EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was originally published by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources.
COLUMBUS – A newly-released report from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) shows the state’s mineral resources produced $1.7 billion worth of geologic commodities, such as sand and gravel, in 2024.
For an 11th straight year, the total value of industrial minerals exceeded $1 billion.
The 2024 Report on Ohio Mineral Industries: An Annual Summary of the State’s Economic Geology, compiled by the ODNR Division of Geological Survey, provides information regarding the production, value, and employment totals of Ohio’s various mineral industries.
“While mineral production saw a modest decline in 2024, the increased output of shale, as well as sand and gravel, highlights the sector’s adaptability and importance to key infrastructure and construction markets,” said D. Mark Jones, Division Chief and State Geologist.
“More significantly, the value of these commodities continues to rise faster than their production, reflecting increased demand and positioning the industry for continued growth.”
Highlights
• Mineral industries sold resources worth approximately $150 per Ohioan.
• Production of shale increased by 28.5 percent. Approximately 118,659 more tons were produced in 2024 compared to 2023.
• Production decreased for clay, salt, coal, sandstone and conglomerate, limestone and dolomite, and peat.
• Sales values increased for limestone and dolomite, sand and gravel, and salt.
A dedicated group of inspectors, geologists, and support staff helps ODNR regulate the responsible extraction of Ohio’s natural resources, including coal and numerous industrial minerals. Part of ODNR’s regulatory responsibility is to catalog Ohio’s extractive activities.
Published annually, the Report on Ohio Mineral Industries offers basic information about individual mines and groups of mines, detailed geologic information about coal and industrial minerals, a map of permitted active industrial mineral and coal operations, and a list of important references.
The report is a useful tool for researching mineral extraction activities throughout the state.
Detailed commodity information for all mineral industries, including sales, production, value, and company information for each of the operators who reported activity in 2024 is available for free download, along with an electronic version of the report.