States With The Most Mining Activity

24/7 Wall St. Insights

• The total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity in the United States was $106 billion in 2024.
• A third of all U.S. mining activity is concentrated in just four states.
• Many smaller states are home to unique mineral deposits not found elsewhere in the country.
• While the U.S. relies on imports from China for rare earth minerals, several states are home to significant rare earth mineral deposits.
• Also: Discover the next Nvidia

In 2024, the total value of the nonfuel mineral production in the United States was $106 billion. While a third of all U.S. mining activity is concentrated in just four states – Nevada, Texas Arizona, and California –  every state is home to at least some mining activity, with unique minerals found in some surprising parts of the country.

All bromine – a chemical used in agriculture, sanitation, and fire retardants– for example, mined in the United States comes from Arkansas. Almost all iodine comes from Oklahoma, while a bulk of helium comes from Kansas, and a significant share of peat comes from Maine and New Jersey. While the U.S. relies on imports from China for rare earth minerals, large domestic rare earth deposits exist in California, Alaska, and Wyoming. A closer look at the data reveals the states with the most mining activity.

To determine the states with the most mining activity, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on mining activity from the U.S. Geological Survey’s Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 report. States were ranked based on the total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity in 2024. Supplemental data used to adjust for population is from the U.S. Census Bureau.

50. Delaware

Wilmington Delaware skyline (BY-SA 2.5) by Tim Kiser (User:Malepheasant)

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $27.0 million (0.0% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $26.17 per capita
• Principal commodities: Magnesium compounds, sand and gravel, stone

49. North Dakota

Fargo North Dakota (BY-SA 2.5) by Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant)

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $84.0 million (0.1% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $107.15 per capita
• Principal commodities: Clay, lime, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

48. Rhode Island

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $100.0 million (0.1% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $91.24 per capita
• Principal commodities: Sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

47. Nebraska

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $137.0 million (0.1% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $69.25 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, lime, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

46. Maine

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $167.0 million (0.2% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $119.65 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, peat, sand and gravel, stone, stone

45. Hawaii

Hawaii Big Island (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Pedro Szekely

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $175.0 million (0.2% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $121.94 per capita
• Principal commodities: Sand and gravel, stone

44. Mississippi

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $196.0 million (0.2% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $66.67 per capita
• Principal commodities: Clay, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

43. New Hampshire

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $206.0 million (0.2% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $146.93 per capita
• Principal commodities: Sand and gravel, stone, stone

42. Vermont

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $209.0 million (0.2% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $322.80 per capita
• Principal commodities: Sand and gravel, stone, stone, talc

41. West Virginia

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $238.0 million (0.2% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $134.46 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, lime, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

40. Connecticut

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $259.0 million (0.3% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $71.60 per capita
• Principal commodities: Sand and gravel, stone, stone

39. South Dakota

Rapid City Skyline (2022) (BY-SA 4.0) by WeaponizingArchitecture

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $389.0 million (0.4% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $423.14 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, gold, lime, sand and gravel, stone

38. Massachusetts

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $412.0 million (0.4% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $58.85 per capita
• Principal commodities: Clay, lime, sand and gravel, stone, stone

37. Maryland

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $435.0 million (0.4% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $70.39 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, sand and gravel, stone, stone

36. Oregon

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $493.0 million (0.5% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $116.46 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, diatomite, perlite, sand and gravel, stone

35. New Jersey

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $536.0 million (0.5% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $57.69 per capita
• Principal commodities: Peat, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

34. Idaho

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $543.0 million (0.5% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $276.37 per capita
• Principal commodities: Phosphate rock, sand and gravel, silver, stone, zinc

33. Wyoming

Niobrara River, Nebraska (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $622.0 million (0.6% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $1,064.96 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, clay, helium, sand and gravel, soda ash

32. Iowa

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $730.0 million (0.7% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $227.63 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, lime, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

31. Kansas

Chalk badlands (Niobrara Forma... (CC BY 2.0) by James St. John

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $811.0 million (0.8% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $275.80 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, helium, salt, sand and gravel, stone

30. Louisiana

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $846.0 million (0.8% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $184.97 per capita
• Principal commodities: Lime, salt, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

