America’s Strength: America’s Minerals

The basics of our well-being—our homes, workplaces, schools, hospitals and transportation systems—are all possible because of America's vast mineral wealth. The contributions to America’s well-being that have been made by minerals and minerals mining are unprecedented. Not only is the United States among the world’s largest minerals users, we also rank as one of the world’s largest producers.

More than 250,000 people work directly in U.S. metals and non-metals mining throughout the United States, and an additional 650,000 jobs are created elsewhere in the economy to support metals and non-metals mining. The average annual wage for mining jobs is the highest of any industrial category—33 percent higher than the combined average for all industrial jobs.

Despite the benefits provided by domestic minerals mining, the United States has witnessed a prolonged period of underinvestment in exploration. In turn, this has caused America to become increasingly dependent on foreign sources for minerals vital to our economic and national security—including minerals for which we have proven reserves. Now, the the U.S. accounts for a meager 8 percent of worldwide exploration budget and depends and imports 100 percent of 19 mineral commodities.

To further job creation and to meet our domestic need for infrastructure development, military equipment and consumer products, we should further develop America's domestic resource base to capitalize on the advantages of America's stable government, economic strength, educated workforce and technologically advanced and environmentally aware mining industry.

For more information, please visit Mineral Make Life Website.