mines.fyi — Free US Mine Search | MSHA Mine Data for 91,000+ Mines

The mining industry operates largely in the shadows, with critical data scattered across government databases and industry reports. mines.fyi changes that by providing a free, searchable interface to MSHA mine data covering over 91,000 mines across the United States.

The platform aggregates data from the Mine Safety and Health Administration, offering detailed information on mine operators, commodities, production methods, and operational status. Users can filter by state, mine type, commodity group, and operational status to find specific facilities or analyze industry patterns.

Key Features and Data Coverage

• Geographic Scope: Mines in all 50 states with detailed breakdowns by region
• Mine Types: Surface operations, underground facilities, and processing plants
• Commodity Categories: Coal, metal/non-metal, stone, sand & gravel, and specialty materials
• Operational Status: Active, abandoned, temporarily idled, and non-producing mines
• Operator Information: Company names, employee counts, and facility details

State-by-State Distribution

The data reveals clear regional patterns in mining activity. Texas leads with 626 mines, followed by Pennsylvania (418), California (303), and Tennessee (261). Coal mining remains concentrated in traditional Appalachian states like West Virginia (215 mines) and Kentucky (210 mines), while construction materials and industrial minerals are more widely distributed.

Industry Structure

Major operators dominate the landscape. Vulcan Construction Materials, LLC operates 173 mines with 3,579 employees, while Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. runs 61 mines with 1,033 employees. The data shows a mix of large corporations and smaller regional operators, with employee counts ranging from single digits to thousands per company.

Commodity Breakdown

Stone mining leads with 2,874 operations, followed by sand and gravel (2,320) and non-metal minerals (626). Coal mining, while politically significant, represents only 615 active mines nationwide. Metal mining accounts for 170 operations, focusing on both precious and industrial metals.

Search and Discovery

The platform's search functionality allows users to find specific mines by ID, name, or operator. Sample results show detailed entries including mine names, operators, states, types, commodities, and status. For example, Plant #1 Bogalusa Concrete Inc in Louisiana operates as a surface construction sand and gravel facility, while Five Forks Mine in the same state produces lignite coal.

Use Cases

This data serves multiple stakeholders:

• Industry Analysts: Track market concentration and regional trends
• Environmental Researchers: Study land use and reclamation patterns
• Supply Chain Managers: Identify material sources and logistics networks
• Policy Makers: Understand economic impacts and regulatory needs
• Investors: Evaluate company operations and market positions

Technical Implementation

The platform appears to use Leaflet mapping technology for geographic visualization, with data layers from OpenStreetMap and CARTO. The interface provides both map-based and list-based views, allowing users to explore data spatially or through structured queries.

Data Currency and Limitations

While the platform provides comprehensive coverage, users should note that MSHA data may have reporting delays. The distinction between surface and underground operations, as well as commodity classifications, follows federal reporting standards which may not capture all operational nuances.

Industry Context

This tool arrives as the mining industry faces increasing scrutiny over environmental impacts, worker safety, and supply chain transparency. The ability to access consolidated, searchable data represents a significant improvement over previous fragmented information sources.

The platform's free access model democratizes information that was previously available only through paid industry databases or complex government queries, potentially enabling new forms of analysis and oversight in the mining sector.