Minerals in Nevada

Barite is a mineral composed of barium sulfate (BaSO4). It receives its name from the Greek word “barys” which means “heavy.” This name is in response to barite’s high specific gravity of 4.5, which is exceptional for a nonmetallic mineral. The high specific gravity of barite makes it suitable for a wide range of industrial, medical, and manufacturing uses. Barite also serves as the principal ore of barium.

The oil and gas industry is the primary user of barite worldwide. There it is used as a weighting agent in drilling mud. This is a growth industry, as global demand for oil and natural gas has been on a long-term increase.

Clay mined in Nevada occurs in shallow, flat-lying deposits in pliocene lacustrine rocks. The most common types of clay are sepiolite, bentonite, and saponite. Clay has various uses in industrial, construction, and agricultural applications. Clay can be molded when wet and is dried and baked to make bricks, pottery, and ceramics.

Diatomite, also known as diatomaceous earth, is the naturally occurring fossilized remains of diatoms, or single-celled aquatic algae. Diatomite is a nearly pure sedimentary deposit consisting almost entirely of silica. The Greeks first used diatomite over 2,000 years ago in pottery and brick, but now it maintains many uses for some very popular products including:

Dolomite is a type of limestone, usually found in a wide variety of rocks. It is most commonly known as Calcium Carbonate. It is the main component of dolostone, a type of sedimentary rock.

As a mineral, dolomite is used in agriculture, where its ability to neutralize acid makes it a key ingredient in specialty fertilizer and soil conditioner. However, it’s most common use is as an aggregate rock in the construction of buildings, concrete, asphalt, and roads. Dolomite can also be used as medication to treat symptoms caused by too much stomach acid such as heartburn, upset stomach, or indigestion.

Geothermal energy is a clean, sustainable source of energy that uses heat under the earth’s surface to rotate turbines, generating electricity. Nevada is the second leading producer of geothermal energy, trailing only California in output. With a number of projects under development, the potential for Nevada to become a large scale of geothermal energy is significant.

Today, the Silver State produces roughly 4 million megawatts of energy, enough to power 376,000 homes. There are currently 26 plants across Nevada, spread across the northern half of the state.

Of all the minerals mined from the Earth, none is more useful than gold. Its usefulness is derived from a diversity of special properties. Gold conducts electricity, does not tarnish, is very easy to work, can be drawn into wire, can be hammered into thin sheets, alloys with many other metals, can be melted and cast into highly detailed shapes, has a wonderful color and a brilliant luster.

The most important industrial use of gold is in the manufacture of electronics. Gold is the highly efficient conductor that can carry currents and remain free of corrosion. Electronic components made with gold are highly reliable. Gold is used in connectors, switch and relay contacts, soldered joints, connecting wires and connection strips. Most of the ways that gold is used today have been developed only during the last two or three decades. This trend will likely continue as our society requires more sophisticated and reliable materials. This combination of growing demand, few substitutes, and limited supply, will cause the value and importance of gold to increase steadily over time. It is truly a metal of today and the future.

Lime is an industrial mineral with a wide array of applications. It is most frequently used in concrete, cement, and mortar. The use of lime in building materials dates all the way back to the Roman Empire, who used lime, volcanic ash, and sea water to create stone bricks.

Today, lime is still frequently used by the construction industry. It is also used in agriculture and mining.  In agriculture it is used as a soil amendment to maintain a proper pH level in soil. In mining, it is used during the ore extraction process.

Lithium’s role in everyday life has evolved significantly since the 1990s. Once primarily used as a pharmaceutical and additive in tires and glass, its most common use today is as a rechargeable battery. Everyday items like cell phones, laptops, and tablets require lithium batteries, as do evolving technologies like electric vehicles.

Currently, Nevada is home to the only operating lithium mine in the United States, in Esmeralda County. However, there are a number of projects nearing project readiness and the state has the potential to become a global leader in lithium production.

Magnesium is a low density, highly durable mineral. That combination makes it one of the most commonly used construction metals. Everyday items like car seats, electronics devices, and transportation methods use magnesium to reduce weight while maintaining strength.

Magnesium burns brightly when ignited in the air, also making it an additive in fireworks and flares.

Molybdenum is a silvery-white metallic metal that has a high melting point. Molybdenum is a by-product or co-product of open-pit copper mining. Most molybdenum is used to make alloys. It is used to increase hardness and electrical conductivity and help prevent corrosion and wear in engine parts, drills, and saw blades. Molybdenum is also used in inks, circuit boards, pigments, and electrodes. Plants and animals, including humans, also require trace amounts of molybdenum to survive. The iron and steel industry accounts for more than 75% of all molybdenum consumption.

Perlite is a mined in several regions throughout Nevada. It is formed by the hydration of obsidian and has the unusual property of expanding greatly when heated sufficiently.

Over 50% of the perlite mined is used in building construction products like plasters, concrete, mortar, insulation, and ceiling tiles. It is also used in pool filtration technology.

Perlite also has promising uses in Biotechnology as its thermal and mechanical stability, non-toxicity, and resistance to microbial attacks makes it an ideal candidate in this new and emerging sector of technology.

Petroleum is a naturally occurring organic compound that forms as organic matter and is subjected to tremendous pressure and heat within the Earth’s crust over millions of years.

Once it is mined, petroleum is refined into fuels, asphalt base, heating oil, or turned into feedstock to make plastics. Nevada is a relatively small producer of petroleum. In 2021, Nevada’s crude oil production was less than 20,000 barrels. By comparison, in the same year the United States consumed 53,972 barrels of oil every single day for a total usage of 19.70 million for 2021 in the U.S. alone.

Rare earth minerals are comprised of 17 different elements. Despite what the name suggests, the elements themselves are not particularly rare. However, they are challenging to mine as they do not generally accumulate into rich ore bodies.

The most common use of rare earth minerals is as a magnet in electronic devices and transportation methods. They are also essential in green technologies, including electric vehicles and renewable energy sources like wind turbines and solar panels.

Nevada does not currently produce any rare earth minerals, though there are deposits in the state, mostly in the southern region of the state.

Silica is the second most abundant mineral on Earth, with the planet made up of nearly 30-percent. Silica’s most common form is as a sand, however it can be processed into silicon which leads to many uses in today’s life.

Silica is a primary ingredient in solar panels and can also be found in the circuit boards that power all electronics. Silica sand is only mined in one location in Nevada, just outside of Las Vegas in Clark County you will find the Simplot mine.

Vanadium is a naturally occurring free element that can also be found in several different types of minerals.

Most vanadium is used as an additive in steel production due to its resistance to corrosion and shock. Tall buildings like the casinos of the Las Vegas strip, are constructed with vanadium steel to give the structures maximum support and strength.

Vanadium is also used in alloys like titanium to construct the high-speed aircraft NASA and the U.S. military use.