CompuServe Messages

Doug and John, The USGS does a lot of field work/research which includes making a determination on a general scale of the mineral evaluation–generally by sampling mines and prospects, other known mineral occurrences, and taking a lot of stream sediment samples. They have found a lot of anomalies and do "give" the information away to private enterprise–that is they publish it in their open file reports (can be viewed free of charge) and in the many bulletins, etc. that one can purchase at a low price. They don't go out looking for ore deposits, but only in making a general assessment of an area to aid in land management. They specifically are required (along with the Bu of Mines) to evaluate areas being studied for Wilderness withdrawal and publish reports on every such area. Unfortunately, those gung ho withdrawal happy people generally convince congress to ignore all mineral potential areas and withdraw them inside the Wilderness. As far as privatizing the USGS, it can't be done. Private enterprise could not afford to do the research, except for mining companies, which of course don't care to share most of what knowledge they gain. About all that could be privatized would be the publishing/republishing of information, and without the research that would soon be old and dated. Without the USGS who is going to do the earthquake studies, the volcano studies, other geologic hazard studies, etc.? Not likely that private enterprise could do it in a fashion so as to be profitable. Lanny