Land Utilization and Reclamation in the Mining Industry, 1930–71

The total land mass in the United States comprises about 2.27 billion acres. Of this area, the domestic minerals industry, in a 42-year period extending from 1930 through 1971, utilized 3.65 million acres, or 0.16 percent (Table 1). Also during this period 40 percent of the land utilized, or 1.46 million acres, was reclaimed (Table 2). In 1971, 206,000 acres were utilized and 163,000 acres reclaimed (Table 3). Thus the ratio between land used and land reclaimed doubled in 1971, compared with the ratio for the 42 years.