All signals point towards Nevada retaining its throne as the leading mining jurisdiction in the US in the coming years. The legacy of the Carlin gold trend, coupled with the prolific Walker Lane and Battle Mountain trends notably, has maintained the “Silver State” its position as the leading producer of gold in the country, accounting for 77% of total domestic production in 2021. With gold remaining a timeless hedge against inflation, 2022 was a year of opportunity, consolidation, and strengthening for the state’s majors. And with the increased political determination to transition towards an economy less reliant on fossil fuels, Nevada’s endowment in “future-facing commodities” like lithium also suggests a bright future for the state’s mining industry.

The challenge posed by climate change is immense, but Nevada’s mining industry is ready to play its part in tackling it. Net-zero targets have been fixed, roadmaps towards sustainability drawn, and low-carbon technologies increasingly adopted in a state where collective effort resonates perhaps more than anywhere else. From the paved i-80 in the North to the mountainous Silver Peak Range in the south and the heritage railway of Ely, gold, silver, copper, lithium (and others) actors are actively working towards securing the US’ mineral supply chain and laying the foundation for tomorrow’s societal practices.

Looking ahead, Nevada is – and has always been – a land of innovation in mining. Home to heap leach pioneers in the 1970s, and direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology innovators today, the state’s mining value chain understands its collective role in reducing the carbon footprint of mining operations while increasing necessary mineral recovery. Nevada benefits from its unique regulatory and secure operating environment, allowing associations, miners, and service providers to operate with little external constraints.

GBR’s research team met with over 70 key players in Reno, Lake Tahoe and statewide to draw a picture of the state’s resourceful mining industry. The following pages are the culmination of those meetings and provide exclusive executive insights and an analysis of the key trends likely to shape Nevada’s future. We would like to warmly thank these executives for these inputs and our partners at the Nevada Mining Association (NVMA). We hope you enjoy the report.