Free downloads | MineralsUK

Exploration

This guide provides a wide range of information to assist all those interested in exploring for, and developing, metalliferous and related minerals in Britain.

Mineral exploration methods in Britain: Panned–concentrate drainage sampling (642 kb)

Detailed guidance on recommended procedures for the collection of stream–sediment and panned–concentrate samples in the UK is available.

Mineral exploration methods in Britain: Steam sediment sampling (693 kb)

Detailed guidance on recommended procedures for the collection of stream–sediment and panned–concentrate samples in the UK is available.

Minerals in Britain – Past Production, Future Potential

These free publications complement the UK Exploration Guide by providing commodity–based information on mineral prospects and past production in Britain. Brochures are available for the following commodities:

Baryte
(410 kb)

Copper
(511 kb)

Gemstones
(520 kb)

Gold
(1 Mb)

Lead and Zinc
(503 kb)

Nickel and Platinum
(422 kb)

Industry news archives

2007

2006

Low–cost lime for small–scale farming

Low–cost lime for small–scale farming: FarmLime summary report (858 kb)

Lo–cost lime for small–scale farming: FarmLime manual (1.7 Mb)

This manual is a concise guide to the small–scale production of agricultural lime.

Low–cost lime for small–scale farming: FarmLime technical report (1.4 Mb)

The report contains the detailed research carried out in Zambia, it includes a socio–economic survey, carbonate resource assessment, small–scale production trials, crop trials and a cost–benefit analysis.

Mine & quarry

Directory of Mines and Quarries 2008 order form (272 kb)

Opencast coal statistics

2008–2009
(60 kb)

2007–2008
(82.4 kb)

2006–2007
(290 kb)

2005–2006
(220 kb)

2004–2005
(233 kb)

2003–2004
(253 kb)

goodquarry.com information leaflets

goodquarry.com – Production & Process Technology information leaflet (130 Mb)

goodquarry.com – Quarry Fines and Waste information leaflet (1 Mb)

Summary of information on coal for land–use planning purposes (3.5 Mb)

This report brings together data on coal production, trade, consumption and uses, and provides information on licensing and reserves. It also summarises information on opencast coal sites granted and refused planning permissions and coal exploitation by methods other than conventional deep and shallow mining.

Mineral matters

1: Building for the future (308 kb)	8: Sustainable development of minerals (309 kb)
2: Raw materials for construction (436 kb)	9: Introduction to mineral planning (1.16 Mb)
3: Minerals in the economy (219 kb)	10: Minerals – Earth's natural resources (1.3 Mb)
4: Minerals trade – a global picture (257 kb)	11:Mineral extraction and the water environment (1.63 Mb)
5: Minerals – what makes a mine? (344 kb)	12: Future issues for sustainable mineral extraction (1.07 Mb)
6: Recycling our minerals (347 kb)	13: Safeguarding our minerals supply (1.54 Mb)
7: Minerals in our lives (282 kb)

Mineral Planning Factsheets

Ball clay (720 kb) (Jan 2006)

Industrial dolomite (1 Mb) (Jan 2006)

Barytes (992 kb) (Jan 2006)

Industrial limestone (2.8 Mb) (Jan 2006)

Brick clay (3.4 Mb) ( Feb 2007)

Kaolin (687 kb)(Sep 2009)

Building and roofing stone (1.5 Mb) (Mar 2007)

Metals (1.2 Mb) (April 2010)

Calcite (730 kb) (Aug 2004)

Miscellaneous (2.6 Mb) (2005)

Cement raw materials (4.4 Mb)(Feb 2008)

Natural hydraulic limes (508 kb) (Mar 2005)

Coal and coalbed methane (3.7 Mb) (Oct 2006)

Onshore oil and gas (1.7 Mb) (Nov 2006)

Construction aggregates (4.57 Mb) (Feb 2007)

Potash (574 kb) (Jan 2006)

Fireclay (1.9 Mb) (Oct 2006)

Salt (874 kb) (Jan 2006)

Fluorspar (806 kb) (March 2010)

Silica sand (2.4 Mb)(Sep 2009)

Fuller's earth (604 kb) (Jan 2006)

Underground storage (4.55 Mb) (Feb 2008)

Gypsum (748 kb) (Jan 2006)

Mineral Profiles

Barytes (1.2 Mb) (Sep 2005)

Building and Roofing Stone (664 kb) (Nov 2005)

