HEADWATERS ECONOMICS GEOGRAPHIC DATA LIBRARY DOCUMENTATION
TITLE: 
Geodataset Name: 		NA_nickel_prod
Geodataset Type: 		SHAPE
Geodataset Feature: 		POINT

GENERAL DESCRIPTION: 
This data layer includes active mining operations in western North America.   

DATA SOURCE(S):  		U.S. Geological Survey.

Scale of Original Source Maps:	Varies
Date of Original Source Maps:	2005-6

GEODATASET EXTENT:  	Western North America
 
FEATURE ATTRIBUTE TABLES CODES AND VALUES: 
COM_MAJOR			Major commodities.
%Nickel%

DATA LINEAGE SUMMARY: 
The dataset is a merge of the following two datasets.  The MRDS layer was downloaded from the USGS at http://tin.er.usgs.gov/mrds/mrds.zip and clipped to the study area boundaries.  The item COM_MAJOR Like '%Nickel%' and the item DEV_STAT = 'producer' were selected to create this layer.   
Note: This database contains the records previously provided in the Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS) of USGS and the Mineral Availability System/Mineral Industry Locator System (MAS/MILS) originated in the U.S. Bureau of Mines, which is now part of USGS.  The MRDS is a large and complex relational database developed over several decades by hundreds of researchers and reporters. This product is a digest in which the fields chosen are those most likely to contain valid information. 
The other U.S. data represent commodities monitored by the Minerals Information Team (MIT) of the USGS, and the operations included are those considered active in 2003 and surveyed by the MIT.
The U.S. data set was downloaded from the USGS at http://tin.er.usgs.gov/mineplant and a subset of commodity = nickel was used.  Notes:  This data set includes only U.S. mineral and metal operations monitored by the Minerals Information Team of the U.S. Geological Survey and considered currently active in 2003. Aggregates operations are limited to those producing over 30,000 tons per year in 2002.  Placer deposits (gold) in Alaska are not included. Plants are limited to operations considered primary -- those which process a mineral or metal to create the first raw material from which products are made.  Downstream operations (operations that reprocess a raw material into another raw material or final product) and recycling operations are not included.

MAP PROJECTION PARAMETERS 
PROJECTION 			ALBERS CONICAL EQUAL AREA
DATUM 				NAD83
UNITS 				METERS
SPHEROID 			GRS1980
PARAMETERS
1st standard parallel		29 30  0.000
2nd standard parallel		45 30  0.000
central meridian		-96 00  0.000
latitude of projection's origin	37 30  0.000
false easting (meters)		0.00000
false northing (meters)		0.00000

DATA SOURCES CONTACT(S): 
Name:			USGS
Address:		12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Mail Stop 954
       Reston, VA  20192
Web site:		http://tin.er.usgs.gov/mrds
Contact Person:   Peter Schweitzer	
Phone:   		(703) 648-6533
Fax:			(703) 648-6252	
Email:   		pschweitzer@usgs.gov    
        
Name:			USGS
Address:		987 National Center
       Reston, VA  20192
Web site:		http://tin.er.usgs.gov/mineplant
Contact Person:   Robert Callaghan	
Phone:   		(703) 648-7709
Fax:				
Email:   		rcallaghan@usgs.gov 
  
HEADWATERS ECONOMICS CONTACT: 
Name:			Headwaters Economics Geographic Data Library
Abbr. Name:		HEGDL
Address:		Headwaters Economics
                        566 Highland St.
                        Helena, Montana 59601
Web site:		http://www.headwaterseconomics.org
Contact Person:   	Patty Gude	
Phone:   		(406)599-7425	
Email:   		patty@headwaterseconomics.org