mining rushes. In 2015, the value of coal, metals, and industrial minerals mined in the United States was US$109.6 billion. 158,000 workers were directly employed by the mining industry.[1]
The mining industry has a number of impacts on communities, individuals and the environment. Mine safety incidents have been important parts of American occupational safety and health history. Mining has a number of environmental impacts. In the United States, issues like mountaintop removal, and acid mine drainage have widespread impacts on all parts of the environment. As of January 2020, the EPA lists 142 mines in the Superfund program.[2]
In 2019, the country was the 4th world producer of gold;[3] 5th largest world producer of copper;[4] 5th worldwide producer of platinum;[5] 10th worldwide producer of silver;[6] 2nd largest world producer of rhenium;[7] 2nd largest world producer of sulfur;[8] 3rd largest world producer of phosphate;[9] 3rd largest world producer of molybdenum;[10] 4th largest world producer of lead;[11] 4th largest world producer of zinc;[12] 5th worldwide producer of vanadium;[13] 9th largest world producer of iron ore;[14] 9th largest world producer of potash;[15] 12th largest world producer of cobalt;[16] 13th largest world producer of titanium;[17] world's largest producer of gypsum;[18] 2nd largest world producer of kyanite;[19] 2nd largest world producer of limestone;[20] in addition to being the 2nd largest world producer of salt.[21] It was the world's 10th largest producer of uranium in 2018.[22]
^US Geological Survey, Mineral Commodity Summaries, 2016.
^US EPA, OLEM (2015-05-27). "Abandoned Mine Lands: Site Information". US EPA. Retrieved 2020-05-06.
^USGS Gold Production Statistics
^USGS Copper Production Statistics
^USGS Platinum Production Statistics
^USGS Silver Production Statistics
^USGS Rhenium Production Statistics
^USGS Sulfur Production Statistics
^USGS Phosphate Production Statistics
^USGS Molybdenum Production Statistics
^USGS Lead Production Statistics
^USGS Zinc Production Statistics
^USGS Vanadinum Production Statistics
^USGS Iron Ore Production Statistics
^USGS Potash Production Statistics
^USGS Cobalt Production Statistics
^USGS Titanium Production Statistics
^USGS Gypsum Production Statistics
^USGS Kyanite Production Statistics
^USGS Lime Production Statistics
^USGS Salt Production Statistics
^World Uranium Mining
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