This volume is the nineteenth in the World Mineral Statistics series. The statistics in this volume are stated to cover the majority of economically important, and internationally traded, mineral commodities, and to report on as many producing and trading countries as possible. A great deal of information has been brought together in the statistical tables. This compilation is only possible by obtaining information from a very large number of organizations throughout the world. These are mainly government departments and specialist national and international authorities concerned with the minerals or metals industries. It is stated that the objective of the series remains to present the latest complete information from primary sources, namely individual producing and trading countries, rather than reproducing data from compilations made by other organizations; however, such secondary sources are said to have been fully consulted. The volume is in fact compiled from more extensive data kept by the British Geological Survey, and this can be supplied on request. A dial‐up online subscription service is available and data will shortly be offered on disc. The reintroduction of a microfiche service for production data will also be considered if it appears that a demand exists.
Tables for the minerals are given in alphabetical order, each following the production, exports, imports sequence. The explanatory notes helpfully tell the user that in each table, figures for the UK are given first, followed by other countries ordered alphabetically in geographical groupings, starting with the European Union. This consistency makes for easy and quick use of the tables. As well as some general notes in the explanatory section, each table has appropriate footnotes relating to specific statistics. For the first time in this series, a selection of world maps is included to illustrate the geographic distribution of production by showing producer countries arranged by size category. The maps cover some of the minerals, again in alphabetical order, and are followed by bar charts showing world production for certain minerals for 1981‐95.
The preface gives a useful overview and introduction to the volume and the important trends in the world statistics. It points out that although data on consumption are not included, it is possible to calculate apparent consumption of many commodities from the production and trade data. It also mentions concerns about the shortcomings of economic statistics worldwide and states that the British Geological Survey hopes to continue its statistical service at its present high standard with the continued support of the Departrnent of Trade and Industry which helps to fund the World Mineral Statistics database.
This volume gives an impression of a thorough and competent presentation of statistics in this important area of international production and trade, and contains accessible information for both the user who is only interested in a specific mineral and for the person who is looking for comprehensive statistics on a wider basis.