Cement Raw Materials (292 kb) (Nov 2005)

Coal (2.88 Mb) (Mar 2010)

Cobalt (182 kb) (Aug 2009)

Copper (4.60 Mb) (Jun 2007)

Fluorspar (1.7 Mb) (Nov 2005)

Magnesium (119 kb)(Updated Mar 2004)

Nickel (2.84 Mb) (Sep 2008)

Platinum Group Elements (2.67 Mb)(Sep 2009)

Rare Earth Elements (2.93Mb)(June 2010)

Uranium (2.13 Mb)(Mar 2010)

Zinc (190 kb) (Mar 2004)

Mineral Reconnaissance Programme (MRP) reports

Aberdeenshire, Scotland

MRP 104

Stratabound barium and base–metal mineralisation in Middle Dalradian metasediments near Braemar, Scotland

(2.84 Mb)

Anglesey, Wales

MRP 112	Geophysical and geochemical investigations on Anglesey, North Wales	(7.16 Mb)
MRP 27	Airborne geophysical survey of part of Anglesey, North Wales	(1.46 Mb)

Argyl & Bute

MRP 13	Investigation of stratiform sulphide mineralisation at McPhun's Cairn, Argyllshire	(5.84 Mb)
MRP 15	Investigation of stratiform sulphide mineralisation at Meall Mor, South Knapdale, Argyll	(11.8 Mb)
MRP 16	Report on geophysical and geological surveys at Blackmount, Argyllshire	(1.3 Mb)
MRP 23	Disseminated sulphide mineralisation at Garbh Achadh, Argyllshire, Scotland	(6.19 Mb)

Cornwall

MRP 1	The concealed granite roof in south–west Cornwall	(53.4 Mb)
MRP 2	Geochemical and geophysical investigations around Garras Mine near Truro, Cornwall	(1.55 Mb)
MRP 11	A study of the space form of the Cornubian granite batholith and its application to detailed gravity surveys in Cornwall	(2.31 Mb)
MRP 25	Mineral investigations near Bodmin, Cornwall. Part 1—Airborne and ground geophysical surveys	(21.5 Mb)
MRP 32	Investigations at Polyphant, near Launceston, Cornwall	(1.96 Mb)
MRP 45	Mineral investigations near Bodmin, Cornwall. Part 2—New uranium, tin and copper occurrences in the Tremayne area of St Columb Major	(3.77 Mb)
MRP 48	Mineral investigations near Bodmin, Cornwall. Part 3—The Mulberry and Wheal Prosper area	(4.17 Mb)

Devon & Somerset

MRP 12	Mineral investigations in the Teign Valley, Devon. Part 1—Barytes	(1.68 Mb)
MRP 34	Results of a gravity survey of the south-west margin of Dartmoor, Devon	(1.53 Mb)
MRP 41	Metalliferous mineralisation near Lutton, Ivybridge, Devon	(3.72 Mb)
MRP 44	Reconnaissance geochemical maps of parts of south Devon and Cornwall	(883 Kb)
MRP 79	Volcanogenic and exhalative mineralisation within Devonian rocks of the South Hams district of Devon	(7.95 Mb)

Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland

MRP 10	Geophysical surveys around Talnotry mine, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland	(428 Kb)
MRP 17	Lead, zinc and copper mineralisation in basal Carboniferous rocks at Westwater, south Scotland	(11.4 Mb)
MRP 18	A mineral reconnaissance survey of the Doon–Glenkens area, south–west Scotland	(10 Mb)
MRP 19	A reconnaissance geochemical drainage survey of the Criffel–Dalbeattie granodiorite complex and its environs	(9.65 Mb)
MRP 21	A geochemical drainage survey of the Fleet granitic complex and its environs	(8.38 Mb)
MRP 28	A mineral reconnaissance survey of the Abington–Biggar–Moffat area, south–central Scotland	(5.87 Mb)
MRP 30	Porphyry style copper mineralisation at Black Stockarton Moor, south-west Scotland	(10.4 Mb)
MRP 37	Compilation of stratabound mineralisation in the Scottish Caledonides	(1.02 Mb)
MRP 38	Geophysical evidence for a concealed eastern extension of the Tanygrisiau microgranite and its possible relationship to mineralisation	(2.15 Mb)
MRP 39	Copper-bearing intrusive rocks at Cairngarroch Bay, south-west Scotland	(2.75 Mb)
MRP 42	Mineral exploration in the area around Culvennan Fell, Kirkcowan, south-western Scotland	(3.45 Mb)
MRP 46	Gold mineralisation at the southern margin of the Loch Doon granitoid complex, south-west Scotland	(4.20 Mb)

