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This factsheet provides an overview of ball clay supply in the UK. It forms part of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and is primarily intended to inform the land use planning process. It is not a statement of planning policy or guidance; nor does it imply Government approval of any existing or potential planning application in the UK administration.

This factsheet provides an overview of 'Alternative Fossil Fuels' (methane, from coal, shale gas and underground coal gasification) in the UK. It is one of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process.

This factsheet provides an overview of onshore oil and gas supply in the UK. It forms part of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and is primarily intended to inform the land use planning process. It is not a statement of planning policy or guidance; nor does it imply Government approval of any existing or potential planning application in the UK administration.

In relation to its size the United Kingdom (UK) is remarkably well-endowed with mineral resources as a result of its complex geological history. Their extraction and use have played an important role in the development of the UK economy over many years and minerals are currently worked at some 2100 mine and quarry sites. Production is now largely confined to construction minerals, primarily aggregates, energy minerals and industrial minerals including salt, potash, kaolin and fluorspar, although renewed interest in metals is an important development in recent years.

This factsheet provides an overview of fluorspar supply in the UK. It forms part of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process. It is not a statement of planning policy or guidance; nor does it imply Government approval of any existing or potential planning application in the UK administration.

The future demand for land for mining and quarrying will be affected by a large number of economic, technological, environmental and social issues within the UK. Global developments also have a role to play. Although mining and quarrying account for only 0.9 per cent of the land area of England, the impact of this activity is considerable. Minerals are essential to the economy, for energy, construction, infrastructure and manufacturing, while their extraction has effects on the environment and on public perception. This paper examines current scientific understanding of the context of mining and quarrying, with particular reference to its impact on land use, along with the spatial relationship between minerals – which can only be worked where they occur – and other forms of land use and designation in the ‘post-industrial’ landscape of Britain. Looking out to 2060 and beyond, developments which may influence demand for minerals include climate change mitigation and adaptation; energy, food and raw material security; and new construction, manufacturing, recycling and re-use technologies. Factors influencing the supply side include the structure and ownership of the mining and quarrying industry, new extraction, processing and environmental technologies, ecosystem service provision, societal attitudes and land access. Although prediction carries a high level of uncertainty, continuous development of the regulatory framework is, and will remain, a major and pervasive factor in the relationship between mining and quarrying and land use.

This factsheet provides an overview of kaolin supply in the UK. It forms part of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process.

2. Concerns about the security of Britain’s supplies of raw materials have a long history. They were heightened at times of world conflict and political instability, stimulating innovation and renewed interest in indigenous mineral resources, but were by no means confined to such periods. After the Cold War and a long period when it was generally assumed, through globalisation, that ‘the market would provide,’ security of supply is once more a real concern. This has been primarily stimulated by the UK’s declining oil and gas reserves and the country’s rapid transition from energy self sufficiency and surplus to a major importer of oil and gas (and coal). The global economy is also changing. Rapidly increasing demand and competition for resources, particularly from emerging economies such as China and India, is resulting in price increases for a wide range of commodities and food. With increasing world population and rising aspirations, competition for resources will intensify. Suddenly we feel more vulnerable. Indeed ‘security’ in its widest sense, together with climate change, are becoming the defining themes of the start of the 21st century.

This factsheet provides an overview of industrial limestone supply in the UK. It is one of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process.

This factsheet provides an overview of fuller's earth supply in the UK. It is one of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process.

This factsheet provides an overview of gypsum supply in the UK. It is one of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and it is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process.

This factsheet provides an overview of salt supply in the UK. It is one of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process.

This factsheet provides an overview of fireclay supply in the UK. It forms part of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process.

This factsheet provides an overview of industrial dolomite supply in the UK. It is one of a series on economically important minerals extracted in Britain and is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process.

The composition of mining waste varies according to the nature of the mining operation and many other factors, but where the same mineral is extracted from a similar style of metalliferous or industrial mineral deposit or coal, the waste usually has similar characteristics. There are many potential sources of industrial minerals from mining waste. Waste from one mine may be a byproduct or coproduct in a mining operation elsewhere. Much technical research work on mine waste utilization, for example studies on slate waste, has included a manufacturing process. The waste is invariably an inferior material compared with an industrial mineral from a primary resource for the manufacturing process. Successful markets have not been found. Four scenarios are proposed where an industrial mineral product made from mining waste may be marketed successfully. These are a bulk product for a local market made with minimal or no processing; a low unit value product and a cost-effective alternative source of a mineral for local industry; an industrial mineral commodity traded nationally or internationally; and extraction of a high unit value rare mineral. Making an industrial mineral product from mining waste and successfully marketing it should involve minimal processing of the waste consistent with the value of the mineral product.

This factsheet provides an overview of the raw materials used to manufacture Natural Hydraulic Lime in Britain. It is one of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and which are primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process. The factsheet differs from others in the series in that it covers, in necessary technical detail, a specialist product, which recently ceased being produced in Britain, as a result of the refusal of a planning application. There remains a small, but important market for Natural Hydraulic Lime, notably in the repair of historic buildings.

This purpose of this factsheet is to provide an overview of the mineral calcite. It forms part of a series on economically important minerals, excluding aggregates, that are extracted in England. It is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process.

This purpose of this factsheet is to provide an overview of selected miscellaneous minerals. It forms part of a series on economically important minerals, excluding aggregates, that are extracted in England. It is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process.