Fourteen minerals mined in the United States produced over $1 billion each in 2014. Nonfuel mineral production increased in 2014. The construction industry’s expansion during the year increased production of industrial mineral production and consumption. While the United States was a net exporter of 17 mineral commodities in 2014, more than half of US mineral consumption relied on imports. In 2014 the United States was 100% reliant on imports for 7 mineral commodities and over 50% reliant on imports for 25 mineral commodities.

The United States has relatively expansive mineral rights laws; giving landowners mineral rights to what is beneath their land. This has led to a substantial market of rights trading. However, environmental concerns have increasingly conflicted with mining interests in the country, especially in major coal-producing areas such as Kentucky or West Virginia.