From the impressive sandstone buildings of historic Edinburgh and Glasgow to the granites used to construct Oban and Aberdeen, the built environment of modern Scotland and the infrastructure that supports it reflects the geology that has formed and shaped its diverse landscapes.
Mineral products underpin nearly every part of our lives; from homes, schools and hospitals to roads, railways and ports and even energy, water, steel, glass and agriculture.
To deliver the essential materials that underpin the national economy, we estimate that 4 billion tonnes of aggregate will be needed by 2035 across the UK.
The mineral products industry is an essential, indigenous, and major primary producer in its own right – but it is also locked into the DNA of a whole host of other important industries.
We are the largest supplier to the construction industry, and sectors such as housing and property along with transport, energy and water infrastructure all rely upon the supply of mineral products of one type or another.
Industrial minerals such as industrial sand, lime and clays are also critical for a wide range of uses such as the manufacture of glass, iron and steel, industrial emissions processing, ceramics, soil improvement and the manufacture of a range of pharmaceutical products.
In short, the mineral resources and products we provide are essential to the development and maintenance of UK infrastructure and for the improvement of people’s everyday lives.