美国矿业在世界市场的竞争能力取决于许多因素。然而,推行新方法和改良原有方法可能具有长期的重大影响。由于矿业界已紧缩其原有的长远研究和发展规划,美国联邦政府继续对采矿和矿物研究提供重要援助。美国矿业局与矿业界和学术界一道为非燃料矿物开采和加工研究新方法。矿业局的研究工作集中于勘探和开采技术、矿物和材料科学、加工技术、健康与安全和环保技术。 The competitiveness of U.S. mines in the world market depends on many factors. However, the introduction of new methods and the improvement of existing methods may have long-term significant implications. As the mining industry has tightened its original long-term research and development programs, the federal government continues to provide important assistance to mining and mineral research. The U.S. Bureau of Mines works with the mining and academic communities to develop new methods for mining and processing non-fuel minerals. Mines’ research efforts focus on exploration and mining technology, minerals and materials science, processing technology, health and safety and environmental technologies.