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What's new
This page provides information and links to pages recently added to the ‘mineralsUK.com’ website.
World Mineral Production 2006-2010
The British Geological Survey has one of the largest databases in the world on the production of minerals. This publication is the latest in the long-running World Mineral Statistics (WMS) series and includes five year tables of production, by country, for the majority of economically important metals and industrial minerals.
In an attempt to improve data coverage for some of the rarer metals, which are so important for the latest technologies, for the first time this volume includes production data relating to indium and rhenium. Some information relating to gallium has also been added.
Critical Metals Alliance
The British Geological Survey (BGS) and Camborne School of Mines (CSM), part of the University of Exeter, have joined forces in a new initiative to improve the capability for critical metals research. The 'Critical Metals Alliance' was signed on 13 December 2011 and consolidates long-term links between the BGS and CSM. As part of this alliance, Dr Kathryn Moore has been appointed as the BGS Lecturer in Critical and Green Technology Metals at CSM. From March 2012, she will lead a research team drawn from both organisations to improve the understanding of the geological origins of these important raw materials. For further information see the press release.
Rare Earth Elements Profile updated
In view of the continuing global interest in rare earths, the British Geological Survey has released an update to its Rare Earths Profile. With growing supply concerns, volatile prices and a multitude of new projects, there continues to be a great deal of media attention on rare earths. This update includes a new section on China's rare earth industry, a new map of global rare earth deposits as well as updated information on the more advanced projects, production, trade and world resources of rare earths.
Download the Rare Earth Elements Profile [3.03 Mb]
View a picture gallery of our recent fieldwork investigating rare earths
Mineral planning factsheet: Alternative fossil fuels
A new factsheet related to land use planning for energy developments which utilise new technologies such as shale gas, methane from coal and underground coal gasification is available for download.
'Alternative fossil fuels' is the latest in the highly-respected BGS Mineral planning factsheet series and covers shale gas, methane from coal and underground coal gasification. These sources of energy use technologies which are very different to those used to extract conventional hydrocarbons. The factsheet provides an overview of topics such as markets, economic importance, resources, structure of the industry, exploration and extraction, environmental impacts and planning issues. It is primarily intended to inform the land use planning process.
Download the Mineral Planning Factsheet for Alternative Fossil Fuels
Mineral safeguarding in England: good practice advice
This updated and expanded second edition to 'A guide to mineral safeguarding in England' is available for download.
National planning policy outlines the national approach to planning for minerals, taking into account the need to 'safeguard' and conserve mineral resources in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. It addresses, among other things, the issue of the loss of access to mineral resources by development, a concept known as 'mineral sterilisation' and aims to negate future problems caused by the effects of unnecessary sterilisation by providing a stronger national policy for the 'safeguarding' of minerals. This document provides advice and supporting case studies for the implementation of mineral safeguarding national policy. This good practice advice should be read in the context of a changing framework for planning.
Download the Mineral safeguarding in England: good practice advice
Risk list 2011
A new supply risk index for chemical elements or element groups which are of economic value
The risk list gives a quick indication of the relative risk in 2011 to the supply of the chemical elements or element groups which we need to maintain our economy and lifestyle. The position of an element on this list is determined by a number of factors which might impact on supply. These include the abundance of elements in the Earth's crust, the location of current production and reserves, and the political stability of those locations.
Download the Risk list 2011 publication
For further information please contact: Clive Mitchell
Metals, Mines & Mobiles | British Science Festival | Monday 12th September 2011 | FREE event
BGS are hosting the free event 'Metals, mines and mobiles: The life cycle of metals in the natural and human environment' at the British Science Festival at the University of Bradford 1-4pm Monday 12th September 2011. This event will examine the life cycle of 'technology metals', such as neodymium and tantalum, that are used in high tech industries making smart phones, laptops and solar cells. Our experts will take you through their origins in the Earth, their extraction, use, re-use and substitution by man, to their ultimate fate in the natural environment.
The experts taking part in the event are: Andrew Bloodworth (Head of Minerals & Waste, British Geological Survey, BGS), Professor Frances Wall (Head of Camborne School of Mines, CSM), Dr Alan McLelland (Director, National Metals Technology Centre, NAMTEC) and Dr Paul Mitchell (Director, Green Horizons Environmental Consultants Ltd).
This event is free to ticket holders – BOOK HERE
For further information please contact: Clive Mitchell
United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2010
This annual publication by the British Geological Survey provides comprehensive statistical data on minerals production, consumption and trade to 2009, estimates of production for major mineral commodities in 2010. It is of value to all those interested in the many facets of Britain's minerals industry and its contribution to the national economy.
