The first step to extracting any mineral resource from the ground is to search for what is available. This is generally known as prospecting, and it ranges from very old techniques such as panning for heavier sediments to drilling core samples and examining the results with a spectrometer and a chemistry lab. Whatever testing is used, mining exploration is an important service that can also be a challenge to locate.
Find an online resource that offers a listing for a wide variety of industrial lab options. Finding different traces in rock core samples often require different labs, so it pays to know who can do who. Whether the service is located nearby or out of state, get in contact with a lab that is best suited to serve your needs. Local geology experts can help to identify rocks as well as their potential mineral wealth.