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Exploration

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:

Baryte (published 1998)
Copper (published 1998)
Gemstones (published 1999)
Gold (published 1999)
Lead & Zinc (published 1998)
Nickel & Platinum (published 2000)


Industrial Mineral Assessment Unit (IMAU) reports and maps

Low–cost lime for small–scale farming

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.


Mine & quarry

Directory of Mines and Quarries 2020 [10.4 Mb]


Surface mined coal statistics

2013–2014 (146 kb)
2012–2013 (176 kb)
2011–2012 (136 kb)
2009–2010 (79 kb)
2008–2009 (60 kb)
2007–2008 (82.4 kb)
2006–2007 (290 kb)
2005–2006 (220 kb)
2004–2005 (233 kb)
2003–2004 (253 kb)


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.


Mineral Planning Factsheets
Alternative fossil fuels
Industrial dolomite
Ball clay
Industrial limestone
Barytes
Kaolin
Brick clay
Metals
Building and roofing stone
Miscellaneous
Calcite
Natural hydraulic limes
Cement raw materials
Onshore oil and gas
Coal
Potash
Construction aggregates
Salt
Fireclay
Silica sand
Fluorspar
Underground storage
Fuller's earth

Gypsum
Mineral Commodity Profiles and Commodity Reviews
Barytes (Sep 2005)
Nickel (Sep 2008)

Coal (Mar 2010) 
Rare Earth Elements (Nov 2011) 
Copper (Jun 2007)
Tungsten (Jan 2011)
Fluorspar (Feb, 2011)
Uranium (Mar 2010) 
Lithium (Jul 2016)
Zinc (Mar 2004)
Magnesium (Updated Mar 2004)

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)

