Summary: A new USGS database maps 1,271 U.S. critical-mineral deposits, giving industry a broader planning tool while leaving development and processing questions open.
The U.S. Geological Survey has released an updated database covering 1,271 known deposits of critical minerals across 41 states and Puerto Rico. The dataset includes 59 minerals and is designed to support the Earth Mapping Resources Initiative, known as Earth MRI.
What the new database shows
USGS reported that 412 of the documented deposits have recognized critical-mineral resources but no recorded production. The agency also said that nine of the ten critical minerals it considers most exposed to supply disruption are present in the United States, including four rare-earth elements.
The database combines information from multiple sources and classifies deposits by mineral system, deposit type, published resources or reserves, and past production. An interactive map makes the information easier to review for exploration, research and long-term industrial planning.
Why mapping matters to the magnet supply chain
Permanent magnets depend on more than the presence of mineral resources. NdFeB magnets require neodymium and praseodymium, while some high-temperature grades also use dysprosium or terbium. Mapping potential deposits can help identify where further geological work may be justified, but it does not establish that those elements can be produced economically or responsibly.
A deposit must still pass exploration, resource definition, metallurgical testing, environmental review, permitting, financing and construction. After mining, rare earths also require separation, oxide refining, metalmaking, alloy production and magnet manufacturing. A country can therefore have significant resources and still face a processing bottleneck.
How manufacturers should use the data
For magnet makers and buyers, the database is most useful as an early supply-chain intelligence tool. It can support questions about regional resource potential, possible by-product recovery and future infrastructure needs. It should not be used as evidence that a new mine or magnet-grade material source is ready for commercial orders.
USGS said Earth MRI has remapped more than one-third of the country and works with 45 states, academic institutions and industry. Future updates, drilling results and processing studies will determine which mapped resources can move closer to production.
The commercial milestones to watch are not only new resource estimates, but also recovery rates, impurity control, separation capacity and qualification of magnet-grade oxides. Those steps will determine whether geological potential becomes a dependable supply option.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey national news release, September 29, 2026.