United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2005 British Geological Survey United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2005 Statistical data to 2004 By L E Taylor, T J Brown, P A J Lusty, K Hitchen, T B Colman and D E Highley Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey 2006 BRITISH GEOLOGICAL SURVEY © NERC 2006 All rights reserved The full range of Survey publications is available from the Copyright in materials derived from the British Geological BGS Sales Desk at Nottingham, Edinburgh and London; Survey’s work is owned by the Natural Environment see contact details below or shop online at Research Council (NERC) and/or the authority that www.geologyshop.com commissioned the work. You may not copy or adapt this publication without first obtaining permission. Contact the The London Information Office also maintains a reference BGS Intellectual Property Rights Section, British Geological collection of BGS publications including maps for consultation. Survey, Keyworth, e-mail [email protected]. The Survey publishes an annual catalogue of its maps and You may quote extracts of a reasonable length without other publications; this catalogue is available from any prior permission, provided a full acknowledgement is given of the BGS Sales Desks. of the source of the extract. The British Geological Survey carries out the geological survey of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the latter as All communications regarding the content of this an agency service for the government of Northern Ireland), publication should be addressed to the Programme and of the surrounding continental shelf, as well as its Manager, Economic Minerals, British Geological Survey, basic research projects. It also undertakes programmes of Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG British technical aid in geology in developing countries as ຜ 0115 936 3493 Fax 0115 936 3520 arranged by the Department for International Development e-mail: [email protected] and other agencies. The British Geological Survey is a component body of the Acknowledgements Natural Environment Research Council. The compilers are grateful for help from the Office for National Statistics, the Department of Trade and Industry, British Geological Survey offices: the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, the Crown Estate Commissioners, The Crown Mineral Agent, the Northern Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment, ຜ 0115 936 3100 Fax 0115 936 3200 the States of Guernsey Advisory and Finance Committee www.bgs.ac.uk and the Isle of Man Department of Trade and Industry. They Sales desk: ຜ 0115 936 3241 would also like to acknowledge the valuable assistance given Fax 0115 936 3488, e-mail: sales @bgs.ac.uk by the World Bureau of Metal Statistics, the UK Iron and Online shop: www.geologyshop.com Steel Statistics Bureau, the Quarry Products Association, the Kaolin and Ball Clay Association, the Valuation Office Murchison House, West Mains Road, Edinburgh Agency, The Coal Authority and the numerous companies EH9 3LA that have generously provided additional information. ຜ 0131 667 1000 Fax 0131 668 2683 e-mail: [email protected] The compilers would also like to thank their colleagues in the British Geological Survey, in particular A J Hill, London Information Office at the Natural History P Lappage, J P Stevenson and J I Rayner. Museum (Earth Galleries), Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2DE ຜ 020 7589 4090 Fax 020 7584 8270 Bibliographical reference ຜ 020 7942 5344/45 British Geological Survey. 2006. United Kingdom e-mail: [email protected] Minerals Yearbook 2005. (Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey.) Forde House, Park Five Business Centre, Harrier Way, Sowton, Exeter EX2 7HU ຜ 01392 445271 Fax 01392 445371 Cover photograph Geological Survey of Northern Ireland, Colby House, Gas storage tank. © Corbis. Stranmillis Court, Belfast BT9 5BF The UK became a net importer of gas in December 2004 ຜ 028 9038 8462 Fax 028 9038 8461 and is becoming increasingly reliant on imports. In late 2005, UK wholesale gas prices increased considerably, Maclean Building, Crowmarsh Gifford, Wallingford reaching over 140 pence per therm and further increases in OX10 8BB early 2006 brought prices to over 200 pence per therm. The ຜ 01491 838800 Fax 01491 692345 country’s main storage facility in the Rough Field in the North Sea was closed due to fi re in February 2006 and, combined Columbus House, Greenmeadow Springs, Tongwynlais, with increased domestic demand during cold winter weather, Cardiff, CF15 7NE there were serious concerns regarding supply. ຜ 029 2052 1962 Fax 029 2052 1963 Printed in the United Kingdom for the British Geological Parent Body Survey by Halstan & Co Ltd, Amersham, Buckinghamshire Natural Environment Research Council, Polaris