August 15, 1997

According to the summary, contributions from each of the major industry segments included $960 million from base metals, $500 million from coal, $433 million from industrial minerals, and $326 million from precious metals. Only base metals showed a decline for the year, off $238 million from 1995's nearly $1.2 billion. The value of coal production increased by $21 million, precious metals by $16 million, and industrial minerals by $4 million.

The report says the outlook for 1997 is good. "Utah has established record-level and near-record-level production and valuation in each industry segment for the past three years," the authors say. "Total mineral production will remain relatively high in 1997, but only coal is expected to set a new production record. The value of mineral production statewide has increased substantially over the past three years, due mostly to a rise in metal prices."

In its most recent rankings in 1995, the U.S. Bureau of Mines placed Utah fourth in the value of nonfuel minerals produced. Utah was first in beryllium and gilsonite; second in potash and copper; third in gold, magnesium, and molybdenum; fourth in phosphate rock and silver; and sixth in salt. It also ranked 14th in coal production.

The report was authored by geologists Roger Bon, Bob Gloyn, and Dave Tabet of the Economic Geology Program of the UGS. The publication is now available in the Natural Resources Map & Bookstore, 1594 West North Temple.