Mineral Resources

The Mineral and Fuel Industry of Indiana

by Kathryn R. Shaffer

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Mineral and fuel commodities mined in Indiana include ball clay, common clay and shale, limestone and dolomite, construction sand and gravel, industrial sand, sandstone, gypsum, peat, and coal. Depending on the quality and type of limestone, it may be sold as dimension stone for construction of buildings, crushed for use as aggregate, or used in the production of concrete or cement. Crushed stone is also processed into agricultural lime or used for sulfur dioxide removal in coal-fired electric power plants with limestone scrubbing systems or may be finely ground for use as fillers in various products.

In addition to agricultural lime, some stone is imported from Michigan and processed by two northern Indiana companies into lime used mostly by the steel industry on Lake Michigan. Dolomite is sold as crushed stone. Some has been sold as decorative dimensional stone. Sandstone is produced for architectural uses as well as for landscaping projects.

The clay and shale produced in Indiana is primarily used for cement, brick, concrete blocks, tiles, animal feed, absorbents, plastics, adhesives, or paint. Gypsum is primarily used in production of wallboard and plaster. Peat is used for soil improvement, potting soils, on golf courses, by nurseries and for earthworm culture. Construction sand and gravel is used mostly for concrete aggregate, fill, asphaltic concrete, filtration, roadbase and road stabilization, and for snow and ice control. Industrial sand is used for refractory purposes, by foundries for molding, in glass manufacture, for golf courses, and for sandblasting. A small quantity of freshwater pearls are also harvested in Indiana. Indiana is a major consumer of coal, in 2004 ranking second nationally behind Texas. In 2004, 81 percent of all coal consumed in Indiana was burned in coal-fired electric power plants, 8 percent powered industrial plants, 11 percent was used for coke manufacture for the steel industry, and less than 1 percent was used for residential heating. Oil and natural gas are also extracted from many wells in Indiana.

In addition, many other mineral-related commodities are processed in Indiana. Indiana is frequently the top steel-producing state in the nation. Steel is produced at integrated mills using iron imported from other states. Steel minimills process recycled steel into new products. Several plants in Indiana further process steel into products such as automobile parts. Slag for road use is produced from steel production byproducts. Aluminum is produced at one plant in southern Indiana. Perlite is expanded at four plants in Indiana for filter aids, fillers, horticultural use, plaster aggregate, paint extender, cavity fill, low-temperature insulation, and concrete aggregate. Natural graphite is processed at six plants for such purposes as refractories, brake linings, lubricants, rubber, and powdered metals.

Indiana Mineral Industry News

2007-1st Quarter 2006 2005 2004 2003

2002 2001 2000 1999

 

Indiana Mineral Statistics

• The PDF files below include the following tables:
  • Number of Indiana Industrial Mineral Operations and Companies and National Production Rank
  • Number of Surface and Underground Industrial Mineral Operations in Indiana
  • Industrial Minerals, Coal, and Oil and Natural Gas Extraction Employment Statistics
  • Number of Indiana Coal Companies, Surface Mines, and Underground Mines, and National Production Rank
  • Coal Resources of Indiana by County
    • 2003
    • 2005
      
      
• Pie Charts and tables comparing value of Indiana mineral and fuel production for consecutive years:
• 2004 and 2005
• 2003 and 2004
• 2002 and 2003
• 2001 and 2002
• 2000 and 2001
• 1999 and 2000
• 1998 and 1999
• 1997 and 1998
• 1996 and 1997
• 1995 and 1996
• 1994 and 1995
• 1993 and 1994
• 1992 and 1993

Reports from the Indiana Geological Survey

• 2007 Indiana Energy Report
• 2006 Coal and Industrial Minerals Update - by Kathryn Shaffer for the journal Mining Engineering

Information from the U.S. Geological Survey

• Indiana State Minerals Information - by Arnold Tanner (USGS) and Kathryn R. Shaffer (IGS)

Information from the U.S. Department of Energy

• Energy Information Administration - Indiana Data
• Energy Information Administration Web Site
• Energy Information Administration - Data by State

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