ABSTRACT
Mineral-resource development in the United States continues to be essential in maintaining current standards of living. Our cities are built of stone, clay, steel, and glass. We cannot build without removing minerals from someplace else, but consumptive use of minerals involves difficult choices and a struggle between land use, land degradation, and natural-resource conservation. Assessments of potential mining impacts should be at the heart of mineral development and production. Examining past mining examples can lead decision makers and the public into understanding their present landscape and encourage innovation in future reclamation projects.
