North Carolina Minerals Industry
In 2007, North Carolina’s nonfuel raw mineral production was valued at $1.2 billion, based upon annual U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data. This was a $160 million, or more than 15%, increase from the State’s total nonfuel mineral value of $1.04 billion in 2006, which was up $178 million, or nearly 21%, from that of 2005. North Carolina rose to 21st from 22d in rank among the 50 States in total nonfuel mineral production value and accounted for more than 1.7% of the U.S. total. (The State’s actual total nonfuel mineral values for 2005–06 were substantially higher than those reported in table 1, from which specific production values for phosphate rock, pyrophyllite (crude), and stone [crushed quartzite (2005)] were withheld to conceal company proprietary data.)
Crushed stone remained North Carolina’s leading nonfuel raw mineral in 2007, accounting for nearly 75% of the State’s total value of nonfuel mineral production. It was followed (in descending order of value) by phosphate rock, construction sand and gravel, industrial sand and gravel, common clays, dimension stone, feldspar, and mica (crude). The largest increases in value for the year took place in industrial sand and gravel and crushed stone, up nearly $37 million and $30 million, respectively (table 1). While most of the State’s other mineral commodities showed small decreases in production value, the largest decrease was that of phosphate rock, which was withheld—company proprietary data.
In 2007, North Carolina continued to be the only State that produced pyrophyllite; to lead the Nation in the quantities of feldspar and crude mica produced; and to be 2d of four phosphate rock-producing States. With the resumption of olivine production, the State was 2d of two States in the production of that mineral commodity and it rose to 6th from 10th in industrial sand and gravel production and to 8th from 10th in gemstones production (gemstones based upon value). Decreasing in rank were the State’s mineral commodities of common clays to third from second, crushed stone to seventh from sixth, and dimension stone to ninth from seventh. Additionally, significant quantities of construction sand and gravel were produced in North Carolina. Metal production in the State, especially that of raw steel, resulted from the processing of recycled materials or raw materials received from other domestic and foreign sources.
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