Nevada Mining Association tells Assembly panel state leads nation in nonfuel mineral production, outlines jobs and reclamation data

Amanda Hilton, president of the Nevada Mining Association, told the Assembly Committee on Natural Resources on March 10 that Nevada remains a national leader in nonfuel mineral production and that the state’s modern mining industry supports thousands of jobs and extensive vendor networks.

Hilton, speaking in Carson City, said Nevada produced 9.44% of U.S. nonfuel mineral production in 2024 and that the state currently produces four federally recognized critical minerals — copper, lithium, magnesium and barite — alongside widely produced commodities such as gold and silver. “I am very grateful for the invitation to come before all of you to update you on Nevada's modern mining industry,” Hilton said.

The presentation outlined several large projects and production statistics that the association says underscore mining’s economic footprint. Hilton noted that Nevada has more than 100 operating mines producing more than 20 different minerals. In 2023 Nevada produced over 4 million ounces of gold, which the speaker said represented roughly 73% of U.S. gold production and was led by Nevada Gold Mines. Hilton reported the industry supported more than 37,000 jobs in 2023, involved about 2,700 vendors and suppliers statewide, paid more than $3 billion in wages, and contributed an estimated $12.7 billion in total economic activity.

On critical minerals, Hilton identified the Robinson Mine (White Pine County) and Phoenix Mine (Lander County) as copper producers; Silver Peak (Esmeralda County) as the only operating U.S. lithium operation in 2023; Thacker Pass (Humboldt County) as under construction with a DOE loan previously announced for the project; and Rhyolite Ridge (Esmeralda County) as a project that received a Record of Decision in October 2024 and later a Department of Energy loan agreement. Hilton also named Premier Magnesia (Nye County) as a domestic magnesium producer and cited Maggie Creek (Eureka County) and Mountain Springs (Lander County) for barite.

Hilton said operators alone paid more than $779 million in taxes over the previous two years and asked the committee for support of AB277, described in the presentation as a net-proceeds-of-minerals transparency bill currently in the Revenue Committee. On safety and oversight, Hilton emphasized that mines are regulated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), reported 23,400,000 hours worked in 2023, and said mining’s workplace injury rate is substantially below the state average. She noted mine rescue teams, annual training and that Nevada holds over $4.5 billion in reclamation bond funds to guarantee post‑mining reclamation.

Committee members asked questions about specific production figures and workforce connections. Assemblymember Hanson confirmed with Hilton that the 2023 lithium figure came entirely from Silver Peak. Hilton clarified Thacker Pass was in the construction phase and not yet producing. Assemblymember Jackson asked whether trade-school connections exist in Southern Nevada; Hilton said operators do maintain relationships and that she recently visited a Clark County mine site.

In public comment following the presentation, Ralph Sacrison of Elko and David Spiser, who described himself as a long-time Nevada mining contractor, praised mining’s local economic role and encouraged industry engagement with communities and youth workforce development. Allison Anderson, community relations manager for AngloGold Ashanti’s Nevada project, described mining as “responsible community partner” work in early-stage projects.

Hilton closed by noting the relatively small land footprint in Nevada — about 200,000 acres permitted for mining, or roughly 0.3% of the state’s 70.7 million acres — and reiterated the industry’s emphasis on reclamation and regulatory compliance.

The committee did not take formal action on items connected to the presentation during this meeting.