USGS Mineral Resources Program 

 International Activities 

he USGS is the country's leading earth science organization. Since 1879, USGS scientists have gathered and

analyzed data and disseminated the results of their research on the geology, cartography, hydrology, and, more 

recently biology, of every continent and ocean on Earth. Multidisciplinary research both in the United States and in 

the international arena has been an important part of the USGS mission. The USGS Mineral Resources Program is 

the sole Federal agency program that provides high-quality scientific information, objective resource assessments, 

and unbiased research results on mineral issues.

Mineral issues can be grouped into three broad categories related to basic human needs for resources. Program 

activities provide information in three areas of public concern: 

Environment and Public Health 

Identify sources of naturally 

occurring contamination from 

mineral deposits and quantify 

environmental impacts of 

mining, processing, using, and 

eventual disposal of mineral 

products. 

Sustainability and Societal Need 

Identify availability of mineral 

material needed to sustain our 

high standard of living without 

unacceptable degradation of the 

environment. 

Economy and Public Policy 

 Provide unbiased information to 

government policy makers who 

balance the need for economic 

supplies of minerals with environmental protection, responsible management of public 

lands, and national security.

Mineral issues extend beyond U.S. borders. The Program supports a wide range of international activities with 

program funds as well as funds from the World Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, U.S. Agency for 

International Development, the Asian Development Bank, Trade and Development Agency, U.S. Department of State, 

and the private sector. Opportunities for Program scientists to work abroad facilitate the exchange of information 

with a diverse group of colleagues and enhance the shared knowledge base.

Minerals Information Team

he Minerals Information Team (MIT) is the organization

within the Mineral Resources Program that is responsible 

for collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information on the 

domestic and international supply of and demand for minerals

and mineral materials essential to the U.S. economy and 

national security. USGS commodity and country specialists are 

experts on mineral industries and markets. Every month these 

scientists answer more than 2,000 inquiries from Federal and

State agencies, domestic and international organizations, foreign 

governments, and the general public. Information on more than 

100 commodities located in more than 185 countries is available 

on the World Wide Web and fax copies or reports are available 

from the MINES FaxBack system.

U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS Fact Sheet FS–011–98

January 1998

TT 

T
USGS Mineral Resources Program 

Collaborative Activities

n addition to international minerals information (MIT), the

Program supports a number of collaborative international 

mineral resource activities. (See back page for specific 

contacts.)

USGS Mission in Saudi Arabia

For more than 35 years, the USGS has maintained a mission in 

the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under the auspices of the Ministry 

of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and has worked cooperatively with the Deputy Ministry of Mineral Resources 

(DMMR). As part of an international effort to understand the 

geology and mineral resources of the Kingdom, USGS 

scientists have produced regional geologic maps, evaluated 

base-, precious-, and industrial-mineral deposits, and identified 

terranes and deposit model types not found in the United States. 

Knowledge gained by studying mineral deposits from around 

the world enables USGS scientists to better understand global 

mineral-resource issues as well as improving the Program's 

ability to carry out its domestic mineral-resource mission.

Siberia, Mongolia, and Northeastern China

A 5-year collaborative project between the USGS and 

eastern Asian resource agencies is designed to collect information on the mineral resources, metallogenesis, and tectonics 

of eastern and southern Siberia, Mongolia, and northeastern 

China. The project objectives are as follows:

Provide a comprehensive data base on the mineral 

resources of the region

Develop new interpretations of the origin and crustal 

evolution of mineralizing systems and their host rocks

Promote the exchange of scientific and technical 

information between scientists in Asia and North 

America

This project in Siberia, Mongolia, and northeastern China is an 

outgrowth of previous research on the major mineral deposits, metallogenesis, and tectonics of the Russian Far East, Alaska, and the Canadian 

Cordillera, an area that has potential for large identified and undiscovered 

mineral deposits. A summary of the previous work and some of the major 

reports are available on the World Wide Web.

