Remember our Miners This Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving, let’s take a moment to acknowledge American men and women who make great contributions to this country—U.S. miners. These Americans work hard to extract minerals and metals year-round to ensure a bright future and opportunities for families across the country.

From the car we drive to get to Thanksgiving dinner to the cellular device we use to keep in touch with friends and family—the mining industry makes it all possible. The U.S. is home to $6.2 trillion worth of mineral resources. This includes key minerals like platinum, copper, gold and graphite , which are the foundation our nation’s downstream industries like manufacturing.

Additionally, the U.S. minerals mining industry provides more than 1.2 million jobs and adds between 11,000 to 13,000 jobs per year. And U.S. mines produce raw mineral resources worth $78.3 billion—contributing more than $2.5 trillion to the U.S. economy.

Beyond creating jobs and providing a significant source of revenue to state and local governments, mining supports communities through contributions to local charities. In 2012, Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold allocated $500,000 to Grant County, New Mexico. These funds were put toward adult literacy, Habitat for Humanity and Big Brothers Big Sisters initiatives, among many others. 

As good neighbors, mining companies have an inherent responsibility to the communities in which they operate. These companies also invest heavily in research and development to improve U.S. neighborhoods and the environment. For example, 2.9 million acres have been reclaimed and restored over the past 30 years to create parks, fishing holes, wildlife habitats and more to serve the community. U.S. miners operate under a comprehensive set of standards and laws at the local, state and federal levels. In fact, no U.S. minerals mining project is complete until the land is fully restored.

So, when you sit down at the Thanksgiving table this week, we hope you take an extra moment to thank all of minerals miners. After all, they helped make your holiday meal possible.