Established in Starfleet's early days, the Materials Prospecting Division was tasked with obtaining valuable materials that were found in environments too hazardous for civilian contractors. Its standard operating procedure involved first identifying a need for a specific material, followed by the identification and evaluation of a prospect world, and finally mining the material if conditions were satisfactory. Acceptable conditions are that a world must be devoid of life, and permission granted by the Starfleet Command, before mining operations could begin. "Worlds" included planets, dwarf planets, moons, asteroids, nebulae, comets, and other stellar bodies.
While the location and mining of valuable resources forms the cornerstone of the Materials Prospecting Division, it can also pursue the acquisition of materials from sources that are within the Federation - logistical operations - or without the Federation - trade activities. In the 25th century, mining is only conducted when rare, hard-to-get materials that cannot be acquired through other means. Mining is also acceptable in cases where materials are in incredibly high demand by Starfleet and the usual input sources cannot produce enough supply, as is the case post Iconian War.
Note that the Material Prospecting Division's primary beneficiary is Starfleet.
In the 25th century, the division survives despite the glut of materials present in the United Federation of Planets. As it turns out, a specialized mining organization with Starfleet know-how is desired when you want to extract valuable materials from Y-class worlds and the like. It is these Y-class planets that the Materials Prospecting Division will presently find itself operating on. The organization has 3 subdivisions: Oscar, Delta, and Lambda.
Oscar
Oscar teams are the oldest and most versatile subdivision of Materials Prospecting. The backbone of the organization, this subdivision is charged with the evaluation of possible mining sites, to acquisition of materials when given the go-ahead. Materials often found on the agenda of Oscar teams included duranium, rubidium, Z-particles, and Craylon gas. Salvaged technology will find its way onto a team's itinerary every now and then.
Up to 50 Oscar teams were deployed at one time during the mid-23rd century. As of 2410, there are only 19 active Oscar Teams operating throughout the Federation.
Delta
The Delta subdivision is charged with the evaluation, acquisition, and processing of raw dilithium. This subdivision was established in the late 22nd century as Starfleet needed to identify sources of dilithium in order to aid the continued expansion of its fleet. As the years progressed, the role of this subdivision has diminished along with the rest of Materials Prospecting as technologies such as dilithium re-crystallization were introduced as well as an increasing availability of civilian contractors as a byproduct of the ever expanding membership of the Federation.
The most Delta teams ever to have been deployed at one time was 24, and that was during the Dominion War. As of 2410, there are only 7 Delta Teams operating throughout the Federation.
Lambda
Lambda is the newest subdivision of Materials Prospecting. Established in the late-24th century, this division was charged with the evaluation and acquisition of raw latinum. As the Ferengi Commerce Association expanded its dealings, so too did the adoption of latinum as payment. Since the need to use platinum to conduct business dealings, especially those handled by Starfleet Intelligence, the acquisition of raw latinum was added to the Material Prospecting Division's mission, and the Lambda teams were formed as a result. Then Lieutenant Nog was briefly consulted when the subdivision's operating parameters were getting established. These parameters included what quality of ore was acceptable. Nog, as Captain of the Chimera, later sent a letter to the division's headquarters reiterating the importance of the "Great Material Continuum" was to any acquisition endeavor.
As of 2410, there are 3 Lambda teams operating throughout the Federation which is the most there's ever been.
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