Mineral Resources of the United States

Abstract

THE pre-eminent industrial position of the United States is based upon her vast mineral resources. In many fields, her production of mineral raw materials exceeds that of any other country, a fact which had an important effect upon the course of the Second World War. The war-time acceleration of production revealed, however, that some branches of the mining industry were not equal to the strain, emphasizing, in addition, that for a few essential mineral commodities, the United States are necessarily dependent on foreign sources. To meet anxious questionings at the end of the War, a quantitative appraisal of mineral reserves was jointly undertaken by the United States Bureau of Mines and the Geological Survey, these organisations having carried out, with Congressional authority, very extensive investigations for new and marginal sources of supply. The results of the survey were given in evidence before a sub-committee of the Senate Committee on Public Lands, a small edition being published late last year. This does not appear to have been available in Great Britain. The present edition, with the text unchanged, is Welcome because it will bring the facts to a wider public ; and because the mineral resources of the United States have more than a purely domestic interest.

Mineral Resources of the United States

By the Staffs of the Bureau of Mines and Geological Survey. Pp. x + 212. (Washington, D.C. : Public Affairs Press, 1948.) 5 dollars.