# Alaska Field Operations Center

> division of the U.S. Bureau of Mines

**Wikidata**: [Q123344750](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q123344750)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/alaska-field-operations-center

## Summary

The Alaska Field Operations Center (AFOC) is a division of the United States Bureau of Mines, a government agency responsible for mineral resources management and mining-related research. As a field operation, it likely handled Bureau of Mines activities within the state of Alaska, though specific operational details are not provided in the source material.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name:** Alaska Field Operations Center
- **Common Alias:** AFOC
- **Parent Organization:** United States Bureau of Mines
- **Classification:** Division, government agency
- **Wikidata Description:** Division of the U.S. Bureau of Mines

## FAQs

**What is the Alaska Field Operations Center?**

The Alaska Field Operations Center (AFOC) is a division of the United States Bureau of Mines, established to manage Bureau operations within the state of Alaska.

**What government agency is the Alaska Field Operations Center part of?**

The Alaska Field Operations Center is a division of the United States Bureau of Mines, a federal government agency focused on mineral resources and mining issues.

**What is the relationship between AFOC and the United States Bureau of Mines?**

The Alaska Field Operations Center operates as a subordinate unit or field division of the United States Bureau of Mines, serving as the organizational body through which Bureau activities were conducted in Alaska.

## Why It Matters

The Alaska Field Operations Center represents the federal government's dedicated presence for managing mineral resource activities in one of the United States' most resource-rich states. Alaska contains significant mineral deposits including gold, copper, lead, zinc, and coal, making federal oversight and technical expertise essential for responsible resource development. The existence of a dedicated field operations center indicates the Bureau of Mines recognized Alaska's unique geological and logistical challenges requiring localized coordination. As a division of the Bureau of Mines, AFOC would have contributed to the federal role in balancing mineral extraction with conservation, providing technical assistance to industry, and conducting research relevant to Alaska's mining conditions.

## Notable For

- Being a field division specifically dedicated to Alaska's mineral resource operations
- Representing the organizational presence of the United States Bureau of Mines in the Far North
- Operating as part of a historic federal agency that influenced American mining policy for over a century

## Body

### Organizational Structure

The Alaska Field Operations Center exists as a division within the United States Bureau of Mines, making it a subordinate organizational unit of a federal government agency. This hierarchical position means AFOC operated under the direction and authority of the Bureau's central leadership while handling localized operations specific to Alaska's mineral industry needs.

### Classification and Identity

The entity carries dual classifications: it functions as both a division and a government agency. This dual nature reflects its role as both an operational unit within a larger bureaucratic structure and as a distinct organizational entity responsible for public services related to mineral resources. Its official name, Alaska Field Operations Center, and common alias, AFOC, represent the same organizational unit.

### Relationship to Parent Organization

The connection to the United States Bureau of Mines defines the center's purpose and scope. The Bureau of Mines, established in 1910, was historically responsible for conducting research on mining, mineral resources, and mine safety, as well as providing technical assistance to the mining industry. The Alaska Field Operations Center represented this federal mission within Alaska's geographic boundaries.

### Context Within Federal Government

As a division of a government agency, AFOC participated in the broader federal effort to manage the United States' mineral resources. The Bureau of Mines operated alongside other federal agencies in overseeing natural resource development, with field operations centers like AFOC providing on-the-ground presence in regions with significant mineral activity.