INTRODUCTION: Indiana produces a variety of fuel and nonfuel mineral commodities. The fuels coal, crude oil, and natural gas, are used in part to power other facets of the state's economy. Many of the nonfuel commodities produced are used in some aspect of the construction industry. Cement is used in mortar and concrete and for highways and buildings; common clay and shale primarily in the production of cement, brick, concrete blocks, and tiles; crushed stone primarily for aggregate, concrete manufacture, and cement; dimension limestone for building stone and flagstone; sandstone for building stone and rubble; gypsum for wallboard and cement; and sand and gravel primarily for concrete aggregate, roadbase and stabilization, and fill. Other commodities are used for a variety of purposes. Ball clay is used primarily for absorbents and filler; lime primarily in the steel industry; peat primarily for soil improvements and earthworm culture; and industrial sand for refractory purposes, as well as molding, blasting, and glass. In addition, gemstones freshwater pearls and occasionally garnets are produced in Indiana. Only five of Indiana's 92 counties did not produce at least one mineral commodity during 1992. Commodities produced in Indiana during 1991 and 1992, as well as quantity and value of that production, are listed in publication. During 1992, total Indiana mineral production including fuels and nonfuels was valued at $1.2 billion, an increase of 4.1 percent over 1991 reported value but a decrease of 8.9 percent from 1990 reported value. Industrial mineral production was valued at an all-time high of $477 million, largely because of marked increases in the production of construction materials due to improvements in the housing industry, particularly sand and gravel. The state ranked twenty-second nationally in total value of industrial minerals produced. The value of each of the fuels registered a small to moderate decrease; the total value of fuels produced decreased 3.1 percent from 1991. The nation's economy was expected to continue to improve during 1993. Indiana fared better than much of the nation during this past recession and it is expected that government infrastructure spending will help Indiana businesses continue to grow in the near future.