Nevada has a long history as a leading mineral producing state. Since the gold and silver rush in the 1850s, which inspired Nevada's statehood in 1864, to the present, Nevada has been a hotbed for mineral and metal mining. Much has changed during the past 150 years, however, one constant has remained; mining continues to be an important part of the state's economy – especially in mining communities and counties. While a relatively small industry – ranked 9th in state gross domestic product – mining's importance to Nevada's economic and social infrastructure can't be underestimated as the industry continues to produce the necessary minerals on which our society depends.  Nevada is one of the special geologic places on the globe where wide arrays of minerals are prevalent, such as gold, silver, copper, barite, molybdenum, clay, silica, lithium, and many more. Even geothermal heat is abundant in the state and mined for energy.