New York

Mining

The value of nonfuel mineral production in New York in 2001 was estimated to be $1.05 billion, an increase of 4% from that of 2000. In 2001, crushed stone was New York's leading nonfuel mineral, based on value. About 93% of the total value came from industrial minerals and mineral products, primarily crushed stone, salt, construction sand and gravel, portland cement, and wollastonite. According to preliminary figures, the value of crushed stone in 2001 was $322 million; salt, $224 million; construction sand and gravel, $162 million; and common clays, $7.8 million.

Other commodities produced included masonry cement, garnet, gypsum, peat, industrial sand, dimension stone, talc, and byproduct lead and silver. The combined value of cement, abrasive garnet, crude gypsum, lead, peat, industrial sand and gravel, silver, talc and pyrophyllite, wollastonite, and zinc in 2001 was $94.3 million.

Nationally, the state ranked 14th overall in the value of nonfuel minerals produced. New York was the only state in the nation that produced wollastonite and one of only two states where garnet was mined. Major uses of wollastonite (a type of calcium silicate) are as a filler in ceramic tile, marine wallboard, paint, plastics, and refractory liners in steel mills.