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Science, Society, Solutions
Digging A Little Deeper: Minerals Matter

Fourth in the 2004 "Science, Society, Solutions" series

Find out how USGS information on mineral potential, production, consumption, and environmental effects impacts everyone from land-use planners to those making national and international economic decisions.

Other Science, Society, Solutions Briefings

Minerals are the building blocks of our society. From concrete and steel to computers and toothpaste -- minerals contribute greatly to both our economy and our quality of life. In 2003, processed materials from minerlas accounted for over $370 billion in the U.S. economy. In fact, the United States is the world´s largest user of mineral commodities, but many of those commodities are imported from other countries. Come hear how the USGS information on mineral potential, production, consumption, and environmental effects impacts everyone from land-use planners to those making national and international economic decisions.

Directions to Rayburn House Office Building:

East on Rt. 66 over the Roosevelt Bridge; right on Independence Avenue. Follow Independence past the construction of the Botanic Gardens; right on Canal Street (2 blocks); left on D Street. Pay parking is on the right between D Street and Canal Street.

Chip Groat

Dr. Groat became the 13th Director of the U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior in November of 1998. He is a distinguished professional in the earth science community with over 25 years of direct involvement in geological studies, energy and mineral resource assessment, ground-water occurrence and protection, geomorphic processes and landform evolution in desert areas, and coastal studies. Chip has held positions throughout his career in both academia and the public sector. Chip received his Bachelor of Arts degree in geology from the University of Rochester, his Master of Science in geology from the University of Massachusetts, and his Ph.D. in geology from the University of Texas at Austin. He has also served on over a dozen earth science boards and committees and has authored and contributed to numerous publications and articles on major issues involving earth resources and the environment.

Dixon Tranum

Dixon Tranum began his career at the Federal Reserve System in 1973, and is now the Senior Economist in the Research and Statistics Division of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. His primary responsibility is to oversee the preparation, publication, and analysis of the Board’s Index of Industrial Production (IP), a respected and timely measure of activity in the manufacturing, mining, and utility industries. He contributes to the formulation of the forecast of the industrial sector that is presented to the Federal Open Market Committee. On a detailed industry basis, he assists in the analysis and forecasting of developments in the motor vehicle sector. Dixon has authored and significantly contributed to many articles published in the Federal Reserve Bulletin describing methodological changes in the IP structure, results of annual revisions, and analysis of developments in the industrial sector. Dixon holds an M.A. degree in economics from the George Washington University.

Patty E. Morrison

Patricia (Patty) Morrison became Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for the Department of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management in April 2002, where she helps oversee the Minerals Management Service (MMS), the Office of Surface Mining (OSM), and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Ms. Morrison is an attorney who is licensed to practice in both Texas and Oklahoma. She began her career in private litigation practice in Dallas, but later spent over twelve years as in-house counsel for The Williams Companies in Tulsa, Oklahoma. While with Williams, Ms. Morrison represented the company both in its oil and gas and pipeline businesses, and in its telecommunications business, serving for a time as its Manager of Regulatory Affairs.

Ms. Morrison has extensive expertise in oil and gas exploration and production, including offshore production and transportation, in petroleum product and natural gas pipeline construction and operation, and in right-of-way, environmental, and other private and public land management issues.

Ms. Morrison graduated from Baylor University in Waco, Texas where she earned a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree (Accounting) in 1984, and a Juris Doctor in 1987. Ms. Morrison, a Kaw and an Osage Indian, was born in Beaumont, Texas, and grew up in San Antonio, Texas, and Stillwater, Oklahoma.

For more information about this topic or the briefing series, please contact the USGS Office of Communications.

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U.S. Department of the Interior | U.S. Geological Survey URL: http://www.usgs.gov/solutions/minerals.html Contact USGS Last modified: Friday, 10-Sep-2004 09:23:39 EDT