The paper archives comprise a set of the factual and interpretative reports that document the investigations carried out by Nirex (Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive) and its contractors. In total there are in excess of 2,250 individual volumes. It is the availability of this paper archive of results and interpretation that makes the Nirex geological archives of rock cores and samples unique. The ownership of NIREX (Nuclear Industry Radioactive Waste Executive) was transferred from the nuclear industry to the UK Government departments DEFRA and DTI in April 2005, and then to the UK's Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) in November 2006.

The British Geological Survey has one of the largest databases in the world on the production and trade of minerals. The dataset contains annual production statistics by mass for more than 70 mineral commodities covering the majority of economically important and internationally-traded minerals, metals and mineral-based materials. For each commodity the annual production statistics are recorded for individual countries, grouped by continent. Import and export statistics are also available for years up to 2002. Maintenance of the database is funded by the Science Budget and output is used by government, private industry and others in support of policy, economic analysis and commercial strategy. As far as possible the production data are compiled from primary, official sources. Quality assurance is maintained by participation in such groups as the International Consultative Group on Non-ferrous Metal Statistics. Individual commodity and country tables are available for sale on request.