Minerals Information Office

By Susan M. Marcus

The U.S. Geological Survey recognized a need to serve the public better by creating public access to the vast USGS resources of minerals information. Mineral products touch each of us in our daily lives and represent, in the words of the American Mining Congress, the building blocks of society. The future availability of minerals needed for the Nation's economic well-being and defense security depends on timely access to current minerals information. The USGS and the U.S. Bureau of Mines (USBM) have a combined minerals expertise that spans such diverse fields as the origins of mineral deposits and the development of new metallurgical techniques. These two agencies created the Minerals Information Office as a cooperative approach to improve public service.

The office is designed as a "one-stop shopping place" for mineral resources inquiries. The office is located in room 2647 of the Interior Building at 18th and C Streets NW in Washington, D.C. Minerals experts in the office provide information and access to USGS and USBM databases, commodity specialists, and publications for the benefit of the public, industry, and State and Federal officials. The office also seeks to improve the exchange of information among Federal agencies and other generators and users of minerals information.

The opening ceremony for the Minerals Information Office was held on June 21, 1988, and was attended by representatives of industry, media, State and Federal governments, and the general public. Under Secretary of the Department of the Interior Earl Gjelde and Assistant Secretary James W. Ziglar joined USGS Director Dallas L. Peck and USBM Director T S Ary in cutting a platinum ribbon.

Mineral commodities have been and will continue to be featured in a series of

activities sponsored by the Minerals Information Office. Platinum and gold were the featured commodities during fiscal year 1988. Exhibits showed regions of the United States thought to have potential for undiscovered conventional and unconventional platinum resources. Samples of platinum ore from Stillwater, Mont., were given away to members of the public who visited the MIO. Goldrelated activities included a series of wellreceived public lectures and demonstrations in the Department of the Interior Museum, exhibition of examples of gold ore from domestic and foreign mines, free distribution of gold-ore samples from the Homestake Mine in South Dakota, and dissemination of fact sheets and brochures about gold.

Computer data bases at the office can provide instant responses to inquiries for information. The USGS Resource Oriented Computer System (ROCS) permits retrieval of graphic and tabular data on mineral resources throughout the world; paper copies of the screen displays are available on site. Data bases also include political and administrative boundaries, ownership, and information about USGS mineral-resource programs and research that can be searched in ways designed to meet each user's specific needs.

The Minerals Information Office also serves as a collector of data that can be used by USGS scientists. Data are compiled and digital files are acquired to enhance the breadth and depth of information available to government researchers. Sources of data include other government agencies, both Federal and State, as well as private industry.

Response to the new office has been positive. The office has replied to both general and technical inquiries and is a favorite stop of visitors to the Interior Building. Additional Minerals Information Offices are being established in conjunction with USGS Field Centers in Tucson, Ariz., Reno, Nev., and Spokane, Wash., to serve the needs of information users and USGS researchers in those regions. The western Minerals Information Offices will become operational during 1989.