Highland, Scotland

MRP 3	Molybdenite mineralisation in Precambrian rocks, near Lairg, Scotland	(7.23 Mb)
MRP 43	Disseminated copper-molybdenum mineralisation near Ballachulish, Highland Region	(4.91 Mb)
MRP 131	Platinum–group element mineralisation in the Loch Ailsh alkaline igneous complex, north–west Scotland	(9.55 Mb)
MRP 142	Industrial mineral potential of andalusite and garnet in the Scottish Highlands	(4.9 Mb)
MRP 143	Gold mineralisation in the Dalradian rocks of Knapdale–Kintyre, south–west Highlands, Scotland	(6.57 Mb)
MRP Data Release 8	Data arising from drilling investigations in the Loch Borralan intrusion, Sutherland Vol 2	(2.14 Mb)
MRP Data Release 11	Rare–earth elements in alkaline intrusions, north–west Scotland	(1.18 Mb)

North East England

MRP 47

An airborne geophysical survey of the Whin Sill between Haltwhistle and Scots' Gap, south Northumberland

(7.49 Mb)

North West England

MRP 7	Investigation of tungsten and other mineralisation associated with the Skiddaw Granite near Carrock mine, Cumbria	(4.14 Mb)
MRP 14	Mineral investigations at Woodhall and Longlands in north Cumbria	(5.05 Mb)
MRP 24	Geophysical investigations along parts of the Dent and Augill Faults	(2.73 Mb)
MRP 33	Mineral investigations at Carrock Fell, Cumbria. Part 1—Geophysical survey	(2.12 Mb)
MRP 66	Mineral reconnaissance surveys in the Craven Basin	(6.44 Mb)

Other England, techniques & reviews

MRP 20	Geophysical field techniques for mineral exploration	(3.55 Mb)
MRP 36	An appraisal of the VLF ground resistivity technique as an aid to mineral exploration	(1.96 Mb)
MRP 135	The potential for diamonds in Britain	(4.21 Mb)
MRP 136	A review of detailed airborne geophysical surveys in Great Britain	(8.51 Mb)

Perth & Kinross

MRP 26	Stratabound barium–zinc mineralisation in Dalradian schist near Aberfeldy, Scotland: Preliminary report	(3.93 Mb)
MRP 40	Stratabound barium–zinc mineralisation in Dalradian schist near Aberfeldy, Scotland: Final report	(16.4 Mb)

Rest of Scotland

MRP 4	Investigation of copper mineralisation at Vidlin, Shetland	(11.8 Mb)
MRP 6	Report on geophysical surveys at Struy, Invernesshire	(872 Kb)
MRP 8	Investigation of stratiform sulphide mineralisation in parts of central Perthshire	(8.89 Mb)
MRP 9	Investigation of disseminated copper mineralisation near Kilmelford, Argyllshire, Scotland	(13.9 Mb)
MRP 116	Gold in the Ochil Hills, Scotland	(7.89 Mb)

Shetland

MRP 35

Geophysical investigation of chromite-bearing ultrabasic rocks in the Baltasound–Hagdale area, Unst, Shetland Islands

(5.21 Mb)

Rest of Wales

MRP 5	Preliminary mineral reconnaissance of Central Wales	(55.9 Mb)
MRP 22	Geochemical and geophysical investigations north–west of Llanrwst, North Wales	(3.88 Mb)
MRP 29	Mineral exploration in the Harlech Dome, North Wales	(23.8 Mb)
MRP 86	Volcanogenic mineralisation in the Treffgarne area, south–west Dyfed, Wales	(2.86 Mb)

Yorkshire & Humberside

MRP 31

Geophysical investigations in the Closehouse–Lunedale area

(2.32 Mb)

Mineral resource maps, UK

Aggregate Mineral Resources Maps, England

East Midlands (2.91 Mb)

North West (3.56 Mb)

West Midlands (2.74 Mb)

East England (3.98 Mb)

South East and London (6.78 Mb)

Yorkshire and Humber (3.14 Mb)

North East (1.71 Mb)

South West (5.07 Mb)

