USGS Mineral-Resource Assessment of 

Sagebrush Focal Areas in the Western United States

U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) scientists have completed an 

assessment of the mineral-resource 

potential of nearly 10 million acres of 

Federal and adjacent lands in Idaho, 

Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and 

Wyoming. The assessment of these 

lands, identified as Sagebrush Focal 

Areas, was done at the request of the 

Bureau of Land Management. The 

assessment results will be used in 

the decision-making process that the 

Department of the Interior is pursuing 

toward the protection of large areas of 

contiguous sagebrush habitat for the 

greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus 

urophasianus) in the Western United 

States. The detailed results of this 

ambitious study are published in 

the five volumes of USGS Scientific 

Investigations Report 2016–5089 and 

seven accompanying data releases.

Sagebrush lands in southwestern Wyoming (photograph by Anna Wilson, USGS).

At the request of the Bureau of Land 

Management (BLM), the U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) assessed the mineralresource potential of nearly 10 million 

acres of Federal and adjacent lands in the 

Western United States. The assessment 

results will be used in the decision-making process that the Department of the 

Interior is pursuing toward the protection 

of large areas of contiguous sagebrush 

habitat for the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus). The request for 

USGS involvement was made in October 

2015, with the need to provide preliminary results to BLM by mid-July 2016 so 

that those results could be used by BLM 

to inform the National Environmental 

Policy Act process and aid in environmental impact statement preparation. The 

results of the assessment are published 

in the five volumes of USGS Scientific 

Investigations Report (SIR) 2016–5089 

(chapters A–E) and seven accompanying 

data releases (http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/

sir20165089).

What was Studied and Where?

The USGS Sagebrush MineralResource Assessment (SaMiRA) evaluated the potential for deposit types that 

contain locatable minerals and describes 

the occurrence of leasable and salable 

minerals within study areas that include 

Western lands being considered for 

withdrawal from mineral entry under 

U.S. mining laws. The proposed withdrawal areas lie within seven Sagebrush 

Focal Areas (SFAs) in Idaho, Montana, 

Nevada, Oregon, Utah, and Wyoming. 

In addition to the seven SFAs, two areas 

in Nevada, referred to in the report as 

the “Nevada additions,” were included 

in the USGS assessment to help inform 

the Department of the Interior’s analysis 

of alternatives. These areas were identified by the State of Nevada as potential 

substitute areas to be considered for withdrawal in lieu of other areas within the 

boundaries of the SFAs that have been 

identified for potential withdrawal.

The USGS study areas are Public 

Land Survey System townships that 

include the lands proposed for withdrawal. Larger study areas were chosen because of the complex shapes of 

the BLM proposed withdrawal areas. 

Inclusion of private or other lands in the 

assessment has no implications regarding 

land values, management alternatives, 

or recommendations for disposition. 

Native American lands were excluded 

from study.

How was This Study 

Accomplished?

A team of 61 USGS experts in 

regional geology, geochemistry, geophysics, mineral deposits, and assessment 

methods conducted the assessment with 

input from State Geological Surveys 

and other agencies. Mineral-resource 

potential was assessed qualitatively, following the approach prescribed in BLM 

Manual Sections 3031 and 3060, using 

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2016–3074

October 2016

(continued on last page)
Mineral-Deposit Terms

Leasable minerals—A mineral or mineral commodity that is leasable by the Federal Government under the Mineral Leasing Act of 

1920 and similar legislation. This includes coal, oil and gas, oil shale and tar sands, potash, phosphate, sodium, and geothermal 

steam.

Salable minerals—Mineral commodities that are sold by contract from the Federal Government under the Materials Act of 1947, as 

amended. These are generally construction materials and aggregates, such as sand and gravel.

Locatable minerals—All valuable minerals (not leasable or salable), acquired through the General Mining Act of 1872, as amended, 

including antimony, copper, gemstone, gold, lithium, molybdenum, silver, tungsten, zeolite, zinc, and other commodities.

Map showing the seven Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) study areas in the Western United 

States. USGS evaluated the potential for deposit types hosting locatable minerals and described the occurrence of leasable and 

salable minerals within Federal lands being considered for withdrawal from entry under U.S. mining laws. Two areas in Nevada 

(the “Nevada additions”) were also evaluated. Inclusion of private or other lands in the assessment has no implications regarding 

land values, management alternatives, or recommendations for disposition. Native American lands were excluded from study.

