Mining Resources

TMRA is organized into three distinct divisions to better serve the diverse needs of its members - Lignite, Industrial Minerals and Uranium.

Texas contains an abundance of natural resources that are economically important to the state.

Everything begins with mining...

1. The brick, stone and mortar that provide us homes and buildings where we work;
2. The crushed stone, sands, gravels and cement for highways, bridges, and airports that provide our means of transportation;
3. The industrial projects that purify our water;
4. The coal and uranium that generates our electricity;
5. The metals used in virtually all parts of our computers and electronic devices; and
6. The products that we use everyday

...all come from mining

Among the resources mined in Texas by Texans are:

• clays
• crushed stone
• granite
• gypsum
• lignite/coal
• limestone
• marble
• sand and gravel
• Uranium

1. Texas is the 4th largest producer of clay and aggregates in the U.S.
2. Texas is the 5th largest producer of coal in the US.
3. Texas ranks 1st in the nation in coal consumption for electricity generation

What does it mean in terms of dollars?

1. The state of Texas ranked third nationally in combined direct and indirect economic impact of coal mining with more than $28 billion annually.
2. Estimates indicated that more than $50 billion was spent in Texas in 1999 on construction using more than $3 billion in value of raw materials that are mined in Texas.

What does it mean to Texas and Texans?

1. Texas is the largest generator of electricity in the nation and coal, as a fuel source, providing 37% of that generation (25% of that generation is from Texas lignite and the remainder from imported Powder River Basin subbituminous coal, mined in Wyoming).
2. The most economical power is commercially generated from coal and lignite as a fuel source, which equates to a lower cost, reliable supply of energy.
3. Texas has about 23 billion tons of lignite deposits, with about 10 billion tons economically recoverable in today's market. There is enough economically recoverable lignite remaining in Texas to sustain Texas' current consumption for the next 100 years.
4. Mining operations provide needed jobs and tax bases for schools, hospitals and other essential services for the communities located nearby.
5. Currently, recoverable lignite reserves far surpass oil and natural gas together in terms of in-state Btu equivalent energy reserves.

Facts and data from:

The Economic Impact of Coal Mining and Coal-Fired Electric Generation Activity on Texas and the East Texas Region
The Impact of the Aggregates and Concrete Industry on the Economy of Texas and Its Regions
The Perryman Group
510 N. Valley Mills Dr., Suite 300
Waco, TX 76710