Industrial minerals are usually defined as “any rock, mineral or other naturally occurring substance of economic value exclusive of metallic ores and mineral fuels”. They include such well known materials as granite and marble used as dimension and ornamental stone, limestone, slate, silica, asbestos, fluorite, rare-earth-elements and a host of other non-metallic minerals that are used principally for industrial purposes.

Industrial Minerals Programs are delivered by the section’s Industrial Mineral geologist. These programs have a two-fold thrust:

1. Resource identification and evaluation:
Project geologists look for potential industrial mineral resources through literature research and field examinations. This search may be sparked by an approach from a potential investor looking for a specific commodity, or through recognition on the part of the geologist of a potential resource that needs to be evaluated. These programs include evaluation of the size and characteristics of the deposit, initiating and supervising such physical and chemical tests of the material as may be necessary to determine its marketability, and attempting to promote this resource as an investment opportunity to the private sector.

2. Provision of expertise to existing operators:
The section’s geologists are available to existing industrial minerals producers, many of whom do not have substantial geological expertise, to help with problems related to the geological characteristics of their deposit.