The U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Resources Program Five-Year Plan, 2006-2010
Five-year goals
Research and Assessments
Continuing Goal: Ensure availability of scientific facilities and services required to achieve MRP goals
- Geochemical research and development laboratories (approximately $2.5 million/year)
- Geophysical research and development laboratories (approximately $900,000/year; more would be desirable)
- Project-level geographic information systems and information management (approximately $2.6 million/year)
Research and data collection in MRP require support from state-of-the art analytical and geospatial laboratories that provide consistent, quality assured analyses and spatial data used in mineral resource and mineral environmental investigations. Analytical techniques, methods, and standards developed by these labs are relied upon and support work by other national and international labs. These labs conduct essential basic and applied research in methods of analysis required to meet MRP goals. In addition, they provide quality assurance and quality control for MRP's routine chemical analyses that are contracted out to major commercial firms.
