Mines, Bureau of, was an agency of the United States Department of the Interior. The bureau, which operated from 1910 to 1996, helped ensure that the nation had enough copper, lead, silver, zinc, and other nonfuel minerals for its needs. The agency conducted research to develop safe and economical methods for mining, processing, using, and recycling mineral resources. In addition, it investigated ways to use domestic ores as substitutes for imported minerals and ways to decrease the pollution and land damage caused by mining. The bureau published statistics on all phases of nonfuel mineral resource development, including exploration, production, shipments, and prices. When the bureau was dissolved, some of its duties were divided up among a number of other federal agencies.
