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About Idaho Mining Association
 
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Idaho Mining Industry

Idaho's mining and mineral processing industry contributes millions of dollars to the

state's economy.  This report provides the latest figures available on the industry's

earnings, employment and other financial information.

Between 2004 and 2008 (the most recent figures available), Idaho’s mining industry

added billions of dollars to the Idaho economy through:

Mineral Production

  • Total mineral production was valued at nearly $4.2 billion.
  • Molybdenum and silver production (combined) was valued at $2.1 billion, which
    was 51 percent of the total.
  • Phosphate production was valued at $849 million, 20 percent of the total.  This
    does not include the value added by additional processing of phosphate into
    elemental phosphorus and fertilizer.
  • Sand and gravel production was valued at more than $525 million.
  • The production of “Other minerals” such as lead, zinc, copper and building
    stone was valued at over $660 million.

Mineral Production

2004 - 2008

(Millions of Dollars)

 

 

 

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

5 YR Total

Phosphate

$93

$97

$105

$126

$428

$849

Moly/Silver

199

622

429

356

       511

2,117

Sand/Gravel

74

7494

133

129

96

526

Other

80

8093

126

178

189

663

TOTAL

$446

$906

$793

$789

    $1,221

$4,155

 

Mining Employment

  • Mining employment increased every year since 2003.
  • Total wages paid over the five-year period was over $1.1 billion.
  • The average wage earned in the mining industry was over $55,300, 68 percent
    more than the state median wage of $33,000.
  • The average wage in the phosphate mining and processing segment of the
    industry was $68,200, more than twice the state median wage.
  • When health, dental, disability, life insurance and other fringe benefits are
    included, Idaho's mining employees earned more than $1.5 billion over the
    five-year period.

Mining Employment

2004 - 2008

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

5 YR AVERAGE

Mining

1,937

2,169

2,363

2,653

2,765

2,377

Processing

1,877

1,953

2,117

2,266

2,366

2,116

TOTAL

3,814

4,122

4,480

4,919

5,131

4,493

 

Mining Wages

2004 - 2008

(Millions of Dollars)

 

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

5 YR TOTAL

Mining

$86

$99

$120

$148

$162

$615

Processing

90

93

107

114

121

525

TOTAL

$176

$192

$227

$262

$283

$1,140

 

Mining Taxes, Fees and Royalties

  • Mineral production and processing in Idaho paid nearly $61 million in taxes,
    fees and royalties.
  • More than $24 million was paid in local property taxes to support local schools
    and services.
  • Nearly $27 million was paid in federal and state rents and royalties.
  • In 2008, the assessed valuation of the land, buildings and equipment of the
    industry was $766 million.

Mining Taxes

2004 - 2008

(Thousand of Dollars)

 

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

5 YR TOTAL

Property Taxes

$5,712

$5,619

$4,428

$4,420

$4,456

$24,635

Federal Royalties

3,892

2,997

2,009

2,413

2,452

13,626

State Royalties

1,237

1,466

1,807

3,177

4,382

13,779

Mine License Fees

95

370

3,563

3,555

1,259

8,842

TOTAL

$10,936

$10,452

$11,807

$13,565

$12,549

$60,882