Thinking big : defining resources for major coastal defence projects

The UK’s coastline holds a special place in the nations psyche, but in many places requires significant and ongoing engineering effort to maintain its integrity. A ‘soft’ coastline and strong hydrodynamic regime around the UK, combined with the effects of climate change, contributes to high levels of erosion and sediment transport. Accordingly high volumes of sand and gravel are required for coastal defences, beach recharge and land reclamation every year. The British Geological Survey (BGS), in a project commissioned by The Crown Estate, has been identifying offshore resources which can be used for these applications with the aim of understanding the UK’s capacity for supplying major coastal defence projects. Research has been undertaken using industry and legacy sample data in association with modern high resolution bathymetry. This has allowed the volume of material in significant seabed features, such as sandbanks, to quickly be calculated and their properties defined. Results from this research will help to ensure that materials are sourced from the most cost-effective areas and that supply is not restricted. Understanding the volumes and properties of offshore sea bed features opens up the possibility of new types of coastal management, linking defence with amenity. Large scale coastal engineering schemes, such as the ‘Sand Engine’ on the Dutch coast, shows how these types of projects can both protect the coastline and promote public amenity if the large volumes of suitable material required can be economically and environmentally sourced

United Kingdom minerals yearbook 2014 : statistical data to 2013

The United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook is an annual publication providing comprehensive statistical data on minerals production, consumption and trade, and includes commentary on the UK's minerals industry. It contains: • essential guidance for decision makers • reliable and up–to–date information • authoritative commentary on current developments It is of value to all those interested in the many facets of Britain's minerals industry and its contribution to the national economy. This publication forms part of Britain's continuous mining and quarrying record

Artisanal & small-scale gold mining research field work, Migori County, Kenya

Artisanal & Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) is a subsistence level livelihood for many rural communities across the world. In Kenya it provides work for an estimated 40,000 people and produces 5 tonnes of gold per year. The impact of ASGM is double-edged with the economic benefits offset by damage to the environment and the health of the mining communities, particularly due to the widespread use of mercury to recover gold. As a signatory to the Minamata Convention on Mercury, Kenya has agreed to eliminate the use of mercury, formalise the ASGM sector, introduce good practice and protect the health of mining communities. Migori County is a major ASGM centre in southwest Kenya where gold is produced from the quartz–carbonate reefs in the Migori greenstone belt. Recovery of gold involves extraction of the ore by mining. The deep mine shafts are unstable and dangerous places to work. There are regular reports of fatalities due to mine collapse. The gold is recovered by manual crushing, ball milling, sluice box concentration and mercury amalgamation. Residual gold in the tailings is recovered by cyanidation. The local ASGM communities are primarily concerned about the safety of the mining, the environmental impact of mercury and poor gold recovery. The extent to which pollution from the mining activities leaches into groundwater and impacts water resources is also unknown. The British Geological Survey (BGS) is working with the University of Nairobi and the Migori County Artisanal Miners Co-operative (MICA) to promote good ASGM practice, reduce mercury use and improve gold recovery using appropriate technology, alongside assessing the potential pressures ASGM poses on water resources. Samples of gold ore, crushed and milled ore, concentrates and tailings were collected from ASGM operations. On average hard rock gold is finer than 100 microns. This makes the use of a sluice box a very inefficient recovery method with expected recoveries as low as 20% for gold of 100 microns or finer. Characterisation of the ore will provide the particle-size distribution of the gold and enable the liberation size to be determined. Size analysis of the milled material is expected to show that the ore has been ‘over-milled’ with a large proportion finer than 50 microns. It is likely that some of the gold has been reduced in size to the point where simple gravity processing methods such as sluice boxes will not work. A total of 30 waters were sampled from shallow wells, boreholes, springs and mine shafts, to represent the different sources from which water is obtained by the public, during the period from the 15th to 20th November 2019, while assessment of surface water quality was carried out in a previous survey in January 2019. Mine processing waters and spoil runoff were also sampled. This work will develop good practice guidance for ASGM. It will include advice from a mining engineer to improve mine safety; the use of retorts to reduce mercury consumption; and the use of longer sluice channels (at least 3 metres), appropriate sluice box gradients, consistent sluice box feed supply, alternatives to manual crushing, modification to the milling and alternative processing methods to improve gold recovery. The analysis of the inorganic chemical status of groundwater in the ASGM areas around Migori will assess the potential pressures posed by ASGM on water resources. This BGS research project is part of the BGS Official Development Assistance (ODA) research project “From source to sink: Quantifying the local and downstream environmental impacts of ASGM”

United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2015: statistical data to 2014

The United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook is an annual publication providing comprehensive statistical data on minerals production, consumption and trade, and includes commentary on the UK's minerals industry. It contains: • essential guidance for decision makers • reliable and up–to–date information • authoritative commentary on current developments It is of value to all those interested in the many facets of Britain's minerals industry and its contribution to the national economy. This publication forms part of Britain's continuous mining and quarrying record

United Kingdom Minerals Yearbook 2013 : statistical data to 2012

The compilers of this volume are grateful for the help received from the Office for National Statistics, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, the Department for Communities and Local Government, the Department of Energy and Climate Change, the Crown Estate Commissioners, The Crown Mineral Agent, the Northern Ireland Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment and the Isle of Man Department of Trade and Industry. They would also like to acknowledge the valuable assistance given by the World Bureau of Metal Statistics, the UK Iron and Steel Statistics Bureau, the Mineral Products Association, The Coal Authority and the numerous companies that have generously provided additional information

Silica sand

This factsheet provides an overview of silica sand supply in the UK. It is one of a series on economically important minerals that are extracted in Britain and is primarily intended to inform the land-use planning process. It is not a statement of planning policy or guidance; nor does it imply Government approval of any existing or potential planning application in the UK administration

A spatial analysis of lime resources and their potential for improving soil magnesium concentrations and pH in grassland areas of England and Wales

Magnesium (Mg) is essential for animal health. Low Mg status (hypomagnesaemia) can be potentially fatal in ruminants, like cattle and sheep, and is widespread in Europe with economic impacts on farming. The application of Mg-rich agricultural lime products can help to ensure pasture forage consumed by animals contains sufficient Mg and, in areas of low pH, has the dual benefit of reducing soil acidity to levels best suited for grass production. This aim of this study was to determine if Mg-rich lime products could be used in a more effective manner in agricultural production systems. Potential resources of carbonate rocks (limestone, dolostone and chalk) in the UK, and their Mg:Ca status were identified, using datasets from the British Geological Survey (BGS). These data were combined with the locations of agricultural lime quarries, and areas where soils are likely to be deficient in Mg and/or require liming. Areas of potential demand for Mg-rich agricultural lime include areas in south east Wales, the Midlands and North East England. Although, areas where this may be an effective solution to low soil Mg values are restricted by the availability of suitable products. Conversely, areas of low soil pH in England and Wales are often found close to quarries with the ability to supply high Ca limes, suggesting that the low rates of lime use and liming is not due to supply factors. This study provides information that can help to guide on-farm decision making for use of Mg-rich and other lime resources. This could be used in conjunction with other options to reduce risks of Mg deficiency in livestock, and improve soil pH

World Mineral Production 2011-15

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 2011 to 2015, 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

World Mineral Production 2009-13

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 pd