Materials Review

The US Geological Society (USGS) reports the estimated value of all mineral materials processed in the United States during 2004 totalled $418BN, an increase of around 13%. The total value of US raw non fuel mineral mine production rose last year to $44BN - a 12% increase over 2003, and the largest year-to-year increase since 1988. The construction industry led the demand for mineral materials, and accounted for most of the consumption of clay, cement, glass, sand and gravel, crushed and dimension stone, and steel.