29. Kentucky

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $874.0 million (0.8% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $193.10 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, clay, lime, sand and gravel, stone

28. Washington

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $929.0 million (0.9% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $118.91 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, diatomite, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

27. Montana

Dirt Roads in Montana near Glacier National Park (BY-SA 2.0) by alex ranaldi

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $1.1 billion (1.1% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $997.52 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, copper, molybdenum mineral concentrates, palladium metal, sand and gravel

26. Arkansas

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $1.1 billion (1.1% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $371.61 per capita
• Principal commodities: Bromine compounds, cement, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

25. Wisconsin

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $1.4 billion (1.3% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $230.08 per capita
• Principal commodities: Lime, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone, stone

24. Oklahoma

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $1.4 billion (1.3% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $335.49 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, iodine, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

23. Illinois

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $1.5 billion (1.4% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $117.13 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, magnesium compounds, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

22. New Mexico

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $1.5 billion (1.5% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $723.62 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, copper, potash, sand and gravel, stone

21. Indiana

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $1.6 billion (1.5% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $231.70 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, lime, sand and gravel, stone, stone

20. Virginia

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $1.8 billion (1.7% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $203.08 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, kyanite, lime, sand and gravel, stone

19. New York

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $1.8 billion (1.7% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $91.97 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, salt, sand and gravel, stone, zinc

18. South Carolina

A Multitude of Evening Colors (CC BY-SA 2.0) by fran.trudeau

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $1.9 billion (1.8% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $357.31 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, gold, sand and gravel, stone

17. Colorado

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $2.1 billion (1.9% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $348.78 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, gold, molybdenum mineral concentrates, sand and gravel, stone

16. Tennessee

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $2.1 billion (2.0% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $291.87 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone, zinc

15. Alabama

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $2.2 billion (2.1% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $432.62 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, lime, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

14. Ohio

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $2.2 billion (2.1% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $189.21 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, lime, salt, sand and gravel, stone

13. Pennsylvania

Grey Towers Castle, Eastern Side 03 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Shuvaev

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $2.4 billion (2.3% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $185.93 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, lime, sand and gravel, stone

12. Georgia

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $2.7 billion (2.6% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $244.80 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, clay, sand and gravel, stone

11. North Carolina

Residential Neighborhood, New Bern, North Carolina (BY-SA 2.0) by Ken Lund

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $2.7 billion (2.6% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $251.03 per capita
• Principal commodities: Phosphate rock, quartz, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

10. Florida

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $3.1 billion (2.9% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $135.33 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, phosphate rock, sand and gravel, stone

9. Michigan

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $3.1 billion (2.9% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $306.86 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, iron ore, magnesium compounds, sand and gravel, stone

8. Missouri

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $3.2 billion (3.0% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $509.99 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, lead, lime, sand and gravel, stone

7. Utah

Double O Arch (Arches National Park, eastern Utah, USA) (BY 2.0) by James St. John

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $3.5 billion (3.3% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $1,029.92 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, copper, potash, salt, sand and gravel

6. Alaska

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $4.7 billion (4.5% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $6,422.09 per capita
• Principal commodities: Gold, lead, sand and gravel, silver, zinc

5. Minnesota

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $4.8 billion (4.6% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $841.77 per capita
• Principal commodities: Iron ore, lime, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

4. California

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $5.5 billion (5.2% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $140.64 per capita
• Principal commodities: Boron minerals, cement, gold, sand and gravel, stone

3. Arizona

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $9.3 billion (8.8% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $1,250.11 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, copper, molybdenum mineral concentrates, sand and gravel, stone

2. Texas

HOUSTON, Texas (CC BY 2.0) by Thank You (25 Millions ) views

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $9.7 billion (9.2% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $318.65 per capita
• Principal commodities: Cement, lime, sand and gravel, sand and gravel, stone

1. Nevada

• Total value of nonfuel mineral mining activity: $10.0 billion (9.4% of U.S. total)
• Mining activity adjusted for population: $3,121.31 per capita
• Principal commodities: Copper, diatomite, gold, sand and gravel, silver