Mining of 20 ‘critical’ minerals in Nev. could be streamlined
By Gary Martin, Las Vegas Review-Journal
WASHINGTON — The Interior Department has published a list of 35 “critical” minerals — 20 of which are present in Nevada — as part of a Trump administration effort to reduce foreign dependence on resources needed for consumer and military goods.
The list of the 35 critical minerals identified by the U.S. Geological Survey was released by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke last week and will serve as a basis for a final Commerce Department report on the commodities.
President Trump signed an executive order in December directing the U.S. Geological Survey to identify minerals critical to national defense and the economy.
