Noble (precious) metals
The world's mineral resources are of varying value. The most expensive metals (apart from rare earth metals) are the so-called noble ones: platinum, gold, silver. Gold is a dense, soft and malleable metal with a bright yellow color and luster. It is one of the least reactive chemical elements and is solid under standard conditions. Therefore, the metal is often found in free elemental (natural) form, in the form of nuggets or facets in rocks, veins and alluvial deposits. Less commonly found in minerals. Previously, the bulk consisted of nuggets that prospectors were looking for. Now most of the gold is mined in special factories, which process rocks with a high content of valuable raw materials.
China, Australia, USA, South Africa are the largest gold producers on the planet. And the Witwatersrand mine is the leading gold mining center in the world. Also large production areas include: Rand Fields, Kimberley, Livingston, Cape of Good Hope, Natal and others. Canada is also a significant gold producer. In Russia, the territories of the Ural Mountains, the Baikal and Transbaikal regions, and the Lena basin are distinguished. The reserves of the Kolyma region have been significantly depleted. A lot of gold is mined in the USA (Alaska, California, the Rocky Mountain region), Australia (Kalgoorlie, Yampi, Mount Morgan), India (Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh).
Mineral resources of the world: table
Valuable mineral resources include about 200 names of metals, hydrocarbons, minerals, technical and building materials. Consider the main types of raw materials and the leading countries in their production:
Total mined | |||
Iron (3000 million tons) | China (1,300 million tonnes) | Australia (525 million tonnes) | Brazil (375 million tonnes) |
Copper (15.5 million tonnes) | Chile (5.55 million tonnes) | Peru (1.19 million tonnes) | USA (1.17 million tonnes) |
Aluminum (54 million tons) | China (36.6 million tons) | Russia (7.6 million tons) | Canada (4.5 million tonnes) |
Gold (2812 tons) | China (369 tons) | Australia (259 tons) | USA (233 tons) |
Coal (7100 million tons) | China (3520 million tons) | USA (992 million tonnes) | India (588 million tonnes) |
Oil (85-90 million bar / day) | Saudi Arabia (11.5 million bbl / d) | Russia (10.6 million bar / day) | USA (8.9 million bar / d) |
Gas (3600 billion m3) | USA (681 billion m3) | Russia (592 billion m3) | Iran (160 billion m3) |
Extraction of resources should be carried out “with an eye to the future”. Many countries, having developed their deposits, are faced with the so-called resource hunger. To maintain the economy, they are forced to export raw materials. Rational use of natural resources is the key to long-term prosperity.
