U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Advanced Manufacturing Office

Mining

Image of conveyer belt and gravel at mining facility

Photo credit: U.S. Department of Energy/Argonne National Laboratory

Mining


The U.S. mining industry consists of the search for, extraction, beneficiation, and processing of naturally occurring solid minerals from the earth. These mined minerals include coal, metals (such as iron, copper, or zinc), and industrial minerals (such as potash, limestone, and other crushed rocks).

The United States ranks among the world's largest producers and consumers of minerals and metals. Mined materials are essential to consumer and industrial technologies and play a critical role in shaping American's national security.

See our mining profile for more information.

Supply and cost management–including energy costs–pose key challenges for U.S. mining companies. The industry has worked with AMO to develop a range of resources for increasing energy efficiency and reducing costs.

Analytical Studies & Other Publications