Downloads by category
Please note, the majority of our downloads are produced in Adobe version 9 or above and you may need to update your version to access these.
UK Exploration Guide (published 2000) (4.68 Mb)
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: Stream 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:
With notes on occurrences north and south of the Mendip Hills and in the Vale of Glamorgan
Low–cost lime for small–scale farming: FarmLime summary report (858 kb)
Low–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.
Directory of Mines and Quarries 2020 [10.4 Mb]
Surface mined coal statistics
Investigating the influence of settlement pattern and morphology on the sterilisation of shallow coal resources
Undertaken on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government (now Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government), this study assessed the impact on shallow coal resources of using separation zones around urban areas.
Main Report: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/2218999.pdf
Appendices 1-3: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/2219824.pdf
Appendices 4-6: http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/corporate/pdf/2219827.pdf
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.
Science Briefing Papers & Briefing Notes
The Metals and Decarbonisation Science Briefing Paper (1.25 MB) (Jul 2019)
Briefing Note- Battery raw materials (May 2018)
Commodity Reviews
BGS Commodity Review - Cobalt (Nov 2019)
Bedfordshire | Map | Report |
Cambridgeshire (comprising Cambridgeshire and the City of Peterborough) |
Map | Report |
Essex (comprising Essex, Southend-on-Sea, Thurrock, London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Redbridge and Waltham Forest) |
Map | Report |
Hertfordshire and Northwest London Boroughs | Map | Report |
Norfolk | Map | Report |
Suffolk | Map | Report |
London Boroughs |
Map Map only |
Durham and the Tees Valley | Map | Report |
Northumberland and Tyne & Wear | 2 maps: North and south |
Report |
Cheshire (comprising Cheshire, Boroughs of Halton and Warrington) |
Map | Report |
Cumbria and Lake District | 3 maps: Sand and gravel, North and south, Other resources |
Report |
Greater Manchester (comprising Cities of Manchester and Salford and Metropolitan Boroughs of Bolton, Bury, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford and Wigan) |
Map | Report |
Lancashire (comprising Lancashire and Boroughs of Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen) |
Map | Report |
Merseyside (comprising City of Liverpool and Boroughs of Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens and Wirral) |
Map | Report |
Berkshire (comprising West Berkshire, Reading, Wokingham, Windsor and Maidenhead, Bracknell Forest and Slough) |
Map | Report |
Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes | Map | Report |
East Sussex (comprising Brighton & Hove and East Sussex) |
Map | Report |
Hampshire (comprising Hampshire, City of Portsmouth and City of Southampton) |
Map | Report |
Isle of Wight | Map | Report |
Kent (comprising Kent, Medway and London Boroughs of Bexley and Bromley) |
Map | Report |
Oxfordshire | Map | Report |
Surrey (comprising Surrey and the London Boroughs of Croydon, Hounslow, Kingston upon Thames, Richmond upon Thames and Sutton) |
Map | Report |
West Sussex | Map | Report |
Cornwall | Map | Report |
Devon (comprising Devon, Plymouth, Torbay, Dartmoor National Park and part of Exmoor National Park) |
Map | Report |
Dorset, Bournemouth and Poole | Map | Report |
Gloucestershire (comprising Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire) |
Map | Report |
Somerset (comprising Somerset, North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, the City of Bristol, and part of Exmoor National Park) |
Map | Report |
Wiltshire (comprising Wiltshire and the Borough of Swindon) |
Map | Report |
Humberside (comprising East Riding of Yorkshire, North Lincolnshire, North East Lincolnshire and City of Kingston upon Hull) |
Map | Report |
North Yorkshire (comprising North Yorkshire, Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors National Parks and City of York) |
Maps | Report |
South Yorkshire (comprising Metropolitan Boroughs of Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham and City of Sheffield) |
Map | Report |
West Yorkshire (comprising Metropolitan Boroughs of Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield and City of Leeds) |
Map | Report |
Economic Importance of Minerals to the UK (2.65 Mb)
Role of imports to UK aggregates supply (201.15 kb)