Mineral Reconnaissance Programme (MRP) reports
Cornwall
MRP 1 The concealed granite roof in south–west Cornwall
MRP 2 Geochemical and geophysical investigations around Garras Mine near Truro, Cornwall
MRP 11 A study of the space form of the Cornubian granite batholith and its application to detailed gravity surveys in Cornwall
MRP 25 Mineral investigations near Bodmin, Cornwall. Part 1—Airborne and ground geophysical surveys
MRP 32 Investigations at Polyphant, near Launceston, Cornwall
MRP 45 Mineral investigations near Bodmin, Cornwall. Part 2—New uranium, tin and copper occurrences in the Tremayne area of St Columb Major
MRP 48 Mineral investigations near Bodmin, Cornwall. Part 3—The Mulberry and Wheal Prosper area
MRP 49 Seismic and gravity surveys over the concealed granite ridge at Bosworgy, Cornwall
MRP 81 Investigations for tin around Wheal Reeth, Godolphin, Cornwall
MRP 82 Mineral investigations near Bodmin, Cornwall. Part 4—Drilling at Royalton Farm
MRP 83 Mineral investigations near Bodmin, Cornwall. Part 5—The Castle–an–Dinas Wolfram Lode
MRP 95 Mineral reconnaissance at Menear, St Austell, Cornwall
MRP 103 Exploration for volcanogenic mineralisation in Devonian rocks north of Wadebridge, Cornwall
MRP 105 Investigations at Lambriggan Mine, near St Agnes, Cornwall
MRP 107 Mineral investigations near Bodmin, Cornwall. Part 6—The Belowda area
MRP 108 Geochemical investigations around Trewalder, near Camelford, Cornwall
MRP 110 Mineral investigations near Bodmin, Cornwall. Part 7—New uranium occurrences at Quoit and Higher Trenoweth
MRP 113 Mineral investigations at Tredaule, near Launceston, Cornwall
MRP 117 Exploration for vanadiferous magnetite and ilmenite in the Lizard complex, Cornwall
Devon & Somerset
MRP 12 Mineral investigations in the Teign Valley, Devon. Part 1—Barytes
MRP 34 Results of a gravity survey of the south-west margin of Dartmoor, Devon
MRP 41 Metalliferous mineralisation near Lutton, Ivybridge, Devon
MRP 44 Reconnaissance geochemical maps of parts of south Devon and Cornwall
MRP 79 Volcanogenic and exhalative mineralisation within Devonian rocks of the South Hams district of Devon
MRP 89 Geochemical and geophysical investigations of the Permian (Littleham Mudstone) sediments of part of Devon
MRP 90 Geochemical and geophysical investigations in Exmoor and the Brendon Hills
MRP 98 Exploration for gold between the lower valleys of the Erme and Avon in the South Hams district of Devon
MRP 101 Skarn-type copper mineralisation in the vicinity of Belstone Consols Mine, Okehampton, Devon
MRP 111 Gold and platinum group elements in drainage between the River Erme and Plymouth Sound, South Devon
MRP 121 Exploration for gold in the South Hams district of Devon
MRP 123 Mineral investigations in the Teign Valley, Devon. Part 2: base metals
MRP 129 Mineralisation in the Middle Devonian volcanic belt and associated rocks of South Devon
MRP 133 Exploration for gold in the Crediton Trough, Devon. Part 1 - regional surveys
MRP 134 Exploration for gold in the Crediton Trough, Devon. Part 2 - detailed surveys
MRP Data Release 15 An appraisal of the gold potential of mine dumps in the North Molton area, North Devon
MRP Data Release 16 Exploration for stratabound mineralisation around Chillaton, Devon
Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
MRP 10 Geophysical surveys around Talnotry mine, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland
MRP 17 Lead, zinc and copper mineralisation in basal Carboniferous rocks at Westwater, south Scotland
MRP 18 A mineral reconnaissance survey of the Doon–Glenkens area, south–west Scotland
MRP 19 A reconnaissance geochemical drainage survey of the Criffel–Dalbeattie granodiorite complex and its environs
MRP 21 A geochemical drainage survey of the Fleet granitic complex and its environs
MRP 28 A mineral reconnaissance survey of the Abington–Biggar–Moffat area, south–central Scotland
MRP 30 Porphyry style copper mineralisation at Black Stockarton Moor, south-west Scotland
MRP 37 Compilation of stratabound mineralisation in the Scottish Caledonides
MRP 38 Geophysical evidence for a concealed eastern extension of the Tanygrisiau microgranite and its possible relationship to mineralisation
MRP 39 Copper-bearing intrusive rocks at Cairngarroch Bay, south-west Scotland
MRP 42 Mineral exploration in the area around Culvennan Fell, Kirkcowan, south-western Scotland
MRP 46 Gold mineralisation at the southern margin of the Loch Doon granitoid complex, south-west Scotland
MRP 58 Investigations of small intrusions in southern Scotland
MRP 59 Stratabound arsenic and vein antimony mineralisation in Silurian greywackes at Glendinning, south Scotland
MRP 69 Base metal mineralisation associated with Ordovician shales in south-west Scotland
MRP 138 Gold exploration in the Duns area, Southern Uplands, Scotland
MRP 141 Assessment of the potential for gold mineralisation in the Southern Uplands of Scotland using multiple geological, geophysical and geochemical datasets
MRP Data Release 19 Exploration for gold in the Thornhill Basin, southern Scotland
MRP Data Release 21 Mineral investigations in the Northumberland Trough: Part 3, Ecclefechan-Waterbeck area
Highland, Scotland
MRP 3 Molybdenite mineralisation in Precambrian rocks, near Lairg, Scotland
MRP 43 Disseminated copper-molybdenum mineralisation near Ballachulish, Highland Region
MRP 61 Mineral reconnaissance at the Highland Boundary with special reference to the Loch Lomond and Aberfoyle areas
MRP 76 Disseminated molybdenum mineralisation in the Etive plutonic complex in the western Highlands of Scotland
MRP 80 Mineral investigations in the Ben Nevis and Ballachulish areas of the Scottish Highlands
MRP 85 Geophysical surveys near Strontian, Highland Region
MRP 94 Geochemistry of some heavy mineral concentrates from the island of Arran
MRP 106 Marine deposits of chromite and olivine, Inner Hebrides of Scotland
MRP 131 Platinum-group element mineralisation in the Loch Ailsh alkaline igneous complex, north-west Scotland
MRP 140 Mineral exploration for gold and base metals in the Lewisian and associated rocks of the Glenelg area, north-west Scotland
MRP 142 Industrial mineral potential of andalusite and garnet in the Scottish Highlands
MRP 143 Gold mineralisation in the Dalradian rocks of Knapdale-Kintyre, south-west Highlands, Scotland
MRP 146 Mineral exploration in Lewisian supracrustal and basic rocks of the Scottish Highlands and Islands
MRP Data Release 8 Data arising from drilling investigations in the Loch Borralan intrusion, Sutherland Vol 2
MRP Data Release 10 Data arising from investigations into the distribution of platinum group elements, South Harris, Isle of Lewis, Scotland
MRP Data Release 11 Rare-earth elements in alkaline intrusions, north-west Scotland
MRP Data Release 12 Mineral investigations in the Scardroy area, Highland Region, Scotland
North West England
Wales
MRP 5 Preliminary mineral reconnaissance of Central Wales
MRP 22 Geochemical and geophysical investigations north-west of Llanrwst, North Wales
MRP 29 Mineral exploration in the Harlech Dome, North Wales
MRP 63 Exploration for volcanogenic sulphide mineralisation at Benglog, North Wales
MRP 70 Regional geochemical and geophysical surveys in the Berwyn Dome and adjacent areas, North Wales
MRP 72 A geochemical drainage survey of the Preseli Hills, south-west Dyfed, Wales
MRP 74 A reconnaissance geochemical drainage survey of the Harlech Dome, North Wales
MRP 75 Geophysical surveys in part of the Halkyn-Minera mining district, north-east Wales
MRP 78 Exploration for porphyry-style copper mineralisation near Llandeloy, southwest Dyfed
MRP 84 An airborne geophysical survey of part of west Dyfed, South Wales, and some related ground surveys
MRP 86 Volcanogenic mineralisation in the Treffgarne area, south-west Dyfed, Wales
MRP 92 A mineral reconnaissance survey of the Llandrindod Wells/Builth Wells Ordovician inlier, Powys
MRP 102 Geophysical and geochemical investigations of the manganese deposits of Rhiw, western Llyn, North Wales
MRP 130 The occurrence and economic potential of nodular monazite in south-central Wales
MRP 132 Reconnaissance drainage survey for base metal mineralisation in the Lleyn Peninsula, North Wales
MRP 137 Exploration for volcanogenic mineralisation in south-west Wales
MRP Data Release 13 Exploration for gold in Central Wales
MRP Data Release 14 Geochemical surveys for gold in the Berwyn Hills

