The economic importance of minerals to the UK

A NEW report that outlines clearly and concisely the economic importance of minerals to UK society has been published by the British Geological Survey for the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister.

Launched at last month’s CBI ‘Living with Minerals’ conference, the 32-page A4 publication, entitled ‘The Economic Importance of Minerals to the UK’, is one of a number of reports, leaflets and mineral profiles prepared under the joint BGS-ODPM Minerals Programme, which, among other objectives, seeks to present factual information and authoritative data on the extent, availability, production, trade and use of minerals that are of economic importance to the UK.

The report has been written in such a way as to be suitable for a wide non-economist audience and avoids too much detail and economic theory. It is hoped that its production will contribute to a better understanding of the economic issues associated with the production and use of minerals and their contribution to sustainable economic development.