Supporting America’s Infrastructure

From foundations to roofs, power plants to wind farms, roads to bridges—America’s infrastructure projects begin with mining.

From foundations to roofs, power plants to wind farms, roads and bridges to communications grids and data storage centers—America’s infrastructure projects begin with mining. Consider that nearly every industry including energy, construction, transportation, and equipment manufacturing requires steel—a material dependent on both metallurgical coal and iron ore for its production. And copper’s flexibility, conformity, thermal and electric conductivity, and resistance to corrosion make it an ideal industrial metal. These are just a few of the ways that mining is contributing to America’s infrastructure.

    Member Feature Story

    Copper for Infrastructure

    Copper is an essential component of infrastructure, since copper is necessary to power and electrify everything we use – whether in buildings, vehicles or manufacturing operations. And demand is rising dramatically for copper. While copper can be recycled, the exponentially growing demand requires more... Read More

    July 23, 2024

    Building America's Infrastructure

    Steel to Build By

    Steel is the basis of much of our infrastructure, and steel is built on metallurgical coal. Around 770 kilograms of coal is used to make one ton of steel, and considering the push made this year for domestic steel, the U.S. will also need coal to meet infrastructure demands. The U.S. has ample met... Read More

    December 19, 2022

    Mining Industry Responds to Growing Lithium Demand

    The electric vehicle revolution is rapidly increasing demand for lithium, and mining companies are responding. Piedmont Lithium, for example, recently announced plans for a lithium hydroxide plant in Etowah, Tennessee. When fully operational, the project is expected to produce 30,000 metric tons per... Read More

    October 20, 2022

    An Abundance of Metals

    Infrastructure is complicated, requiring many different inputs to build the world around us. Palladium, rhodium and platinum are used in catalytic converters to reduce emissions from internal combustion vehicle engines, and palladium and gold are used in electronics such as laptops and mobile phones.... Read More

    August 24, 2022

    Copper in Infrastructure

    Our modern way of life relies on electronics, and electronics rely on copper. This versatile, conductive, ductile metal is the basis for wiring that allows our homes and businesses to flourish. Copper is showing an increase in demand for its use in energy generation, transmission infrastructure, and... Read More

    July 08, 2022

    Steel Requires Coal

    Infrastructure wouldn’t stand without steel. This metal alloy contributes to buildings, like the Empire State Building which is composed of 57,000 tons of steel; bridges, like the Golden Gate Bridge which required 83,000 tons of steel; and roads like the U.S. National Highway System which has used 6... Read More

    February 22, 2022