Louisiana Minerals Industry

Minerals Industry Report for Louisiana View/Print/Download the complete report in PDF format In 2007, Louisiana’s nonfuel raw mineral production was valued at $567 million, based upon annual U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data. This was a $102 million, or 21.9%, increase from the State’s total nonfuel mineral value for 2006, which was up $67.6 million, or 17%, from that of 2005. Louisiana ranked 34th among the 50 States in total nonfuel mineral production value (up from 37th in 2006), and accounted for slightly less than 1% of the U.S. total.  For the second consecutive year, construction sand and gravel remained the leading nonfuel mineral commodity, accounting for more than 42% of the State’s total mineral value (up from 39% in 2006). Salt was the second leading mineral commodity, accounting for nearly 32% of the State’s total mineral value, which was followed by crushed stone2 (data withheld—company proprietary data). Louisiana was also a significant producer of industrial sand and gravel, common clay, and crude gypsum, listed in descending order of value (table 1). Raw steel was also produced in the State, however, from materials obtained from other domestic and foreign sources. In 2007, nearly all mineral commodities produced in Louisiana increased in value. The largest increase took place in construction sand and gravel, increasing by $55 million, or 29.3%, with a significant rise in production. Though Nation-wide the total value of construction sand and gravel decreased, the unit value of the mineral commodity increased by 13.3%. In addition to construction sand and gravel, the increase in Louisiana’s total nonfuel mineral production value was also led by rises in the value of salt and crushed stone. Salt increased by $37.2 million, or 26%, and crushed stone increased significantly as well (data withheld—company proprietary data). Salt production rose by 12.7%, or 1.6 million metric tons. A smaller, yet significant, increase also took place in the value of industrial sand and gravel, amounting to $5.08 million, whereas the production of the mineral commodity decreased. The unit value of industrial sand and gravel increased dramatically, up more than 37%, and was perhaps owing to an increased in domestic demand for uses in ceramics, chemicals, container, fi llers (ground and whole grain), filtration, flat and specialty glass, hydraulic fracturing, and recreational uses in 2007. The only mineral commodity produced in Louisiana to decline in value was common clay, decreasing by $9.81 million, or 41.5%. This was because of the dramatic drop in unit value of 40% as common clay usage decreased with the slowed U.S. economy and housing decline of 2007.  Louisiana continued to be the leading salt-producing State, accounting for 30.6% of the national total. The State ranked 15th out of 41 States in the production of common clay and 16th out of 50 in the production of construction sand and gravel. Louisiana also produced significant amounts of industrial sand and gravel and crude gypsum.