On October 16, SME issued a new technical briefing paper highlighting the impacts of the U.S. industrial minerals industry on the U.S. economy. Key findings of this paper are that industrial minerals are responsible for $33.5 billion of the $232 billion value that mining adds to the U.S. economy on an annual basis. Further, this key mining sector directly employees 68,000 workers. American manufacturers are 100 percent dependent on imports for 19 key minerals and more than 50 percent import-dependent for an additional 24 mined materials – many of which are industrial minerals. As the U.S. economy continues to recover, manufacturing, construction and agriculture will drive demand for increased use of industrial minerals that will fuel the nation’s domestic engine of growth.
To view this briefing go to www.smenet.org/gpac and scroll to "advocacy." Here you will be able to download the eleven other fact-based, technical, nopartisan briefings that SME has issued on various mining and minerals related topics. SME uses these papers to educate elected officials, the media and the general public on mining issues.