WASHINGTON

MONTANA

IDAHO

OREGON

WYOMING

CA

UTAH

NEVADA

COLORADO

Lakeview

Winnemucca

Elko

Twin Falls

Boise

Pocatello

Logan

Salt Lake City

Rock Springs

Lewistown

84

82

84

25

86

80

90

90

15

94

80

90

15

15

120° 116° 112° 108°

46°

42°

Map

area

Study

areas

CANADA

UT

MT

ID

NV

OR

CO

WY

KS

NB

CA

WA

SD

ND

AZ NM TX

0 50 100 150 200 MILES

0 50 100 150 200 KILOMETERS

Base modified from U.S. Geological Survey DEM data, 2016. 

Roads and political data copyright 2014 Esri and its licensors.

Boundary data from San Juan and others (2016). 

USA Contiguous Albers Equal Area Conic Projection.

Central meridian, 114° W, latitude of origin, 37.5° N.

North American Datum of 1983

Southern Idaho and Northern Nevada SFA 

Southwestern and South-Central Wyoming SFA 

Proposed Nevada additions

Sheldon-Hart Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex SFA 

Southeast Oregon and North-Central Nevada SFA 

U.S. Geological Survey study area boundary

North-Central Idaho SFA 

Bear River Watershed SFA 

North-Central Montana SFA 

EXPLANATION
Potential for Locatable Minerals in Proposed Withdrawal Areas

120° 116° 112° 108°

46°

42°

NORTH-CENTRAL

MONTANA

STUDY AREA

NORTH-CENTRAL

IDAHO

STUDY AREA

SOUTHWESTERN

WYOMING

STUDY AREA

NEVADA BORDER

STUDY AREA

WASHINGTON

MONTANA

IDAHO

OREGON

WYOMING

CA

UTAH

NEVADA

COLORADO

2%

Sheldon-Hart Mountain

National Wildlife Refuge

 Complex SFA

7%

North-Central Idaho SFA

North-Central Montana SFA

17%

Bear River

Watershed SFA

Southwestern and

South-Central Wyoming SFA

65%

3%

Southeast Oregon and

North-Central Nevada SFA

8%

Southern Idaho and

Northern Nevada SFA

6% 1%

1%

14% 7%

Nevada additions

2%

5%

7%

1%

Proposed Nevada additions

Proposed withdrawal areas

U.S. Geological Survey 

 study area boundaries

Moderate potential

High potential Percentage (%) of acreage in proposed withdrawal 

 area with moderate and high mineral potential

EXPLANATION

0 50 100 150 200 MILES

0 50 100 150 200 KILOMETERS

North-Central Idaho SFA

High-potential acreage

Moderate-potential acreage

Remaining proposed withdrawal-

 area acreage

Great Salt

Lake

6% 1%

Map showing high- and moderate-potential areas for 

locatable minerals within four broad U.S. Geological 

Survey (USGS) Sagebrush Mineral Resource Assessment 

study areas. These areas include the Bureau of Land 

Management proposed withdrawal areas and “Nevada 

additions.” Pie charts show moderate- and high-potential 

locatable minerals as a percentage of acreage within 

proposed withdrawal areas and the “Nevada additions.”

H/C

High potential 

with direct

evidence

M/C

Moderate 

potential 

with direct 

evidence

L/C

Low potential 

with direct 

evidence

H/B

High potential 

with indirect 

evidence

M/B

Moderate 

potential 

with indirect 

evidence

L/B

Low potential 

with indirect 

evidence

H/A

High potential 

with insufficient 

evidence

M/A

Moderate 

potential with 

insufficient 

evidence

L/A

Low potential 

with insufficient 

evidence

H/D

High potential 

with abundant 

direct and 

indirect 

evidence

M/D

Moderate 

potential with 

abundant direct 

and indirect 

evidence

L/D

Low potential 

with abundant 

direct and 

indirect 

evidence

N/D

No potential

Level of certainty

Level of resource potential

H

M

L

N

A B C D

Generalized matrix of mineral potential and certainty used 

for the USGS study. Levels of resource potential: N, none; L, 

low; M, moderate; H, high. Levels of certainty: A, insufficient 

evidence; B, indirect evidence; C, direct evidence; D, 

abundant evidence. (See appendix 2 of USGS Scientific 

Investigations Report 2016–5089–A, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/

sir20165089A.)
a matrix originally defined in USGS 

Open-File Report 84–787 (https://pubs.

er.usgs.gov/publication/ofr84787) for 

ranking mineral potential versus level of 

certainty. Chapter A of SIR 2016–5089 

(http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165089A)

is an overview of SaMiRA and describes 

analytical methods, deposit types, commodities, data, and other factors used in 

the assessment.

