The primary natural resources of the Republic of Ireland include natural gas, petroleum, peat, copper, lead, dolomite, barite, limestone, gypsum, silver and zinc. Key industries based on these and other natural resources include fishing, mining, and various forms of agriculture and fish farming.

Gypsum, dolomite, brick shale, fireclay and dimension stone (marble, granite and limestone) are all currently exploited in Ireland and significant deposits of barite, coal, mineral sands and talc have also been delineated.

Both gypsum and brick shale are currently worked from open pit operations in Co. Cavan, whilst dolomite and fireclay are exploited from two sites in Co. Kilkenny. Other industrial minerals previously extracted in Ireland include barite, dimension stone, phosphate, silica sand and slate.

Today Ireland is an internationally renown zinc and lead mining area. Large deposits have been extracted from mines in Navan, Galmoy and Lisheen. The mines in Galmoy in Co. Kilkenny and Lisheen in Co. Tipperary have ceased production in recent years but Tara Mines in Co. Meath is still in operation.