Mining is a vital part of Nevada's heritage and is woven into the economic, social and cultural fabric.

Q: What minerals and ores are produced in Nevada?
A: Nevada leads the nation in gold production and is the fifth (2017) largest gold producer in the world. Other minerals and ores produced in the state include: aggregates, barite, copper, diatomite, dolomite, gypsum, limestone, lithium carbonate, magnesium oxide, molybdenum, perlite, precious opals, salt, silica sand, silver and specialty clays.

Q: Is there one mineral or ore that Nevada is most known for?
A: Although Nevada is called the "silver state", Nevada is the fifth (2017) largest gold producer in the world. Nevada operators produced approximately 5.5 million ounces of gold in 2018 worth over $7 billion. Nevada's gold production accounted for more than 72 percent of total U.S. production and approximately 5.6 percent of world production.

Q: What is the total value of Nevada mineral production?
A: The total value of all mineral production (excluding oil and geothermal production) was approximately $8 billion in 2018.

Q: How many gold and silver mines are in Nevada?
A: According to the Nevada Division of Minerals, during 2018 there were 32 mining operations including over 20 major gold-silver mines, 9 of which have multiple points of extraction (actually consist of several "mines").

Q: How else does mining affect Nevada?
A: Much of the materials mined in Nevada stay in Nevada. For example, sand and gravel are used to build roads and rocks are used for landscaping.

Q: Does mining take up a lot of land in Nevada?
A: Modern mining activity in Nevada, including exploration, mill sites, mines, roads and all associated activities, impacts approximately 1/10th of 1 percent of land in the state.

Q: How long has mining occurred in Nevada?
A: Nevada's formal mining industry was born with the discovery of the Comstock Lode and its huge silver and gold deposit in 1859.