The US Geological Survey (USGS) recently published its annual report of mining and quarrying trends in the US, Mining & Quarrying Trends, 2007 covers 58 non-fuel mineral commodities produced in the U.S., excluding coal, petroleum coke and related products. It found that total domestic mining and waste removal for non-fuel mineral materials production amounted to 5,351 Mt in 2007, an amount approximately equal to the figure for 2006. Of the non-fuel mineral materials mined, 58% were mined for the production of industrial minerals, with 42% mined for the production of metals.

Overall, the report found that 97% of non-fuel minerals were mined and quarried using surface methods, with 3% mined underground. Metal material handled totaled 2,268 Mt, industrial minerals 3,084 Mt with all commodities totaling 5,351 Mt.

The major states where mining for non-fuel minerals occurred, in order of total material handled, were: Nevada, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota, Utah, California Texas, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Georgia. According to USGS, these 10 States accounted for 63% of the tonnage removed in the production of non-fuel minerals mined in the US.

The report is available at: http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/m&q/myb1-2007-mquar.pdf