Regional studies conducted 

collaboratively between the USGS 

and eastern Asian resource agencies

Examination of rock core, Ad Duwayah, Saudi Arabia

RUSSIA

PEOPLES

REPUBLIC

OF CHINA JAPAN

Completed studies of major mineral deposits,

metallogenesis, and tectonics of the

Russian Far East, Alaska, and Canadian Cordillera

On-going studies of mineral resources,

metallogenesis and tectonics of

eastern and southern Siberia,

Mongolia, northeastern China, and Japan

CANADA

Alaska

UNITED

STATES

MONGOLIA

I
International Activities

Cooperative Projects

India—Department of Agriculture

In 1987, the U.S. Department of Agriculture asked 

the USGS to participate in developing cooperative 

projects with the Central Arid Research Institute in 

Jodhpur, India, focusing on dryland agriculture. 

This cooperative project has resulted in information 

transfer about Indian agrogeology, mined land reclamation in desert regions, and land-use management 

practices in arid regions.

Latin America

Program scientists have been active in large 

government-to-government cooperative projects in 

Bolivia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Peru, and Venezuela. 

These projects were designed to provide technical 

assistance and transfer technology for assessing the 

mineral resources in specific regions. The Englishlanguage reports about the geology, geophysics 

(including remote sensing), geochemistry, and 

mineral deposits were used by governments to 

encourage foreign investment in the mineral sectors 

of their economies. As cooperators, local 

universities and counterpart resource agencies 

shared in learning the most up-to-date methods of 

resource assessments.

Strategic Mineral Issues (ISMI)

The USGS along with earth science and mineral 

resource agencies in Australia, Canada, Germany, 

the Republic of South Africa, and the United 

Kingdom is a participant in the International 

Strategic Mineral Issues (ISMI) working group. 

Program scientists are active members of the 

working group, which addresses global issues 

related to mineral resources and the supply of 

mineral commodities needed to sustain economic 

development. These issues must be balanced with 

environmental concerns and the needs of a growing 

world population. ISMI has produced reports on 

strategic minerals, mineral-producing regions, 

and concise overviews of mineral topics to assist 

policy analysts.

Red Sea

Arabian Sea

Persian Gulf

SAUDI

ARABIA

Current field studies of USGS MIssion on the Arabian Shield in the Kingdom of 

Saudi Arabia 

Mapping projects

Gold exploration

Phosphate exploration

Seismic studies

Base metal exploration

Arabian Shield boundary

Approximate Kingdom

boundary

U.S. Borderlands

The U.S. Department of the Interior sponsors the U.S.–Mexico Border Field 

Coordinating Committee that coordinates U.S. participation in collaborative studies 

along both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border with counterpart Mexican agencies. 

Using resources from all DOI agencies, the committee's goal is to develop a 

comprehensive understanding of factors necessary to conserve and protect the shared 

natural and cultural resources. 

USGS scientists are studying the geology and mineralization of the San Pedro and 

Santa Cruz River basins. In conjunction with the University of Sonora, Arizona 

Department of Environmental Quality, Arizona Department of Water Resources, and 

Fort Huachuca Garrison (U.S. Army), USGS scientists are developing detailed 

geophysical interpretations of the subsurface and studying the water quality of both 

river basins.
Text prepared by S.J. Kropschot. Graphics and design by Carol A. Quesenberry

MRP activities

Jean Weaver

MRP International Coordinator

USGS

913 National Center

Reston, VA 20192

703-648-6012 phone

703-648-6057 fax

jweaver@usgs.gov

MIT activities

David Menzie

Chief, International Minerals Section

703-648-7732 phone

703-648-7737 fax

dmenzie@usgs.gov

Saudi Arabian mission

Ron Worl

Chief, USGS Saudi Arabian Mission

9662-667-4188 ext. 533 phone

9662-660-5624 fax

rworl@usgs.gov

Siberia, Mongolia, and northeastern 

China project

Warren Nokleberg

650-329-5732 phone

650-329-5490 fax

wnokleberg@isdmnl.wr.usgs.gov

Borderland studies

John Klein

USGS Representative

916-278-3000 ext. 3032 phone

916-979-2669 fax

jmklein@dcascr.wr.usgs.gov

Floyd Gray

San Pedro and Santa Cruz River basins

520-670-5582 phone

520-670-5571 fax

fgray@usgs.gov

India project

Larry Gough

303-236-5513 phone

303-236-3200 fax

lgough@usgs.gov

For more information on USGS international mineral-resource activities 

please contact:

See us on the World Wide Web at

http://minerals.er.usgs.gov/

Fax copies of MIT documents

Fax (MINES FaxBack) 703-648-4999