Mineral Resource maps, Scotland

Guide to Minerals Information in the central belt of Scotland

(1.78 Mb)

Clackmannanshire, Fife and Falkirk

(3.94 Mb)

East Lothian, Midlothian, West Lothian and City of Edinburgh

(3.73 Mb)

Inverclyde, West Dunbartonshire, East Dunbartonshire, Renfrewshire, East Renfrewshire, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and City of Glasgow

(6.44 Mb)

North Ayrshire, East Ayrshire and South Ayrshire

(4.92 Mb)

Mineral Resource maps, Wales

The Mineral Resource Maps of Wales: Open Report OR/10/032

(291 Kb)

Mineral Resource map for south west Wales

(31.8 Mb)

Mineral Resource map for north east Wales

(35.4 Mb)

Mineral Resource map for north west Wales

(23.3 Mb)

Mineral Resource map for south east Wales

(47.1 Mb)

Mineral Resource map for mid Wales (south)

(39.4 Mb)

Mineral Resource map for mid Wales (north)

(28.7 Mb)

Planning

Economy

Economic Importance of Minerals to the UK (2.65 Mb)

Role of imports to UK aggregates supply (201.15 kb)

Construction minerals

Primary Aggregate Reserves in England 1990–2004 (4.77 Mb)

The need for indigenous aggregates production in England (1.07 Mb)

Aggregate resource alternatives: Options for future aggregate minerals supply in England (2.73 Mb)

Aggregates supply in England : Issues for planning (5.96 Mb)

Managing aggregates supply in England : a review of the current system and future options (3.66 Mb)

Industrial minerals

The need for indigenous fluorspar production in England (600 kb)

Industrial minerals: issues for planning (Summary) (424 kb)

Industrial minerals: issues for planning (full report) (4.04 Mb)

Brick Clay: Issues for Planning. Executive Summary (2.64 Mb)

Brick Clay: Issues for Planning (2.17 Mb)

Fireclays in Ceramic Production (233 kb)

Sustainable development issues for mineral extraction in the Wareham Basin of East Dorset (2.12 Mb)

Non–aggregate minerals

Definition and characterisation of very fine-grained sedimentary rocks: clay, mudstone, shale and slate
(451.1 kb)

Guidance & legislation

Mineral Safeguarding in England

Guide to Mineral Safeguarding in England - Final Edition (2.14 Mb)

Mineral Safeguarding for Sustainable Communities presentations

Emma Bee, British Geological Survey: Case Study: Staffordshire (3.49 Mb)

Fiona McEvoy, British Geological Survey: Methodologies and data sources (1.93 Mb)

John Cowley, Mineral Resource Planning Associates Ltd: Perceived Issues (97.24 kb)

Ken Hobden, Quarry Products Association: Principles of Mineral Safeguarding (102.5 kb)

Quarry or not?

Quarry or Not 2009 event: East Midlands students decide whether to Quarry or Not (457.77 kb)

Quarry or Not 2008 event: Sixth form students involved in rocky decision (389.87 kb)

Minerals Resource Information for Sustainable Communities within Central Scotland

Minerals Resource Information for Sustainable Communities within Central Scotland presentations

Martin Smith, British Geological Survey: Introduction (785 kb)

Hugh Barron, British Geological Survey: ALSF project outline (476 kb)

Emma Bee, British Geological Survey: Agenda and goals (420 kb)

Andrew Bloodworth, British Geological Survey: Minerals planning information at BGS (1.85 Mb)

Minerals Resource Information for Sustainable Communities within Central Scotland consultation event feedback

Consultation event feedback (58 kb)

Statistics

Meeting the mineral commodity challenge

Andrew Bloodworth, Head of Science, Minerals, British Geological Survey: Introduction (440 kb)

Slavko Solar, Geological Survey of Slovenia and Patrice Christmann, Secretary General, EuroGeoSurveys, the Association of the European Geological Surveys: Emerging European initiatives in security of minerals supply (1.82 Mb)

Gus Gunn and Paul Lusty, British Geological Survey: Meeting future global demand for minerals (866 kb)

Teresa Brown, British Geological Survey: Mineral statistics in BGS – the example of China (252 kb)

Linda Hetherington, British Geological Survey: Mineral statistics information from the BGS - what we have and why it matters (951 kb)

Mineral Information and Statistics for the BRIC countries 1999-2008

Mineral Information and Statistics for the BRIC countries 1999-2008 (11.41 Mb)

