MINERAL AND OIL RESOURCES 



Dr. Andrew A. Dzurik 

 Associate Professor 

 Department of Urban and Regional Planning 

 University of Florida 

 Tallahassee, PL 32036 



INTRODUCTION 



Minerals produced in quantity in Florida are phosphate, petroleum lime- 

 stone, titanium, ziron, earth concentrates, and cement. The State is one of 

 the world's leading producers and exporters of phosphate. The major import is 

 refined petroleum products. The import and export of minerals contribute sub- 

 stantially to the economy of the State. 



This paper focuses on the mineral production in Bay, Escambia, Franklin, 

 Gulf, Okaloosa, Santa' Rosa, and Walton Counties of Northwest Florida. A his- 

 torical and geological perspective is provided together with current and 

 projected production of minerals. In addition to information on mineral pro- 

 duction, related issues are discussed such as employment, value of shipments, 

 and potential impacts of mineral production. This information should be use- 

 ful for environmental planning. Emphasis is placed on onshore facilities 

 potentially needed for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and gas production. 

 Although there have been no offshore discoveries, potential discoveries war- 

 rant the planning for possible onshore impacts. Therefore, much of this 

 chapter provides generic information on OCS oil and gas operations and their 

 potential impacts. 



Nonfuel mineral production in Florida contributes significantly to its 

 gross product and has increased sharply since 1940. The value of mineral pro- 

 duction increased from about $15 million in 1940 to about $109 million in 

 1955, an increase of 730%, and to about $1.6 billion in 1977, an increase of 

 1380% over 1955. By 1978, Florida was the sixth largest nonfuel mineral pro- 

 ducer in the United States, and it ranked ahead of the traditional mining 

 states of Arizona, Colorado, and Utah. In 1978, mineral production (excluding 

 fuels) was valued at over $1.0 billion. Phosphate rock was the leading min- 

 eral commodity followed by petroleum, cement, and stone (crushed limestone, 

 dolomite, and shell-rock). 



In 1978, Florida not only ranked first in the Nation in the production of 

 phosphate rock, it also ranked first in titanium concentrates and zircon, 

 second in fullers earth and rare-earth concentrates, and sixth in stone. 

 Phosphate rock contributed over half (over $600 million) of the State's total 



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