The format of the UK Minerals Yearbook has changed for the latest edition due to budgetary constraints. However, the majority of tables and data are unaffected.
Predicting the future supply of aggregate resources in England
Working with Green Balance and Capita Symonds, the British Geological Survey has produced a major research report which presents an evidence-based analysis of the likely patterns of aggregate supply over the next 30-40 years. This research was funded by DEFRA and is intended to highlight where and why supply problems can be expected to arise in the future and suggests ways of easing the transition where continuity of supply could be at risk.
Ball Clay Mineral Planning Factsheet updated
The Mineral Planning Factsheets provide an overview of the supply of specific minerals that are of economic importance to Britain. They are primarily intended to inform spatial and land–use planning but are of value to all those interested in mineral extraction in the UK.
Industry News
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the 'Industry News' section of this website has been discontinued. However, our priority remains to provide timely, informative minerals publications via MineralsUK, all of which are free to download. The number of reports available for download was nearly doubled in 2010-11 with 406 now freely available and more will be added in the coming year – watch this space.
Collation of the Results of the 2009 Aggregate Minerals Survey for England and Wales
The Aggregate Minerals (AM) surveys, based at four yearly intervals since 1973, provide in-depth and up to date information of regional and national sales, inter-regional flows, transportation, consumption and permitted reserves of primary aggregates. The report is available from the DCLG website as the Collation of the Results of the 2009 Aggregates Minerals Survey.
A new edition of the Directory of Mines and Quarries is now available
A new edition of the Directory of Mines and Quarries is now available, listing the active quarries in the United Kingdom. In addition to a printed volume, for the first time, the Directory of Mines and Quarries is available as a free download which will allow rapid searching of the entries.
Potash Mineral Planning Factsheet updated
The Mineral Planning Factsheets provide an overview of the supply of specific minerals that are of economic importance to Britain. They are primarily intended to inform spatial and land–use planning but are of value to all those interested in mineral extraction in the UK.
Niobium-tantalum profile
The British Geological Survey has added niobium-tantalum to its Mineral Profile series. As commodity prices rise and access to some raw materials becomes more difficult, a small group of so-called 'critical metals' is causing particular concern. Niobium and tantalum are two of the most widely used metals on this critical list. Because of their unique properties and their essential role in the manufacture of steel and electronic capacitors, they are hard to substitute. Supply concerns surrounding these metals have been heightened because illegal mining of niobium-tantalum ore (sometimes known as 'Coltan') has been linked to conflict in some parts of Africa. This report provides a concise, authoritative and easy to understand guide to the origins, production and trade of these important metals.
Download the Niobium-Tantalum profile [1.16 Mb]
Additional WMS archive titles available to download
Additional titles have now been made available to download as pdf documents from the World Mineral Statistics Archive. The latest release includes one additional volume from the 1940s together with the volumes from the 1930s and 1920s. This release also includes our oldest volume covering the years 1913 to 1922. The WMS Archive is an ongoing project to improve access to the historical record of worldwide mineral production and trade information held by the BGS.
Onshore Oil and Gas Mineral Planning Factsheet updated
The Onshore Oil and Gas Mineral Planning Factsheet has been updated and is now available to download.
The Mineral Planning Factsheets provide an overview of the supply of specific minerals that are of economic importance to Britain. They are primarily intended to inform spatial and land–use planning but are of value to all those interested in mineral extraction in the UK.
European Mineral Statistics 2005–2009
European Mineral Statistics 2005–2009 is a publication from the British Geological Survey (BGS) containing over 300 pages of information on minerals production and trade in the European Union, EU applicant countries, Norway and Switzerland. The introductory commentary is followed by statistical tables in two sections: by country and by commodity. The commodity section includes summary information on more than 70 commodities and is illustrated with graphs and charts showing five–year trends, share of world production, exports and imports.
Fluorspar profile
The British Geological Survey has added fluorspar to its Mineral Profile series. Identified by the EU as one of 14 'critical' minerals, fluorspar has some unique properties which make it vital in a wide range of applications from steel manufacture to ceramic production. It is also a major source of fluorine and as such the raw material required for hydrofluoric acid production, an important chemical used in many common applications such as refrigeration. This report provides a concise, authoritative and easy to understand guide to the global distribution of fluorspar, its extraction, uses, global production and trade. It also provides a useful record of prior extraction, and current processing, of fluorspar in the UK.
