Mining & minerals
Alaska ARDF (Mines & Prospects)
USGS Alaska Resource Data File — 7,448 Alaska mines, prospects, and mineral occurrences. Served as WFS.
Why this data matters
- ARDF is the standard reference for known mineral occurrences in Alaska.
- Use for prospectivity, district context, and “what’s already been found” near a claim.
- Complements MRDS (global) with Alaska-focused records and descriptions.
Data source
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Agency | U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) |
| Service | MRData WFS |
| Update frequency | Periodic USGS releases |
| Coverage | Alaska (7,448+ records) |
| Zoom | Use at zoom 7+ |
Quick connect
- QGIS: Layer → Add Layer → Add WFS Layer → paste WFS URL.
- ArcGIS: Add Data → Data from Path → WFS URL.
Related layers
- USGS MRDS — global mineral deposits
- BLM Mining Claims
- DGGS Geochemistry
GIS Endpoints
REST (ArcGIS)
https://mrdata.usgs.gov/services/wfs/ardf
WFS
https://mrdata.usgs.gov/services/wfs/ardf
QGIS: Layer → Add Layer → Add WMS/WFS Layer → paste URL. ArcGIS: Add Data → Data from Path.
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