Regional

African Mineral Production 2001-2005 (1.20 Mb)

China and South East Asia Mineral Production 2001-2005 (430 kb)

European Mineral Statistics 2004-2008 (4.56 Mb)

South American Mineral Production 1997-2006 (1.56 Mb)

United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook

2009 (1.96 Mb)

2008 (600 kb)

2007 (424 kb)

2006 (4.04 Mb)

2005 (2.64 Mb)

2004 (2.17 Mb)

2003 (233 kb)

2002 (2.12 Mb)

Sustainability

The Aggregates Strategic Research Programme Report - An evaluation of decisions for aggregates working in designated areas since the introduction of MPS1 (3 Mb)

Explore quarry restoration (1.33 Mb)

Provision of geological information and updating of Mineral Consultation Areas for Leicestershire County Council (119 kb)

Minerals from Waste – recent BGS and Tarmac experience in finding uses for mine and quarry waste (42 kb)

Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA)

Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) and future aggregates extraction in the East Midlands Region: Full report (2.24 Mb)

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and future aggregates extraction in the East Midlands Region: Executive Summary (139 kb)

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and future aggregates extraction in the East Midlands Region: Environmental sensitivity information flyer (2.08 Mb)

Presentation by Ellie Steadman, BGS: Environmental information and tools (864 kb)

Presentation by Fiona McEvoy, BGS: Economic information for planning (640 kb)

Presentation by Emma Bee, BGS: Information and tools (2.24 Mb)

Presentation by Dr Paul Mitchell, Environmental Consultant: Review and critique (397 kb)

Presentation by John Cowley, Mineral & Resource Planning Associates Ltd: Review and critique (84 kb)

World Mineral Statistics

2000s

World Mineral Production 2003 to 2007			(2.42 Mb)
World Mineral Production 2002 to 2006			(751 kb)
World Mineral Production 2001 to 2005			(943 kb)
World Mineral Production 2000 to 2004			(495 kb)

1990s

World Mineral Production 1999 to 2003			(996 kb)
World Mineral Statistics 1998 to 2002			(1.16 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1997 to 2001			(4.75 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1996 to 2000			(3.78 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1995 to 1999			(3.90 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1994 to 1998			(4.11 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1993 to 1997			(27.5 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1992 to 1996			(8.12 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1991 to 1995			(35.2 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1990 to 1994			(8.62 Mb)

1980s

World Mineral Statistics 1988 to 1992			(22 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1987 to 1991 (Vol 1)			(21.1 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1987 to 1991 (Vol 2)			(11 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1986 to 1990 (Vol 1)			(14.8 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1986 to 1990 (Vol 2)			(12 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1985 to 1989			(16.7 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1984 to 1988			(22.2 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1983 to 1987			(22 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1982 to 1986			(19.5 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1981 to 1985			(15.3 Mb)

1970s

World Mineral Statistics 1979 to 1983			(37.3 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1978 to 1982			(12 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1977 to 1981			(12 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1976 to 1980			(11.5 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1975 to 1979			(12.4 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1974 to 1978			(11.1 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1972 to 1976			(13.3 Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1970 to 1974			(36.1 Mb)

1960s

World Mineral Statistics 1967 to 1971			(23.4Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1966 to 1970			(21.6Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1964 to 1969			(22.2Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1963 to 1968			(23.7Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1962 to 1967			(23.8Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1961 to 1966			(22Mb)
World Mineral Statistics 1960 to 1965			(22.4Mb)

1950s

Statistical Summary of the Minerals Industry 1959 to 1964			(24.4Mb)
Statistical Summary of the Minerals Industry 1957 to 1962			(21.7Mb)
Statistical Summary of the Minerals Industry 1955 to 1960			(20.9Mb)
Statistical Summary of the Minerals Industry 1953 to 1958			(20.3Mb)
Statistical Summary of the Minerals Industry 1951 to 1956			(19Mb)

1940s

Statistical Summary of the Minerals Industry 1949 to 1954			(18.2Mb)
Statistical Summary of the Minerals Industry 1946 to 1952			(18Mb)
Statistical Summary of the Minerals Industry 1944 to 1950			(17.6Mb)
Statistical Summary of the Minerals Industry 1942 to 1948			(17.1Mb)

Pre–1930s

Mineral Statistics of the British Empire and Foreign Countries 1927 to 1929

(16.7Mb)

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