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This page provides information and links to pages recently added to the ‘mineralsUK.com’ website.
European Mineral Statistics 2007-2011
This is the latest edition in the European Mineral Statistics series and provides essential information for the majority of economically important metals and minerals for 35 European Countries including European Union members, candidates and associates. It includes five-year tables of production, exports and imports statistics arranged in two sections: by individual country; and by commodity with bullet points on salient features and graphics. It provides the essential background intelligence for any European minerals-related activities.
Tungsten: Cutting edge and critical
BGS has produced a new video, ‘Tungsten: Cutting edge and critical’, which discusses some of the issues related to the security of supply of critical raw materials, focusing on the example of tungsten. Tungsten is an essential component of wide range of products, including hard metals, steel and other alloys, and chemicals. These are used for numerous purposes, from light bulbs and mobile phones to cutting tools and jet engines. However, more than 80 per cent of global production of tungsten originated in China in 2011 and some governments are concerned about the future availability of adequate tungsten supplies. This video highlights some of the actions required to ensure future security of supply of tungsten and other critical raw materials.
For further information please contact: Paul Lusty
World Mineral Statistics Data Download
The British Geological Survey (BGS) is pleased to announce an exciting new edition to the online World Mineral Statistics archive. Users are now able to freely download selected data in Microsoft Excel format, direct from the archive.
The BGS and its predecessor organisations have compiled production and trade statistics on a wide range of mineral commodities, by country, annually since 1913. In recent years extensive work has been carried out improve the accessibility of this valuable dataset. Previously, all of the legacy books have been scanned and made available to download as "pdf" files. In this latest development the BGS have developed an innovative and interactive tool which enables users to specify the commodity, years and countries for which they require data and generate a spreadsheet matching their requirements.
In this current release, data are available for the 20 years from 1992 to 2011; a longer time series than is available from most other organisations collating similar data on such an extensive scale. In future, the BGS intends to add further years from the historical dataset to this interactive tool.
These data provide essential mineral intelligence for analyses relating to security of supply concerns, economic or environmental research, sustainable development planning, regulation or policy issues and many other applications.
For further information please contact: Teresa Brown
World Mineral Production 2007-2011
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. The data for 2011 represents the 99th year of this dataset which includes this publication and its predecessors World Mineral Statistics and Statistical Summary of the Minerals Industry. All of these editions are available from our online archive.
To improve data coverage for some of the rarer metals, which are so important for the latest technologies, this volume also includes production data relating to indium and rhenium and some information relating to gallium.
Rock salt: an essential mineral keeps the country moving
Rock salt 'grit' is vital for keeping our road traffic moving in icy weather. What is it made of? Where does it come from? And, how much is there? All this and more is answered by the British Geological Survey (BGS).
Critical raw materials
The BGS is actively involved in research on the geology and supply of critical raw materials. Its experts provide advice and information to Governments, decision makers and industry across the world. The new Critical Raw Materials web page brings together the BGS's critical raw materials publications, advice and research collaborations.
For further information please contact: Paul Lusty
Aggregates Safeguarding Map for Wales
Following a commission from the Welsh Government administered Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund for Wales, the British Geological Survey has produced an Aggregates Safeguarding Map of Wales. The map has been compiled to assist Mineral Planning Authorities in the delineation of aggregates safeguarding areas in Local Development Plans.
Six digitally generated maps at a scale of 1:100 000 scale are now available:
- Aggregates Safeguarding map for south east Wales [pdf 115 Mb]
- Aggregates Safeguarding map for south west Wales [pdf 75 Mb]
- Aggregates Safeguarding map for north east Wales [pdf 84 Mb]
- Aggregates Safeguarding map for north west Wales [pdf 49 Mb]
- Aggregates Safeguarding map for mid Wales (south) [pdf 96 Mb]
- Aggregates Safeguarding map for mid Wales (north) [pdf 70 Mb]
Risk list 2012
Newly updated 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 2012 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, reserves, recycling rate and substitutability, and the political stability of the producing countries.
For further information please contact: Clive Mitchell
The future of the global minerals and metals sector | BRGM geosciences June 2012
For the foreseeable future, minerals and metals will continue to underpin the global economy. Transport, energy, manufacturing, health, agriculture and housing are likely to remain heavily dependent on raw materials derived from Earth resources – 'if you can't grow it, you have to mine it'. The article The future of the global minerals and metals sector (by BGS minerals geologists Andrew Bloodworth and Gus Gunn) considers the future of the global minerals and metals sector. It examines some of the key technical, environmental and socio-economic factors liable to impact on minerals and metals supply and demand over the next 40 years.
