Alabama Minerals Industry

Minerals Industry Report for Alabama View/Print/Download the complete report in PDF format In 2007, Alabama’s nonfuel mineral production was valued at $1.35 billion, based upon annual U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data. This was a $20 million, or 1.5%, increase compared with that of 2006, following a $200 million, or about 17.7%, increase from 2005 to 2006. The State was 18th in rank (16th in 2006) among the 50 States in total nonfuel mineral production value and accounted for nearly 2% of the U.S. total.  The top four nonfuel mineral commodities produced in Alabama in 2007 continued to be, in descending order of value, cement (portland and masonry), crushed stone, lime, and construction sand and gravel. These four mineral commodities accounted for more than 94% of the State’s total nonfuel mineral production value; the combined value of cement and crushed stone represented nearly 70% of the total. Leading in the State’s rise in value were increases in the values of crushed stone, cement (portland and masonry), and lime, up by $15 million, nearly $11 million, and $10 million, respectively (table 1). Smaller increases took place in several other mineral commodities, the largest of which was in common clays, up by more than $4 million. The largest decreases took place in industrial sand and gravel, down by almost $9 million, and crude mica (data withheld—company proprietary data), which had no production reported for 2007. A smaller yet signifi cant decrease took place in the value of dimension stone.  In 2007, Alabama continued to be second in the quantities of lime produced as compared with those of other States, second of three iron-oxide-pigment-producing-States, fourth in masonry cement, sixth in gemstones (gemstones based upon value), seventh in portland cement, and eighth in salt. The State rose to fi rst from third in the production of common clays and to third from fourth in kaolin clay production, but decreased to fourth from third in the production of bentonite clay. Alabama continued to be the producer of substantial quantities of, in descending order of value, crushed stone, construction sand and gravel, and industrial sand and gravel. All metal production in the State, especially that of raw steel, was the result of the processing of materials acquired from other domestic and foreign sources. Production of a natural mixture of bauxite (no longer used to produce primary aluminum) and bauxitic clay with very low iron oxide content has been reported to the USGS since 1995 as kaolin; it is primarily used to make refractory products.