Industrial Minerals of Colorado (c737550f-0cb6-4bcd-81c3-f54c49b20c37)

Industrial minerals are becoming increasingly important in Colorado's mining industry, not only in production value but also in the variety available and in their potential development for both conventional and new uses. Fluorspar, building stone, fire clay, and pegmatite minerals have been historically important but are not now extensively mined. Aggregates (sand, gravel, and crushed stone), cement materials, metallurgical limestone, and common clays currently are the highest valued commodities. Those offering the greatest future potential include diamonds, nahcolite and dawsonite associated with oil shale, alunite, potash, zeolites, and rare earths.