103 points by irasigman 9 days ago | 52 comments on HN
| Moderate positive
Contested
Product · v3.7· 2026-02-26 02:45:48 0
Summary Information Access & Labor Transparency Advocates
mines.fyi is a free, public-access web application providing searchable data on 91,000+ US mines sourced from the MSHA open government dataset. The platform strongly advocates for Article 19 rights (freedom to seek and receive information) through unrestricted, cost-free access to comprehensive mine operator, location, employment, and production data. It also supports labor transparency (Article 23/25) by surfacing employee counts and mine status data. A privacy concern (Article 12) emerges from uncontrolled Google Analytics tracking without visible consent mechanisms.
This doesn't seem to be complete. It's missing the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, for example, which should be southeast of Carlsbad, NM. It's a underground salt (metal/non-metal) mine, and MSHA definitely regulates it
This seems to include cement works and other processing plants that have somewhat mine-like output but aren't actually extracting anything from the ground at that site.
Please reduce the aggregation of map markers. It's not helpful to group every mine in southwest US in a single point in California that makes it look like they are none in any other state. I see this all the time on maps and it's really frustrating. Aggregate markers are helpful when the individual points are actually overlapping on the map, otherwise they obscure location data.
Just a heads-up that this is nowhere near "all the mines" in Nevada.
I've explored quite a few personally, live by some, and that entire list of my memories is missing.
NV is also not included in the list of top 10 states which is a clear indicator of missing data fwiw.
I looked for all my local mines and none of them are on here. It seems that all of the listed mines for California are stone quarries. It omits the numerous other mines.
under 50, actual underground mines for metals, under 175 total open pit and underground mines for metal
the real numbers for rock quarys * are hidden, and I must assume that they are also
a small portion of the "total"
* sell actual blocks of stone vs gravel/fill/agregate
There seem to be more quarries in where I looked (near Reno) than mines. 16:1 in Allegheny is not on there - interesting place. It’s still semi active.
It includes what most would call quarries and it doesn't include anywhere near all of them (there are basically infinite invisible quarries everywhere to make concrete because it doesn't transport well).
Strong disagree — aggregate markers were super useful when browsing the map on mobile! Maybe need to add a flag for mobile vs. desktop, but the experience would be a lot worse on mobile without them.
I'm pretty sure for me "mining.fyi" wouldn't have created any associations with landmines (although "mines.fyi" does seem to match the contents of the website closer).
It'd be really interesting to see A/B testing results about what most people associate the word "mines" with (I wouldn't be surprised if that would be landmines in this day and age).
Core mission explicitly supports freedom of opinion and expression by providing unrestricted access to factual data on US mines. Data sourced from government MSHA dataset ensures authoritative information.
FW Ratio: 57%
Observable Facts
Page explicitly advertises 'Free US Mine Search' with no cost or authentication required.
Data includes 91,000+ US mines with operator names, locations, commodities, production history, and employee counts.
Interactive filters (state, type, commodity, status) allow users to organize and share information.
Schema.org markup cites MSHA open dataset under government-works license.
Inferences
Free, frictionless access to comprehensive mine data directly enables Article 19 rights to seek and receive information.
Transparent sourcing from official government data affirms commitment to factual expression.
Lack of registration or authentication removes barriers to information access, supporting universal freedom of expression.
Mine data transparency can inform public health and safety understanding. No explicit health advocacy, but data on mine status (active, abandoned, temporarily idled) and type (underground vs. surface) relates to occupational health.
FW Ratio: 60%
Observable Facts
Status filter includes 'Active', 'Intermittent', 'All Status', 'Abandoned', 'Temporarily Idled', 'NonProducing'.
Mine type (Surface, Underground, Facility) correlates with occupational hazards.
Production data and employee counts support analysis of mining labor intensity and safety.
Inferences
Mine status and type data enable public understanding of occupational safety risks in mining.
Free access supports informed participation in health and safety monitoring at community level.
Data on mine operators, employment levels, and production histories provide transparency on labor conditions in mining. Employee counts visible per mine support informed analysis of working conditions.
FW Ratio: 60%
Observable Facts
Page displays 'Employee' counts for each mine in database and detail views.
Top Operators table lists mine count and employee count for major mining companies.
Search and filter functions allow users to analyze employment patterns by operator, state, and commodity.
Inferences
Public access to employment data supports workers' and researchers' ability to analyze labor conditions and wage fairness in mining.
Operator-level employment transparency can facilitate accountability for labor practices.
Data on mine locations, operators, and production enables freedom of movement and informational access. No restrictions on user movement within country or information presentation.
FW Ratio: 60%
Observable Facts
Map displays mines across all US states with zoom and pan controls.
State filter shows mine counts for all states: 'All States', 'Alabama', 'Alaska', etc.
No geographic restrictions on access to any mine data.
Inferences
Open geographic display supports freedom of movement by providing transparency on mine locations nationwide.
Lack of geographic restrictions affirms right to seek and receive information about mining operations anywhere in the US.
Mine data transparency supports public order and rights by enabling informed scrutiny of mining operations and labor practices. Open government data approach affirms democratic accountability.
FW Ratio: 60%
Observable Facts
Data sourced from MSHA 'open government data' licensed under government-works agreement.
