How many active mines are in the United States?

Mining is a globally important industry. Minerals and metals are crucial inputs for industry and national security, and mining activities contribute greatly to economic growth. The United States is a global mining powerhouse and a leading producer of non-fuel minerals (metals, industrial minerals, and construction materials). The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) reports 12,700 non-fuel mines operated in the U.S. in 2024, up from 12,616 in 2023.

NIOSH groups mines into five main categories based on the type of minerals or metals extracted. These include: Coal, Metal, Non-Metal, Stone, and Sand and Gravel. Metal mines — gold, copper, silver, etc. — made up the smallest share of active mines, accounting for about 2% of all active non-fuel mines. Meanwhile, sand and gravel mines accounted for nearly half of the active non-fuel mines in the United States.

Which U.S. state has the most active mines?

Mining occurs in every U.S. state. Several factors, including geology, mineralogy, available labour force, technical expertise, and state and federal regulations, influence where mining occurs across the United States and which minerals and metals are extracted. One-quarter of the active mines in America are found in just five states: Texas, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New York. A total of 3,262 mines operated across these states.

In 2024, Texas had 835 active mine sites, the most in the country. Pennsylvania follows with 664 active mine sites, while Minnesota has the third-most active mines with 610. Wisconsin and New York round out the top five with 602 and 551 active mines, respectively. Meanwhile, Delaware had the fewest, with 9. It’s also the only state with fewer than 10 active mining operations.

Which U.S. state generated the most economic value from non-fuel minerals?

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports that the United States’ mining industry produced $122 billion in non-fuel minerals in 2025, with Nevada accounting for roughly 10% of the nation’s total production value. While Nevada ranked 27th among U.S. states for the number of active mines, it topped the list in production value. In 2025, Nevada produced $12.6 billion in non-fuel minerals, driven by gold and copper. Arizona followed, producing $10.4 billion in non-fuel minerals. Texas ranked third with $10.2 billion. Alaska and California ranked fourth and fifth, producing $6.4 billion and $5.8 billion in non-fuel minerals, respectively. Together, these five states accounted for more than 40% of the value of minerals and metals produced in the United States in 2025. At the other end of the spectrum is Delaware. The value of minerals and metals produced in that state was $19 million, equal to about 0.1% of Nevada’s production.