Estonia - Mining

Oil shale was the primary mineral of importance. The country also produced cement, clays, nitrogen, peat, sand and gravel, and industrial silica sand. Production figures for 2000 were: clays for brick, 97.2 million cu m, up from 19.8 million cu m in 1996; clays for cement, 37.7 million cu m, up from 25.5 million cu m in 1997; and sand and gravel, 1.25 million cu m. Phosphate quarrying at the Maardu deposit ceased because of environmental concerns.