All 91,000+ US mines searchable and filterable by operators, location, and status.
Top Operators table provides aggregate employment data enabling operator-level accountability.
Inferences
Open public data infrastructure supports the social and international order required for universal rights protection.
Transparency enables civil society to monitor compliance with labor and safety regulations.
Schema.org metadata references MSHA (a government organization) and public dataset, implying commitment to human dignity through informed access and transparency.
FW Ratio: 60%
Observable Facts
Page explicitly states 'Free US Mine Search' and offers price '0' USD.
Data sourced from 'Mine Safety and Health Administration open government data' licensed under 'government-works'.
Interactive map and filterable database provide direct public access to 91,000+ US mines.
Inferences
Free access to government mine data supports the preamble's commitment to universal dignity and informed citizenship.
Openness of the data infrastructure suggests recognition that public understanding of workplace safety is foundational to human rights.
No privacy policy or terms visible on page. Google Analytics tracking present (GA-5BGLLHBC2V) but no explicit privacy disclosure observed.
Terms of Service
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No terms of service link or disclosure visible on page.
Identity & Mission
Mission
+0.15
Article 19
Mission implicit: free public access to mine data from MSHA open government dataset. Schema.org markup indicates commitment to data transparency and zero-cost access, supporting information access rights.
Editorial Code
—
No editorial code of conduct or journalistic standards declared.
Ownership
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No ownership information disclosed on page. Domain operator not identified.
Access & Distribution
Access Model
+0.20
Article 19 Article 25
Zero-cost, free access to 91,000+ mine records explicitly stated. No subscription wall or paywall. Supports universal information access and public participation.
Ad/Tracking
-0.10
Article 12
Google Analytics tracking code present without explicit notice or consent mechanism visible. May impact privacy expectations.
Accessibility
—
Responsive design with mobile breakpoints observed. Dark theme with color contrast may present challenges for some users but no explicit accessibility statement.
Free, public search interface enables anyone to seek, receive, and impart information about mines. No registration, no login, no paywall. Data displayed transparently via map, tables, and breakdowns. No censoring or filtering of factual information.
Free public access to comprehensive mine safety and production data supports informed participation in health and safety monitoring. Data filters include 'Status' (Active, Abandoned, Temporarily Idled), enabling safety-related queries.
Interactive map displays all mines nationwide without geographic restrictions. State-level filtering allows users to focus on specific regions. No gating of geographic information.
Public searchability and transparency of mine operator data, employment records, and production history enables civil society oversight and accountability mechanisms.
Free, zero-cost access to mine data; no paywall or registration barrier. Publicly-sourced government data. Structure enables public participation in monitoring.
Database enables researchers, workers, and the public to analyze labor patterns in mining. However, no direct labor advocacy or rights education integrated into interface.
Google Analytics tracking code embedded without visible consent mechanism or privacy control. No opt-out, cookie banner, or explicit privacy safeguards observed.
Equal access to mine data for all users (no differentiation by socioeconomic status, geography, or other characteristics). Dark-mode interface does not distinguish users by protected category.
No observed differentiation or exclusion on grounds of race, color, sex, language, religion, political opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or status.
Platform enables public participation in collective awareness and information-sharing about mines, but no explicit assembly or association features observed.
Dead-lettered after 1 attempts: Show HN: Mines.fyi – all the mines in the US in a leaflet visualization
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2026-02-26 20:19
rate_limit
OpenRouter rate limited (429) model=llama-3.3-70b
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2026-02-26 20:18
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OpenRouter rate limited (429) model=llama-3.3-70b
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2026-02-26 20:17
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OpenRouter rate limited (429) model=llama-3.3-70b
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2026-02-26 17:51
dlq
Dead-lettered after 1 attempts: Show HN: Mines.fyi – all the mines in the US in a leaflet visualization
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2026-02-26 17:49
rate_limit
OpenRouter rate limited (429) model=llama-3.3-70b
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2026-02-26 17:48
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OpenRouter rate limited (429) model=llama-3.3-70b
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2026-02-26 17:47
rate_limit
OpenRouter rate limited (429) model=llama-3.3-70b
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2026-02-26 17:45
dlq
Dead-lettered after 1 attempts: Show HN: Mines.fyi – all the mines in the US in a leaflet visualization
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2026-02-26 17:43
rate_limit
OpenRouter rate limited (429) model=llama-3.3-70b
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2026-02-26 17:42
rate_limit
OpenRouter rate limited (429) model=llama-3.3-70b
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2026-02-26 17:42
eval_failure
Evaluation failed: Error: OpenRouter API error 402: {"error":{"message":"Provider returned error","code":402,"metadata":{"raw":"{\"error\":\"API key USD spend limit exceeded. Your account may still have USD balance, but
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2026-02-26 17:42
eval_retry
OpenRouter API error 402 model=llama-3.3-70b
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2026-02-26 09:15
dlq
Dead-lettered after 1 attempts: Show HN: Mines.fyi – all the mines in the US in a leaflet visualization
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2026-02-26 09:15
dlq
Dead-lettered after 1 attempts: Show HN: Mines.fyi – all the mines in the US in a leaflet visualization