The USGS followed standard BLM 

guidelines to assess locatable mineral 

potential and assign levels of certainty 

by deposit type. Each deposit type has 

its own characteristic geologic setting, 

commodity types, tonnage and grade 

range, potential economic value, mining method, and typical surface footprint. For example, gold occurs in many 

deposit types, including (1) stream-placer 

deposits, (2) high-grade, low-tonnage 

near-surface veins, and (3) low-grade but 

very large tonnage deposits in altered 

sedimentary rocks. Each study area has 

its own set of potential deposit types and 

commodities because of the unique geology of each area. About 40 different types 

of deposits were assessed.

The assessment used the latest 

publically available data and interpretive 

reports. This included geologic maps and 

geophysical, geochemical, and remotely 

sensed satellite data, which were compiled for the vast study areas. In addition, a new mineral-deposit database, 

the USGS Mineral Deposit Database or 

“USMIN” (http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/

F7J964GW), was developed that included 

all publically available data, such as 

data from company Web sites, National 

Instrument 43-101 reports, and input to 

BLM through public comments. Permit 

and mine-claim data from BLM’s Legacy 

Rehost System (LR2000) land-status 

database were summarized in a USGS 

data release and used in the assessment 

(http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/F7RX996K).

What are the Results of This 

Study?

SIR 2016–5089 chapters B, C, D, and 

E and accompanying data releases show 

assessment results within four groupings of USGS study areas that are within 

the seven BLM SFAs. Each of the four 

area reports contains a complete analysis 

of the data used to generate assessment 

potential for locatable minerals. Geographic information system (GIS) files in 

ArcGIS format of identified areas of mineral potential were compiled as a USGS 

data release (http://dx.doi.org/10.5066/

F7833Q4R).

USGS scientists determined that there 

is moderate or high potential for deposit 

types that include locatable commodities, 

such as antimony, barite, bentonite, hectorite, copper, gemstone, gold, gypsum, 

lead, lithium, mercury, molybdenum, 

opal, silver, sunstone, tungsten, uranium, 

zeolite, and zinc. The study-area reports 

also provide inventories of leasable minerals (such as coal, oil and gas, potash, 

phosphate, and geothermal energy) and 

salable minerals (such as sand, gravel, 

and other common materials).

The USGS Sagebrush MineralResource Assessment contributes to a 

better understanding of the economic 

and environmental trade-offs that need 

to be considered in the decision-making 

process surrounding the proposed 

withdrawal of Federal lands to mineral 

entry. The evaluation of mineral-resource 

potential will also help inform decisions 

about the future use of these Federal 

USGS-Evaluated Potential for Locatable Minerals Summarized by Proposed 

Withdrawal Area Within Sagebrush Focal Area

Sagebrush Focal Areas (SFAs), 

listed by report chapter1

Proposed 

withdrawal 

area, 

in acres

Moderate 

potential, 

in percent of 

area

High 

potential, 

in percent of 

area

Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5089–B, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165089B

Sheldon-Hart Mountain National 

Wildlife Refuge Complex SFA

955,068 2 1

Southern Idaho and Northern Nevada 

SFA

3,517,786 8 7

Southeast Oregon and North-Central 

Nevada SFA

1,608,269 3 14

Nevada additions 394,288 2 0

Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5089–C, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165089C

North-Central Idaho SFA 1,558,573 6 1

Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5089–D, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165089D

North-Central Montana SFA 876,035 5 7

Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5089–E, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165089E

Southwestern and South-Central 

Wyoming SFA

138,470 65 1

Bear River Watershed SFA 276,702 17 0

Total 9,325,191 7 6

1

Scientific Investigations Report 2016–5089 (chapters A–E) and related data releases can be found 

at http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165089.

David G. Frank, Thomas P. Frost, 

Warren C. Day, and the 

USGS SaMiRA team

Edited by James W. Hendley II

Layout by Suzanne Roberts

For more information, contact:

Mineral Resources Program

U.S. Geological Survey

12201 Sunrise Valley Drive

913 National Center

Reston, VA 20192

http://minerals.usgs.gov/contacts/

http://minerals.usgs.gov/

USGS Scientific Investigations Report 

2016–5089 (chapters A–E) and related 

data releases can be found at http://

dx.doi.org/10.3133/sir20165089.

ISSN 2327-6916 (print)

ISSN 2327-6932 (online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/fs20163074

lands, the protection of greater sagegrouse and their habitat, and the economies of the Western States.