The latest edition of this annual publication from the British Geological Survey (BGS). This volume contains mineral production statistics for the five year period from 2010 to 2014, for more than 70 mineral commodities, by country worldwide. It is the latest publication from the World Mineral Statistics dataset which began in 1913. The information contained in the dataset, and associated publications, is compiled from a wide range of sources: home and overseas government departments, national statistical offices, specialist commodity authorities, company reports, and a network of contacts throughout the world. The database compilers aim for integrity and accuracy in the data and, for quality control purposes, participate in international specialist groups, and maintain close links with other mineral statistics providers in Europe and North America.

This manuscript describes a new map displaying the mineral resources of Wales, produced by the British Geological Survey. This is the first time mineral resources have been displayed on a national extent using a consistent methodology for Wales. This work recognises that it is essential that minerals are used in the most efficient and sustainable manner so that they can continue to make a vital contribution to the economy of Wales. These maps will assist local authorities to deliver national planning policy by depicting the location and extent of mineral resources throughout Wales in a consistent fashion and facilitate the development of more effective and sustainable management strategies.

The latest edition of this annual publication from the British Geological Survey (BGS) is now available to download. This volume contains mineral production statistics for the five year period from 2009 to 2013, for more than 70 mineral commodities, by country worldwide. It is the latest publication from the World Mineral Statistics dataset which began in 1913. The information contained in the dataset, and associated publications, is compiled from a wide range of sources: home and overseas government departments, national statistical offices, specialist commodity authorities, company reports, and a network of contacts throughout the world. The database compilers aim for integrity and accuracy in the data and, for quality control purposes, participate in international specialist groups, and maintain close links with other mineral statistics providers in Europe and North America. The data provides essential mineral intelligence for: • security of supply issues • economic analyses • environmental issues • sustainable development planning • regulation and policy issues • commercial strategic planning The data are available in the following formats: • Annual publication of “World Mineral Production” and its predecessors, which can be downloaded in pdf from our World Archive • MS Excel for years from 1992 via our data download tool • The most recent editions are available to purchase in hard copy from the BGS online shop • One off reports such as those shown lower down this page, available for download in pdf

Mineral extraction makes an essential contribution to national development and prosperity. However, unlike many other land uses, the location of sites where mineral extraction can take place is limited. The underlying geology dictates where mineral resources occur and other factors, such as economics, environmental considerations, surface land use or technology can limit access. To ensure a continued, steady and adequate supply of the raw materials needed by society, it is important that mineral resources are not needlessly sterilised by new, non-mineral related, development. Although this principle has been part of the UK planning process since the Town and Country Planning Act was introduced in 1947, the mechanisms and policies in place to support it were, until recently, largely ineffective. A more robust mechanism was, therefore, required.In recent years, mineral policy has been revised by the UK government and a process known as 'mineral safeguarding' has been introduced and applied through the UK planning system within the devolved jurisdictions. Efforts undertaken so far focus on the safeguarding of onshore construction minerals, industrial minerals and coal largely because of the importance of their indigenous production. However, more recently the concept of mineral safeguarding is being applied to offshore aggregates. This paper describes how mineral safeguarding has been implemented in the UK. A number of case studies highlight different aspects of the mineral safeguarding process which, when applied and enforced, enables mineral resources to be appropriately considered within the land use planning process. (c) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

The Planning White Paper: Planning for a Sustainable Future published in 2007, set out proposals for streamlining planning policy. In this context research was commissioned by the Department for Communities and Local Government in January 2010, to undertake an evaluation of the implementation of mineral policy statements for England in order to inform any possible future review. The objectives were to: 1. Separate the ‘policy’ and ‘guidance’ components for specific Minerals Policy Statements (MPSs) / Minerals Planning Guidance Notes (MPGs) in order to assess the relative proportions of each. The documents assessed were MPS1, MPS2, MPG3, MPG5, MPG7, MPG10, MPG13 and MPG15. 2. Determine the uptake of national minerals policies in Regional Strategies (RSs) and local planning documents, and their application through development (management) control. 3. Identify any barriers to the effective implementation of national minerals policy. 4. Identify any policies which require review, clarification or amendment in the light of legislation, local practice or interpretation. 5. Identify partners’ preferred style and format for national minerals policy which will allow Government to most effectively deliver its objectives for minerals planning. 6. Undertake a strategic level review of legislation, policy and strategies that have been introduced since November 2006, when MPS1: Planning and Minerals was published, in order to identify those that may have an impact on existing minerals policy. The research was informed by extensive document analysis accompanied by two focus group workshops, a questionnaire and interviews.

Aggregate Minerals (AM) surveys, based at four-yearly intervals since 1973, provide an in-depth and up-to-date understanding of regional and national sales, inter-regional flows, transportation, consumption and permitted reserves of primary aggregates. More recently, complementary surveys have provided information on the arisings and use of alternatives to primary aggregates such as selected mineral wastes, construction, demolition and extraction wastes, and industrial by-products. All these surveys are used to inform Government on the production, movement and consumption of aggregates in order to monitor and revise, as necessary, the Aggregate Guidelines, which support Minerals Policy Statement 1: Planning and Minerals. The data are made publicly available. The report is the collation of the data for primary aggregates in England and Wales from the survey undertaken for 2009. The report also presents data on the movement and consumption of primary aggregates, by local planning authority.