This dataset is part of an ongoing effort by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to understand the attributes and geologic distribution of critical mineral resources, both globally, and in particular, in the United States. As described in USGS Professional Paper 1802 (Schulz and others, 2017) the United States continues to become more dependent on imports to meet the domestic demands for an increasing number of mineral commodities. Many mineral commodities are now produced primarily or entirely outside of the United States, creating the potential for supply interruptions in the foreseeable future, or in the long term. These important but highly dependent mineral commodities are deemed critical and (or) strategic resources. Tin has been identified as a critical and strategic mineral in the Draft List of critical minerals by the USGS. Tin has a primary application for solder as well as flat-panel displays (indium-tin-oxide), where the top producer is China and the top supplier is Peru (U.S. Geological Survey, 2018). While tin is present in greisen, pegmatite, placer, and skarn deposits in the United States, the United States has not mined or smelted tin since 1993 and 1989, respectively. Recycling of tin occurs in the United States, where in 2017, 25 percent of the apparent consumption of tin was derived. The recycled material does not meet the United States demand for tin, and for this reason, the United States is reliant on tin resources of approximately 75 percent of net import reliance as a percentage of apparent consumption (U.S. Geological Survey, 2018b). This dataset was compiled to provide base layers of information that identify and describe the known tin deposits in the United States. This compilation is intended to contribute to our geologic understanding of tin deposits in the United States, and to assist in evaluating their resource potential.
Kamilli, R.J., Kimball, B.E., and Carlin, J.F., Jr., 2017, Tin, chap. S of Schulz, K.J., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., Seal, R.R., II, and Bradley, D.C., eds., Critical mineral resources of the United States—Economic and environmental geology and prospects for future supply: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1802, p. S1–S53, https://doi.org/10.3133/ pp1802S. Schulz, K.J., DeYoung, J.H., Jr., Seal, R.R., II, and Bradley, D.C., eds., 2017, Critical mineral resources of the United States—Economic and environmental geology and prospects for future supply: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1802, 797 p., http://doi.org/10.3133/pp1802. U.S. Geological Survey, 2018, Draft list of critical minerals: Federal Register vol. 83, no. 33, p. 7065-7068, https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2018-03219 U.S. Geological Survey, 2018b, Mineral commodity summaries 2018: U.S. Geological Survey, 200 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/70194932.
