COLUMBUS — The Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Geological Survey has released the 2007 report on Ohio mineral industries.

The report reveals that Ohio’s mineral industries produced geologic commodities valued at more than $2.55 billion last year, which was down less than 2.3 percent from 2006. The industries listed in the report directly employed more than 10,000 people producing coal, oil and gas, salt, sand and gravel, limestone and dolomite, clay and shale, and sandstone and conglomerate.

Five counties, including Belmont, Monroe, Stark, Tuscarawas and Mahoning Counties, each produced more than $100 million of geologic resources in 2007, significantly contributing to each county’s annual economic output.

Economic benefit

The economic benefit was also magnified by the production of value-added products such as electric power generated by Ohio coal, refined petroleum, cement, building brick and stone, ceramics, lime, Portland-cement concrete, and asphalt, and by nearby industries that use and distribute the products such as the transportation, equipment manufacturing, construction, glass and steel industries.

The 2007 report and its updated digital map provide a method for quickly researching coal and industrial mineral activities in Ohio, as well as basic information about individual mines or groups of mines. Mining information available from the interactive map includes permit numbers, geologic commodities produced and tonnage produced or sold during the calendar year.

The map is an important part of the ODNR Division of Geological Survey’s integrated geographic information system, which includes maps and data sets that describe and locate areas of geologic interest to Ohioans, such as oil and natural-gas wells, earthquake epicenters, abandoned underground mines and karst areas. The mineral industries map and report are annually updated by the division.

Online

The electronic version of the 2007 report on Ohio mineral industries and its interactive map are available at the ODNR Division of Geological Survey Web site. Individual mine information is available by clicking on the Identify tool and then on a mine.

The report will also be available on a limited number of CDs for $10 plus sales tax and $2.50 for shipping. These can be ordered by calling 614-265-6576 or e-mailing geo.survey@dnr.state.oh.us.