Wyoming, USAi

Regional Level Types
Wyoming	State
USA	Country

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Wyoming is a state in the western United States, covering approximately 253,600 km², and is the tenth-largest state by area. It is bordered by Montana to the north, South Dakota and Nebraska to the east, Colorado to the south, Utah to the south-west, and Idaho to the west. Wyoming is the least populous state in the USA, with population concentrated in a small number of towns. Cheyenne is the state capital, while Casper and Laramie are major population centres.

Geographically, Wyoming is defined by a combination of high plains, intermontane basins, and rugged mountain ranges. Much of the state lies at elevations above 1,500 m, making it one of the highest states in the USA. Major mountain systems include the Rocky Mountains, notably the Teton Range, Wind River Range, Bighorn Mountains, and Absaroka Range. Wyoming also contains extensive high basins such as the Powder River Basin, Green River Basin, and Bighorn Basin, which are important both geologically and economically. The state includes large areas of federally protected land, including Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park, and several national forests.

Geologically, Wyoming is one of the most diverse states in the USA. Its bedrock records a long history of Precambrian continental crust, Palaeozoic marine sedimentation, Mesozoic basin development, and Cenozoic mountain building and volcanism. Ancient crystalline rocks are exposed in the cores of major uplifts such as the Wind River and Bighorn Mountains. These uplifts were formed during the Laramide orogeny, which also created the surrounding sedimentary basins. In the north-west, extensive Cenozoic volcanic rocks of the Yellowstone hotspot dominate, including rhyolites, basalts, and thick ash-flow tuffs.

Wyoming has an exceptionally important mineral and energy resource base. It is the leading producer of coal in the United States, largely from vast open-pit mines in the Powder River Basin, which hosts thick seams of low-sulfur coal. The state is also a major producer of oil and natural gas, extracted from several large sedimentary basins. Wyoming is internationally significant for uranium, with roll-front deposits in sandstone-hosted basins such as the Powder River and Great Divide basins. Other resources include trona (natural soda ash) from the Green River Basin—one of the world’s largest known deposits—as well as bentonite, gypsum, and construction aggregates. Metallic mining has been comparatively minor but includes gold, copper, and iron in restricted areas.

Administratively, Wyoming is divided into 23 counties. The state’s identity is strongly shaped by its open landscapes, low population density, and reliance on natural resources. Wyoming’s geology underpins both its dramatic scenery and its economic base, making it a key region for understanding Laramide tectonics, intermontane basin evolution, hotspot volcanism, and large-scale energy and industrial mineral systems in western North America.

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

337 valid minerals. 17 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals. 1 (FRL) - first recorded locality of unapproved mineral/variety/etc. 1 erroneous literature entry.

Rock Types Recorded

Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities