Industrial Minerals

Industrial minerals are non-metallic and non-fuel mineral resources. Some of Utah’s significant industrial mineral resources include construction aggregate (sand and gravel and crushed stone), potash, salt (sodium chloride), phosphate, high-calcium limestone, high-magnesium dolomite, uintaite (Gilsonite^®), bentonite, and gypsum. See Utah Mining 2019 for statistics on industrial minerals.

Utah’s Industrial Minerals

The information below includes brief descriptions of some of Utah’s industrial mineral resources and helpful references or articles about those resources. If you would like to speak to a geologist about Utah’s industrial minerals, please contact Andrew Rupke at andrewrupke@utah.gov or 801-537-3366. Use the arrows to scroll through Utah’s industrial minerals.

POTASH

Potash is a term for potassium compounds used primarily for fertilizer. Utah produces two types of potash — potassium chloride and potassium sulfate. Utah is one of only two potash-producing states, and the only domestic producer of potassium sulfate. Potash in Utah is produced from Great Salt Lake, the Bonneville Salt Flats, and the Paradox Basin.

PHOSPHATE

Phosphate rock is used primarily in the production of fertilizer. Utah is one of four phosphate-producing states in the U.S.

UINTAITE (GILSONITE^®)

Uintaite (commonly referred to as Gilsonite^®) is a rare, solid hydrocarbon used in diverse applications such as asphalt paving mixes, coatings, ink, paint, and as a drilling fluid additive. Utah is the only state that produces uintaite.

HIGH-CALCIUM LIMESTONE

High-calcium limestone is relatively pure limestone used for numerous applications including cement and lime production. Utah has extensive potential resources of high-calcium limestone.

HIGH-MAGNESIUM DOLOMITE

High-magnesium dolomite is a relatively pure dolomite used for a variety of applications including dolomitic lime and refractory production. Utah has extensive potential resources of high-magnesium dolomite.

BUILDING STONE

Building stone is rock that is used in the construction of buildings, retaining walls, bridges, and other structures. Building stone is often cut or split to size for particular applications. The most desirable building stones have a combination of strength, durability, beauty, and ease of quarrying, cutting, and carving.

SALT

The salt mined in Utah is used for a variety of purposes including table salt, road de-icer, and industrial use. Utah has extensive and diverse salt resources, but most of Utah’s produced salt is from Great Salt Lake.

SAND AND GRAVEL AND CRUSHED STONE

Sand and gravel and crushed stone are basic construction raw materials used for road base, asphalt, concrete, and other applications. Sand and gravel is sourced from relatively recent, unconsolidated deposits and crushed stone is sourced from bedrock deposits.

POTASH

Potash is a term for potassium compounds used primarily for fertilizer. Utah produces two types of potash — potassium chloride and potassium sulfate. Utah is one of only two potash-producing states, and the only domestic producer of potassium sulfate. Potash in Utah is produced from Great Salt Lake, the Bonneville Salt Flats, and the Paradox Basin.

PHOSPHATE

Phosphate rock is used primarily in the production of fertilizer. Utah is one of four phosphate-producing states in the U.S.

UINTAITE (GILSONITE^®)

Uintaite (commonly referred to as Gilsonite^®) is a rare, solid hydrocarbon used in diverse applications such as asphalt paving mixes, coatings, ink, paint, and as a drilling fluid additive. Utah is the only state that produces uintaite.

HIGH-CALCIUM LIMESTONE

High-calcium limestone is relatively pure limestone used for numerous applications including cement and lime production. Utah has extensive potential resources of high-calcium limestone.

HIGH-MAGNESIUM DOLOMITE

High-magnesium dolomite is a relatively pure dolomite used for a variety of applications including dolomitic lime and refractory production. Utah has extensive potential resources of high-magnesium dolomite.

BUILDING STONE

Building stone is rock that is used in the construction of buildings, retaining walls, bridges, and other structures. Building stone is often cut or split to size for particular applications. The most desirable building stones have a combination of strength, durability, beauty, and ease of quarrying, cutting, and carving.

SALT

The salt mined in Utah is used for a variety of purposes including table salt, road de-icer, and industrial use. Utah has extensive and diverse salt resources, but most of Utah’s produced salt is from Great Salt Lake.

SAND AND GRAVEL AND CRUSHED STONE

Sand and gravel and crushed stone are basic construction raw materials used for road base, asphalt, concrete, and other applications. Sand and gravel is sourced from relatively recent, unconsolidated deposits and crushed stone is sourced from bedrock deposits.

Industrial Mineral Resources

Utah Mineral Resources

Information on Utah's metallic and industrial mineral resources. Includes mining district information.

Geologic Map Portal

Navigate and download Utah geologic maps.

Click here to go to the "Critical Minerals of Utah" publication.

Public Interest Articles

Title	Topic	Year
Agate, chert, jasper, and petrified wood, Wayne County	Rocks and Minerals	1997
Smokey Quartz and Feldspar Crystals at Rock Corral Canyon in the Mineral Mountains, Beaver County	Rocks and Minerals	1997
Brine properties, mineral extraction industries, and salt load of Great Salt Lake, Utah (pdf)	Great Salt Lake	1997
New Utah Minerals: Frankhawthorneite, Jensenite, and Leisingite	Minerals	1997
Gypsum sand near Knolls, Tooele County	Rocks and Minerals	1996
Utah’s State Symbols	Rocks and Minerals	1995
Topaz and other minerals found at Topaz Mountain, Juab County	Rocks and Minerals	1995
New Utah Minerals: Mcalpineite	Minerals	1995
New Utah Minerals: Cannonite, Fangite, Gillulyite, and Tooeleite	Minerals	1994
Permitted Mine Locations and Mineral Processing Plants in Utah	Mining	1991
Geologic Resources of Summit County, Utah	Resources	1990
Geologic Resources of Salt Lake County, Utah	Resources	1990

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Industrial Mineral Articles: 62

ENERGY & MINERALS