An evaluation of decisions for aggregates working in designated areas since the introduction of MPS1 (3.3 Mb)
Predicting the future supply of aggregate resources in England (3.2 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)
Primary Aggregate Reserves in England 1990-2004
Primary Aggregate Reserves in England 1990–2004 (4.77 Mb)
Region | Reserves | Planning Permissions | Sales |
---|---|---|---|
North East |
Click here for table | Click here for table | Click here for table |
North West |
Click here for table | Click here for table | Click here for table |
Yorkshire & the Humber |
Click here for table | Click here for table | Click here for table |
East Midlands |
Click here for table | Click here for table | Click here for table |
West Midlands |
Click here for table | Click here for table | Click here for table |
East of England |
Click here for table | Click here for table | Click here for table |
South East |
Click here for table | Click here for table | Click here for table |
London |
Click here for table | Click here for table | Click here for table |
South West |
Click here for table | Click here for table | Click here for table |
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)
Evaluation of minerals policy statements (2 volumes)
Undertaken on behalf of the Department for Communities and Local Government, this study considered the implementation of a number of the Minerals Policy Statements and Minerals Policy Guidance notes, and evaluated the impacts of the policy's implementation.
Construction Raw Materials Policy and Supply Practices in Northwestern Europe (1.14 Mb)
Mineral Safeguarding in England
Mineral safeguarding in England: good practice advice (3.48 Mb)
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)
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)
Raw materials for decarbonisation profiles
The potential for cobalt in the UK (2.16 MB) (May 2020)
The potential for graphite in the UK (2.16 MB) (May 2020)
The potential for lithium in the UK (2.16 MB) (May 2020)
The potential for platinum-group metals and nickel in the UK (2.27 MB) (May 2020)
The potential for rare earth elements in the UK (2.17 MB) (May 2020)
Raw materials for decarbonisation FAQs
Cobalt FAQs (509 kb) (May 2020)
Graphite FAQs (463 KB) (May 2020)
Lithium FAQs (556 kb) (May 2020)
Platinum-group metals and nickel FAQs (702 kb) (May 2020)
Rare earth elements (REE) FAQs (509 kb) (May 2020)
A new supply risk index is available for 2015 for chemical elements or element groups which are of economic value.
The risk list gives a quick and simple indication of the relative risk to the supply of the chemical elements or element groups which we need to maintain our economy and lifestyle.
Risk list 2015 (909 kb)
Risk list 2012 (279 kb)
Risk list 2011 (232 kb)
The future of the global minerals and metals sector (3.72 Mb)
This article(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.
Paul Lusty, Economic Geologist, BGS: Critical metals and rare earth elements (1.73 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 2010 to 2014 (4.88 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 2009 to 2013 (2.78 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 2008 to 2012 (2.65 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 2007 to 2011 (2.34 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 2006 to 2010 (1.71 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 2005 to 2009 (1.89 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 2004 to 2008 (4.57 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 2003 to 2007 (2.56 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 2002 to 2006 (1.71 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 2001 to 2005 (1.34 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 2000 to 2004 (1.22 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 1999 to 2003 (1.17 Mb)
European Mineral Statistics 1998 to 2002 (33.7 kb)
European Mineral Statistics 1997 to 2001 (81.1 kb)
European Mineral Statistics 1996 to 2000 (59.0 kb)
European Mineral Statistics 1995 to 1999 (44.7 kb)
European Mineral Statistics 1994 to 1998 (79.2 kb)
Explore quarry restoration (1.33 Mb)
Minerals from Waste – recent BGS and Tarmac experience in finding uses for mine and quarry waste (42 kb)
Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA)
Presentation by Ellie Evans, 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)
Please read the standard terms and conditions for the use of this dataset.
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