Mineral resource maps, England
Mineral Resource maps, East Midlands
Derbyshire Map Report
Leicestershire, City of Leicester and Rutland Map Report
Lincolnshire Two maps
North & South
Report
Northamptonshire Map Report
Nottinghamshire and City of Nottingham Map Report
Peak District National Park Map Report
Mineral Resource maps, East of England
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
Mineral Resource maps, London
London Boroughs
Map
Map only
Mineral Resource maps, North East
Durham and the Tees Valley Map Report
Northumberland and Tyne & Wear 2 maps:
North and south
Report
Mineral Resource maps, North West
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
Mineral Resource maps, South East
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
Mineral Resource maps, South West
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
Mineral Resource maps, West Midlands
Herefordshire & Worcestershire Map Report
Shropshire Map Report
Staffordshire Sand and gravel resources map
Mineral resources (other than sand and gravel) map
Report
Warwickshire Map Report
West Midlands Map Report
Mineral Resource maps, Yorkshire and Humber
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

Mineral resource maps, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
Mineral Resource maps, Northern Ireland
County Antrim and Belfast
County Armagh
County Down and Belfast
County Fermanagh
County Londonderry
County Tyrone

Planning
Guidance & legislation

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.

Volume 1: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/19853/1/CR10044NVol1.pdf

Volume 2: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/19853/2/CR10011NVol2.pdf


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

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

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)

Statistics
Risk list

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)

Minerals supply

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)

Mineral Information and Statistics for the BRIC countries 1999-2008
United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook

World Mineral Statistics

Please read the standard terms and conditions for the use of this dataset.

Mineral Statistics of the British Empire and Foreign Countries 1910s