This article was published in the BRGM geosciences journal in June 2012. For further information contact: minerals@bgs.ac.uk
Extractive Industry Geology (EIG) conference | 5-8 September 2012 |
Edge Hill University, Ormskirk
The Extractive Industry Geology (EIG) Conference is a minerals industry event held every 2 years for geo-professionals, including those involved in geology, hydrogeology, geotechnical engineering, restoration and after-use, reserves and resources and quarry design and planning. The next conference is 5-8 September 2012 at Edge Hill University (Ormskirk, Lancashire) and includes 2–days of presentations plus pre- and post-conference field trips.
The following BGS geologists will give presentations:
- Andrew Bloodworth "A once and future extractive history of Britain"
- Tom Bide "A new sand and gravel map for the UK Continental Shelf to support sustainable planning"
- Jon Chambers "River terrace sand and gravel volume determinations using three-dimensional electrical resistivity tomography"
- Fiona McEvoy "Geology in high places: how do geologists and government interact"
- Stephen Grebby "EO-MINERS: monitoring the environmental and societal impact of the extractive industry using earth observation"
- Richard Shaw "Pulverised fly ash (PFA) – a potential source of critical metals?"
- Emily Tracey "The BGS 'Building Stone Data Capture' module: a planning tool for conserving our stone built environment"
For conference updates visit the EIG conference website: www.eigconferences.com or follow EIGConference on FaceBook and @EIGConference on Twitter.
For further information please contact the EIG conference secretary Clive Mitchell.
Free downloads | Mineral resource maps and reports for the UK
Mineral resource maps and reports are now freely available to download for most of the UK. The most recent additions are the maps and their accompanying reports for the 44 administrative areas that cover the whole of England and parts of South Wales. These cover the geological distribution of onshore mineral resources, the extent of planning permissions and the extent of selected landscape and nature-conservation designations. These new additions make the MineralsUK.com website the most comprehensive source of spatial geological information available in the UK.
All the maps and reports are available here: Mineral resource maps.
For further information please contact: minerals@bgs.ac.uk
Mineral Resource Maps for the UK Continental Shelf
The Crown Estate (TCE) has commissioned BGS to produce maps of sand and gravel, as well as other mineral resources, such as coal, metallic minerals and evaporites for the UK Continental Shelf. These maps are aimed at providing spatial minerals information for use in strategic planning for marine minerals in response to the new system for marine planning and licensing in the UK introduced by The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 and the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. The maps will provide both an accessible information base and assist protection of these non-renewable resources against sterilisation. The first map and accompanying report, for the East Coast (Dogger Bank to the Outer Thames Estuary) have been completed and are now available to download from the Crown Estate website.
Download the Marine Minerals Map and report for the East Coast
This is the first in a series of maps that will cover the UK Continental Shelf. The map displays information on sand and gravel resources at a 1:250 000 scale. Information on other mineral resources can be found in the accompanying report. The remaining maps are scheduled to be released in early 2013.
No medals for UK metals | Gold, silver and bronze: where do these metals come from?
The gold, silver and bronze used to produce the medals for the 2012 Olympics come from mines in Australia, Mongolia and the USA. The characteristics, world production, end markets and recycling of these metals is summarised with the use of World Mineral Production statistics from the BGS.
For further information see: Gold, silver and bronze: where do these metals come from? or contact minerals@bgs.ac.uk
Northern Ireland Mineral resource maps
Following a commission from the Department of the Environment, the British Geological Survey and its counterpart the Geological Survey of Northern Ireland have produced a Mineral Resources Map of Northern Ireland. The map is intended to assist strategic decision-making in respect of mineral extraction and the protection of important mineral resources against sterilisation.
Six digitally generated maps at a scale of 1:100 000 scale are now available:
- Mineral Resource map for County Antrim and Belfast [pdf 29.3 Mb]
- Mineral Resource map for County Armagh [pdf 10.2 Mb]
- Mineral Resource map for County Down and Belfast [pdf 58.6 Mb]
- Mineral Resource map for County Fermanagh [pdf 11.9 Mb]
- Mineral Resource map for County Londonderry [pdf 19.2 Mb]
- Mineral Resource map for County Tyrone [pdf 23.2 Mb]
United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2011
This annual publication by the British Geological Survey provides comprehensive statistical data on minerals production, consumption and trade to 2010 and estimates of production for major mineral commodities in 2011. 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 due to budgetary constraints. However, the majority of tables and data are unaffected.
