Key information on UK minerals

The geological history of Britain and its adjacent continental shelf has contributed greatly to our national wealth. Over many centuries indigenous mineral resources have provided valuable national assets that have helped to underpin the economic development of the country. The UK is an important producer of a range of minerals, from oil and gas, and coal to construction raw materials and a number of industrial minerals, such as kaolin and potash.

Comprehensive information on Britain’s mineral resources, their distribution, production, use and economic importance, together with analysis of the planning and environmental issues associated with their extraction can be found on www.mineralsUK.com, the British Geological Survey’s dedicated website for minerals information. In particular the series of Mineral Planning Factsheets listed below provide a good overview of the supply of specific minerals in the UK.

  1. UK Minerals Strategy (8.8 Mb) (July 2018)
  2. Profile of the Industry (10.7 Mb) (2018)
  3. The UK Mineral Extraction Industry (7.3 Mb) (Feb 2016)
  4. The Future of Our Minerals (1.5 Mb) (Nov 2014)

 

Bedfordshire Sand & Gravel (2005) (c) Cuesta Consulting Ltd
Mineral Planning Factsheets
Ffos-y-Fran opencast coal 2008 (c) Cuesta Consulting Ltd
China Clay Washing - detail, Wheal Martyn Pit, St. Austell (2004) (c) Cuesta Consulting Ltd
  1. Alternative fossil fuels (604 kb) (Oct 2011)
  2. Ball clay (1.4 Mb) (June 2011)
  3. Industrial dolomite (1 Mb) (Jan 2006)
  4. Barytes (992 kb) (Jan 2006)
  5. Industrial limestone (2.8 Mb) (Jan 2006)
  6. Brick clay (3.4 Mb) (Feb 2007)
  7. Kaolin (687 kb) (Sep 2009)
  8. Building and roofing stone (1.5 Mb) (Mar 2007)
  9. Metals (2.05 Mb) (Oct 2015)
  10. Calcite (730 kb) (Aug 2004)
  11. Miscellaneous (2.6 Mb) (2005)
  12. Cement raw materials (1.78 Mb) (May 2014)
  13. Natural hydraulic limes (508 kb) (Mar 2005)
  14. Coal (934.89 kb) (Aug 2010)
  15. Onshore oil and gas (1.7 Mb) (Apr 2011)
  16. Construction aggregates (6.43 Mb) (June 2013)
  17. Potash (561 kb) (April 2011)
  18. Fireclay (1.9 Mb) (Oct 2006)
  19. Salt (874 kb) (Jan 2006)
  20. Fluorspar (806 kb) (March 2010)
  21. Silica sand (2.4 Mb) (Sep 2009)
  22. Fuller's earth (604 kb) (Jan 2006)
  23. Underground storage (4.55 Mb) (Feb 2008)
  24. Gypsum (748 kb) (Jan 2006)

Further information on minerals issues in the UK can be found on the UK Minerals Forum website by accessing members’ websites under Members & Links and, in particular, the Mineral Products Association website: www.mineralproducts.org