Just a note, not all natural resources are found in even a large country like the USA, and some are financially inaccessible: ie: cost too much to mine (eg: platinum in the US)

We almost don't have platinum, for example. One mine (Montana). One (not too good) emerald mine (maybe, iirc). One diamond mine (also, not of very high quality). Rare earths, not all of 'em (Hello, China, South America & other places).

We have some minerals that nobody else has. In fact, one of our minerals means we don't have to have some technology, as we can just mine it and refine it cheaper.

Graphite was a critical strategic resource back in the day. Used for cannons, and three was ONE mine in the world. And Great Britain had it. Which was also a lock-down on pencils, which is why Napoléon offered big money for people to develop a way to fix it technologically.

Gold bubbles up, and forms up in crevices in the crust with high pressure water pulling it out via magma in the mantle. Which is where all the CA, NV, AZ, and .MX gold came from. Surface stuff is eroded, and alluvially washed out, which is why you get 'panning for gold' and 'golden fleece'.

Diamonds in diamond pipes / plugs. Then alluvially washed out, also like gold.

Etc.

But yeah, put it where you want it.

Also, if you're running an RPG, many times there are biological/magical beings which create / consume materials, so they can become more evenly distributed / dropped in weird places. Plus planar activity and Gods / demigods / fairies.

Just a note, not all natural resources are found in even a large country like the USA, and some are financially inaccessible: ie: cost too much to mine (eg: platinum in the US)

We almost don't have platinum, for example. One mine (Montana). One (not too good) emerald mine (maybe, iirc). One diamond mine (also, not of very high quality). Rare earths, not all of 'em (Hello, China, South America & other places).

We have some minerals that nobody else has. In fact, one of our minerals means we don't have to have some technology, as we can just mine it and refine it cheaper.

Graphite was a critical strategic resource back in the day. Used for cannons, and there was ONE mine in the world. And Great Britain had it. Which was also a lock-down on pencils, which is why Napoléon offered big money for people to develop a way to fix it technologically.

Gold bubbles up, and forms up in crevices in the crust with high pressure water pulling it out via magma in the mantle. Which is where all the CA, NV, AZ, and .MX gold came from. Surface stuff is eroded, and alluvially washed out, which is why you get 'panning for gold' and 'golden fleece'.

Diamonds in diamond pipes / plugs. Then alluvially washed out, also like gold.

Oil under salt domes.

Etc.

But yeah, put it where you want it.

Also, if you're running an RPG, many times there are biological/magical beings which create / consume materials, so they can become more evenly distributed / dropped in weird places. Plus planar activity and Gods / demigods / fairies.

Just a note, not all natural resources are found in even a large country like the USA, and some are financially inaccessible: ie: cost too much to mine (eg: platinum in the US)

We almost don't have platinum, for example. One mine (Montana). One (not too good) emerald mine (maybe, iirc). One diamond mine (also, not of very high quality). Rare earths, not all of 'em (Hello, China, South America & other places).

We have some minerals that nobody else has. In fact, one of our minerals means we don't have to have some technology, as we can just mine it and refine it cheaper.

Graphite was a critical strategic resource back in the day. Used for cannons, and three was ONE mine in the world. And Great Britain had it. Which was also a lock-down on pencils, which is why Napoléon offered big money for people to develop a way to fix it technologically.

Gold bubbles up, and forms up in crevices in the crust with high pressure water pulling it out via magma in the mantle. Which is where all the CA, NV, AZ, and .MX gold came from.

Diamonds in diamond pipes / plugs. Then alluvially washed out, also like gold.

Etc.

But yeah, put it where you want it.

Also, if you're running an RPG, many times there are biological/magical beings which create / consume materials, so they can become more evenly distributed / dropped in weird places. Plus planar activity and Gods / demigods / fairies.

Just a note, not all natural resources are found in even a large country like the USA, and some are financially inaccessible: ie: cost too much to mine (eg: platinum in the US)

We almost don't have platinum, for example. One mine (Montana). One (not too good) emerald mine (maybe, iirc). One diamond mine (also, not of very high quality). Rare earths, not all of 'em (Hello, China, South America & other places).

We have some minerals that nobody else has. In fact, one of our minerals means we don't have to have some technology, as we can just mine it and refine it cheaper.

Graphite was a critical strategic resource back in the day. Used for cannons, and three was ONE mine in the world. And Great Britain had it. Which was also a lock-down on pencils, which is why Napoléon offered big money for people to develop a way to fix it technologically.

Gold bubbles up, and forms up in crevices in the crust with high pressure water pulling it out via magma in the mantle. Which is where all the CA, NV, AZ, and .MX gold came from. Surface stuff is eroded, and alluvially washed out, which is why you get 'panning for gold' and 'golden fleece'.

Diamonds in diamond pipes / plugs. Then alluvially washed out, also like gold.

Etc.

But yeah, put it where you want it.

Also, if you're running an RPG, many times there are biological/magical beings which create / consume materials, so they can become more evenly distributed / dropped in weird places. Plus planar activity and Gods / demigods / fairies.