House, North Star Avenue, Swindon, Wiltshire ISBN 0 85272 542 6 SN2 1EU ຜ 01793 411500 Fax 01793 411501 ii Preface In January 2006 the Department of Trade and Industry published an energy review consultation document, Our Energy Challenge, to seek views on the UK medium- and long-term energy pol- icy issues for consideration in the energy review. In the 2003 Energy White Paper it was stated that the policies would be reviewed and updated, if appropriate. Since then there has been more evidence of the adverse impact of climate change and fossil fuel prices have increased sharply. The UK is now a net importer of these fuels and there are concerns about the security of supply from major exporter countries. Progress has been made, but issues causing concern include projected CO2 emissions by 2020 that are only slightly lower than current levels and greater reli- ance on oil and gas is anticipated. Maintaining reliable electricity supplies will require substantial new investment, and macroeconomic risks are presented by higher global energy prices. The review aims to consider energy supply and demand, investigate existing and new carbon tech- nologies and the uptake of energy efficiency measures. Nuclear generation provides around 20 per cent of the UK’s electricity supply at present. The 2003 Energy White Paper concluded that replacement nuclear build was unattractive at that time but, with the recent increases in energy prices, this will be reconsidered in the review. The full report can be downloaded from the DTI website at www.dti.gov.uk/energy/review. During 2005, production of fuller’s earth in the UK ceased as remaining permitted reserves are currently uneconomic and development is not planned. On a more positive note, gold production in Northern Ireland has commenced and advanced exploration continued as part of an on-going feasilibility study. The first commercial exploration for nickel-copper in more than 30 years is tak- ing place in Aberdeenshire and exploration continues at the Parys Mountain base metal deposit in North Wales. In March 2006, a new five-year contract was signed between BGS and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) for a Joint Minerals Information Programme. This research project will undertake analysis in order to provide information and advice on minerals and selected broader geological issues to meet the requirements of DCLG and as a basis for monitoring and developing land-use policy and responding to national and European policy issues. The United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook is maintained under this programme and we are grateful to DCLG for their continuing support. Brian Marker, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (now DCLG), and David Highley, BGS, retired in 2006. Both made important contributions to the UK minerals industry over more than thirty years. They were strong supporters of this publication and David made substantial contributions both as an author and manager. I wish to thank them both for their dedication and support. I also would like to thank colleagues in the Government statistical service who have collaborated so readily in providing the basic data included in this volume. In addition I would like to thank the many organisations, trade associations, companies and individuals who have generously supplied additional information. David A Falvey, PhD Executive Director British Geological Survey Keyworth Nottingham June 2006 iii Contents Page Page General tables: 48 Fluorspar 49 Fuller’s earth 1 Minerals in the national economy (text) Gas, natural (see Petroleum) 2 British Geological Survey (text) 49 Germanium 3 Trade in minerals and mineral-based products 50 Gold compared with total trade 1998–2004 Granite (see Igneous rock) 5 Balance of trade in minerals and mineral-based 52 Graphite products 2000–2004 52 Gypsum 7 Approximate value of minerals produced in the UK 53 Hafnium 1997–2004 54 Igneous rock 8 UK mining and quarrying: gross value added 56 Insulating materials 1997–2004 56 Iodine 8 UK employment in the minerals industry 2004 56 Iron compounds and earth colours 9 UK production of minerals 1999–2005 57 Iron ore 10 England production of minerals 1998–2004 57 Iron and steel 11 Wales production of minerals 1998–2004 58 Lead 11 Scotland production of minerals 1998–2004 59 Limestone, dolomite and chalk 12 Northern Ireland mineral production by county 2004 68 Lithium 12 Minerals produced in Northern Ireland, the Isle of 69 Magnesia Man, Guernsey and Jersey 2000–2004 69 Magnesium 12 UK mineral production by underground mining 2003– 70 Manganese 2005 70 Marble 13 Area of land permitted for mineral working in England 70 Mercury in 1994 and 2000 71 Mica 13 Mineral bearing land royalty values 71 Molybdenum 14 Number of mineral workings in the UK by commodity 71 Nepheline-syenite 15