Statistics released by the US Geological Survey indicated that the estimated value of nonfuel minerals produced in Georgia in 2001 was $1.61 billion, a marginal increase over the value in 2000. The state ranked seventh nationally in value of nonfuel mineral production.
According to preliminary figures, in 2001 Georgia produced about 24% of all clay output in the US. Kaolin clay was Georgia's foremost nonfuel mineral commodity, accounting for 54% of the total nonfuel mineral value in 2001, while crushed stone represented about 29%. Other minerals increasing in value included portland cement, fuller's earth, crushed stone, and industrial sand and gravel.
The state once again in 2001 was the national leader in the quantity of kaolin, fuller's earth, and iron oxide pigments. Georgia also ranked 2nd in barite (used by the chemical and the industrial filler and pigments industries), 4th in common clays and feldspar, 5th in dimension stone, and 9th in masonry cement. Blue-gray granite, known as "Elberton granite," is the mainstay of the industry—the granite is commonly used for road curbing in the northeastern US. Overall, the estimated quantity of dimension stone produced was 74 million metric tons valued at $11 million in 2001. Output of crushed stone, Georgia's 2nd-leading mineral commodity, was 76 million metric tons valued at $463 million.