Aluminium
Major Uses: domestic consumption, transportation, building, electrical
Import Dependency for U.S.: 38%
Major Importers: Canada, Russia, China, Mexico
Promoting the development of American mineral resources.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2011
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Learn all about the minerals that we are discussing on American Resources through the USGS Commodity Summaries 2011 report. Below is an excerpt from the document’s introduction. Download the PDF to learn more.
Excerpt from USGS Commodity Summaries 2011:
INTRODUCTION
Each chapter of the 2011 edition of the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Mineral Commodity Summaries (MCS)includes information on events, trends, and issues for each mineral commodity as well as discussions and tabularpresentations on domestic industry structure, Government programs, tariffs, 5-year salient statistics, and worldproduction and resources. The MCS is the earliest comprehensive source of 2010 mineral production data for theworld. More than 90 individual minerals and materials are covered by two-page synopses.
For mineral commodities for which there is a Government stockpile, detailed information concerning the stockpilestatus is included in the two-page synopsis.
Mineral Commodity Summaries 2011 contains new chapters on iron oxide pigments, wollastonite, and zeolites. Thechapters on mica (natural), scrap and flake and mica (natural), sheet have been combined into a single chapter—mica (natural). Abbreviations and units of measure, and definitions of selected terms used in the report, are inAppendix A and Appendix B, respectively. “Appendix C—Reserves and Resources” has been divided into “Part A—Resource/Reserve Classification for Minerals” and “Part B—Sources of Reserves Data,” including some informationthat was previously in this introduction. A directory of USGS minerals information country specialists and theirresponsibilities is Appendix D.
The USGS continually strives to improve the value of its publications to users. Constructive comments andsuggestions by readers of the MCS 2011 are welcomed.
METALS & MINERALS 101
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Iron
Major Uses: construction, transportation (predominantly automotive), cans and containers
Import Dependency for U.S.: 7%
Major Importers: Canada, European Union, China, Mexico -
Cobalt
Major Uses: aircraft gas turbine engines, cemented carbides for cutting, wear-resistant applications
Import Dependency for U.S.: 81%
Major Importers: Norway, Russia, China, Canada -
Copper
Major Uses: building construction, electric and electronic products, and transportation equipment
Import Dependency for U.S.: 30%
Major Importers: Chile, Canada, Peru, Mexico -
Palladium
Major Uses: catalysts to decrease harmful emissions in light- and heavy-duty vehicles, also used in chemical and petroleum refining sector, and fabrication of laboratory equipment
Import Dependency for U.S.: 94%
Major Importers: South Africa, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada -
Silver
Major Uses: coins and medals, industrial applications, jewelry and silverware, and photography
Import Dependency for U.S.: 65%
Major Importers: Mexico, Canada, Peru, Chile -
Tantalum
Major Uses: automotive electronics, pagers, personal computers, and portable telephones
Import Dependency for U.S.: 100%
Major Importers: Australia, China, Kazakhstan, Germany -
Rhenium
Major Uses: petroleum-reforming catalysts, superalloys used in turbine engine components
Import Dependency for U.S.: 86%
Major Importers: Chile, Netherlands -
Platinum
Major Uses: catalysts to decrease harmful emissions in light- and heavy-duty vehicles, also used in chemical and petroleum refining sector, and fabrication of laboratory equipment
Import Dependency for U.S.: 94%
Major Importers: South Africa, Germany, United Kingdom, Canada -
Gold
Major Uses: Jewelry and arts, electrical and electronics, dental and other
Import Dependency for U.S.: 33%
Major Importers: Canada, Mexico, Peru, Chile
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