U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Geological Survey
News Release
January 23, 2006 Lucy McCartan 703-648-6905 lmccarta@xxxxxxxx
Value of Nation’s Mineral Production
Still on the Rise in 2005
Editors: "Mineral
Commodity Summaries 2006" is available on the USGS Web site at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/.
Hardcopy will be available in March.
The value of U.S. non-fuel mine
production rose last year to $51.6 billion – a 13 percent increase from
2004, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) announced today. Strong demand
from China continued to drive up prices for metals and some industrial
minerals, and led to increased production of some commodities, according
to the annual USGS report “Mineral Commodity Summaries 2006,” which was
released on the Internet today.
"The demand for metals and
minerals from emerging industrial giants China and India continues to drive
the world economy," said USGS Acting Director Pat Leahy, whose agency
is the sole federal government provider of scientific information and objective
assessments on mineral resources, production, consumption, and environmental
effects.
The estimated value of domestically
processed non-fuel mineral materials totaled $478 billion in 2005. This
is an increase of about 8 percent from the previous year. Mining of copper,
iron ore, molybdenum, and aggregates (crushed stone and sand and gravel)
increased, according to the report. Cement, pig iron, and steel manufacturing
also increased. The 188% increase in the value of mined molybdenum significantly
raised the ranking of several mining states. China's increasing steel production
provided strong demand for molybdenum. High molybdenum prices have
encouraged higher output from molybdenum mines and the preferential mining
of copper ores containing byproduct molybdenum.
"The USGS evaluates these
materials because they are used to make all kinds of manufactured products
and, therefore are an important part of the economy and our national security,"
said Leahy. "Mining is the first step in building or manufacturing
nearly everything, so these statistics are also an indicator of how the
global minerals economy will affect our nation's economic future."
The report provides detailed information
about events, trends, and issues in the domestic and international minerals
industries during 2005. It summarizes minerals industry trends for individual
mineral commodities and provides an outlook for domestic mineral industries
in 2006. Separate chapters include production, trade, and resources statistics
for about 90 mineral commodities.
The USGS collects, analyzes, and
disseminates data on current production and consumption of about 100 mineral
commodities, for the U.S. and about 180 other countries.
"Mineral Commodity Summaries
2006" is available on the USGS Web site at http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mcs/.
Hardcopy will be available in March 2006 from the Government Printing Office,
Superintendent of Documents. Call 202-512-1800 (1-866-512-1800 toll free)
or visit its Web site at http://www.gpoaccess.gov/index.html
for ordering information.
The USGS serves the nation by providing
reliable scientific information to: describe and understand the Earth;
minimize loss of life and property from natural disasters; manage water,
biological, energy, and mineral resources; and enhance and protect our
quality of life.
*** USGS ***
Diane Noserale
Media Relations, Eastern Region
U.S. Geological Survey
150 National Center
Reston, VA 20192
phone: 703-648-4333
fax: 703-648-4588
