MOSCOW, ID — The University of Idaho and its research partners have secured a $1.25 million National Science Foundation grant to expand the world’s largest open mineral database and strengthen Idaho’s role in global mining research and workforce development.
The project, known as OneMineralogy, brings together researchers from U of I, Rutgers University and Carnegie Science to build an intelligent open-data platform that enhances Mindat — a mineral database that logged nearly 50 million page views from more than 9.8 million visitors in a single year. Led by U of I engineering professor Xiaogang “Marshall” Ma, the effort aims to make mineral data easier to analyze and more accessible for scientists, educators and the public.
The work builds on previous open-data efforts and will create tools that allow researchers to examine mineral species and their global distribution more efficiently. Training programs, workshops and community partnerships will support educators, industry professionals and data curators as the platform grows.
U of I leaders say the grant reinforces the state’s position in mineral research and exploration. Idaho’s geology includes critical minerals used in national defense, clean energy, infrastructure and advanced technologies. The university is already collaborating with the Idaho Mining Association and Idaho Geological Survey to apply artificial intelligence and data science to mineral mapping, including work on cobalt and rare earth elements.
“The rapidly expanding body of data on mineral diversity, distribution and properties is driving a new era of data-powered discovery in geoscience,” said Robert Hazen of Carnegie Science, noting Mindat’s broad global use among researchers.
The grant also supports U of I’s efforts to strengthen the mining workforce. With more than half of U.S. mining professionals expected to retire by 2029, the university and its partners — including North Idaho College — are preparing students for high-demand careers by relaunching Idaho’s undergraduate geological engineering degree. OneMineralogy’s resources will serve as a foundation for teaching data-driven methods in modern mining and exploration.
