$377 million — Tile, veneer, headstones, monuments, ashlar, flagstone, and as kitchen countertops — a substitute for diamonds (see Aggregates Manager, April 2010).

$179 million — Cement additive, absorbent, filler, insulation, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, insecticides, and to filter beer and wine.

$79 million — Wallboard, plaster, cement, agriculture, and as a coagulant to make tofu from soybean milk. (Making is more fun than eating!)

$49 million — Wallboard joint compound, well drilling additive, paint, roofing, electrical insulators, cosmetics, and lamp shades (see Aggregates Manager, September 2010).

So what is your favorite use of non-metallic minerals?

Bill Langer is a geologist with the Mineral Resources Team of the U.S. Geological Survey and can be reached at 303-236-1249 or via e-mail at blanger@usgs.gov.