Downloadable data

Scientific data files you can use on your own computer

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Major databases

Mineral resource data

Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS)

MRDS describes metallic and nonmetallic mineral resources throughout the world. Included are deposit name, location, commodity, deposit description, geologic characteristics, production, reserves, resources, and references. It includes the original MRDS and MAS/MILS data.

Alaska Resource Data File (ARDF)

Descriptions of mines, prospects, and mineral occurrences in Alaska.

Value of mineral production by state in the US

The value of mineral production by state in the United States. The data represent commodities covered by the Minerals Information Team of the U.S. Geological Survey.

Active mines and mineral plants in the US

Mine plants and operations for commodities monitored by the Minerals Information Team of the USGS. Operations included are those considered active in 2003 and surveyed by the USGS.

Mining claim activity on Federal land in the contiguous US and Alaska

Number and type of mine claims located on Federal lands and registered with the Bureau of Land Management, by year from 1976 through 2005.

Mining Claims and Prospecting Sites in Alaska

Non-surveyed boundaries of active federal mining claims in Alaska. Each mining claim is represented as an individual region, identified by the casefile serial number which can be linked to background data via the Alaska Land Information System.

Mines, plants and other mineral operations outside the US.

Coal mines and other energy resources

We have no comprehensive database of coal mines, but can provide links to some online resources.

Geological data

Geology of the world: Digital databases of world geology, sediment-hosted copper deposits, and seafloor hydrothermal activity and associated mineral deposits released by the Mineral Resources Division, Geological Survey of Canada
Geology of continents: Data files documenting and supporting the USGS World Petroleum Assessment 2000
Geology of the conterminous United States: A digital version of the Geologic Map of the United States, originally published at a scale of 1:2,500,000 (King and Beikman, 1974b). It excludes Alaska and Hawaii.
State Geologic Map Compilation: Digital geologic maps of the US states with consistent lithology, age, GIS database structure, and format
Generalized thermal maturity map of Alaska: Data derived from the 1996 "Generalized Thermal Maturity Map of Alaska" compiled by M.J. Johnsson and D.G. Howell, published in USGS Bulletin 2142. Combines vitrinite reflectance and conodont alteration index in generalized units.
K/Ar ages of materials in the US: A subset of the National Geochronological Database as of 1995. Shows the distribution of published K/Ar and Ar/Ar age determinations in the US. Sample location, rock description, analytical data, age, interpretation, and bibliographic reference are given.
Radiometric ages of rocks from Alaska: Radiometric ages of rocks or minerals sampled from Alaska. The data were collected from professional publications and/or received from researchers and used by permission.

Geochemical data

National Geochemical Survey database: National-scale geochemical analysis of stream sediments and soils in the US, from existing data, reanalysis of existing samples, and new sampling. Goal for sample density is one per 289 square km.
Geochemistry of stream sediments in the US from the NURE-HSSR database: National-scale geochemical analysis of stream sediments and soils in the US collected and analyzed under the National Uranium Resource Evaluation program.
Geochemistry of water samples in the US from the NURE-HSSR database: National-scale geochemical analysis of water samples in the US collected and analyzed under the National Uranium Resource Evaluation program.
Geochemistry of igneous rocks in the US: Major element geochemistry of igneous rocks in the US, extracted from the PLUTO database.
Geochemistry of sediments in the US from the PLUTO database: Geochemical data for unconsolidated sediments (stream sediments, lake sediments, etc.) collected in the US and analyzed by the USGS. These data were originally entered in the PLUTO database, which is now merged into the National Geochemistry Database.
Geochemistry of soils in the US from the PLUTO database: Geochemical data for soils collected in the United States and analyzed by the USGS. The data were originally entered into the in-house PLUTO database. This is a subset of DDS-47.
Geochemistry of unconsolidated sediments in the US from the RASS database: Geochemical data for unconsolidated sediments (stream sediments, lake sediments, etc.) collected by USGS personnel and analyzed by USGS. These data were part of the Rock Analysis Storage System and are now merged into the National Geochemistry Database.
Geochemistry of soils in the US from the RASS database: Geochemical data for soils collected by USGS personnel and analyzed by USGS. These data were part of the Rock Analysis Storage System and are now merged into the National Geochemistry Database.
Geochemical landscape of the conterminous US: maps of NURE-HSSR data: Maps derived from a subset of the National Uranium Resource Evaluation Hydrogeochemical and Stream Sediment Reconnaissance data. Samples are from streams, lakes, ponds, springs, playas, and soils. Includes Na, Ti, Fe, Cu, Zn, As, Ce, Hf, Pb, Th, and U.
Chemical analyses of soils and other surficial materials of the conterminous US: Geochemistry of soils and other regoliths collected and analyzed by Hans Shacklette and colleagues from 1958 until about 1976.

Geophysical data

Bouguer gravity anomaly grid for the conterminous US: Measurements of the gravitational field vary slightly from place to place due to the composition and structure of Earth's crust. This digital grid describes the Bouguer gravity anomaly for the conterminous US.
Isostatic residual gravity anomaly grid for the conterminous US: Measurements of the gravitational field vary slightly from place to place due to the composition and structure of Earth's crust. This digital grid describes the isostatic residual gravity anomaly for the conterminous US.
Aeroradiometric surveys of North America: Data generated by aerial sensing of radiation emanating from the earth's surface provides general estimates of the geographic distribution of Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium in surficial and bedrock units. Covers the conterminous US, parts of Canada and parts of Alaska.
Aeroradiometric data for Alaska: Data generated by aerial sensing of radiation emanating from the earth's surface in Alaska provides general estimates of the geographic distribution of Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium in surficial and bedrock units throughout this area.
Aeromagnetic data for Alaska: Data from 85 individual aeromagnetic surveys were merged together to produce a single data grid spanning much of Alaska.
Magnetic anomaly map of North America: Airborne measurement of the earth's magnetic field over all of North America provides gridded data describing the magnetic anomaly caused by variations in earth materials and structure.
Miscellaneous geophysical data products

Reference data

Reference and base map data come from a variety of sources, most commonly the National Atlas of the United States.

Mineral Resources Eastern Central Western Alaska Minerals Information
Spatial Data Crustal Imaging & Characterization Other Mineral Related Links