In an industry that produces mass jobs, investments and business, mining is essential to the production of goods, services and infrastructure. Moreover, in the current environment where natural resources are becoming increasingly valuable, it is no surprise why our global development relies heavily on the mining sector to produce these resources.
From iron ore and coal to gold and graphite, here’s a closer look at the top five global mining countries and which resources are mined in each location.
China:
Ranking at number one on the list is China. The country has the most natural resources estimated to be worth $23 trillion. Most of those resources are coal and rare earth metals. However, China is also a major producer of timber.
Other resources that China produces are coal, gold, graphite, and lead, among others.
Saudi Arabia:
A country most notable for its oil production, Saudia Arabia has been a leading oil exporter ever since the late 1930s. Saudi Arabia’s other natural resources include copper, feldstar, phosphate, silver, sulfur, tungsten, and zinc.
Mineral exploration is a core component of prominent Saudi mining company, Ma’aden’s strategic business and growth. Today, the company is implementing the latest technologies to explore, discover and evaluate new mineral resources.
Canada:
Canada, a country rich in mining history, ranks third in the world with the most natural resources. The commodities that the country owns include industry minerals, such as limestone and potash, as well as energy minerals, like coal and uranium. The country is also a key global producer of copper, nickel, and cobalt. Canada is also home to many notable mining executives like BHP Group’s Mike Henry, Kirkland Lake Gold’s Anthony Makuch, and Augusta Group’s Richard Warke.
India:
In India, where infrastructure development and automotive production are driving growth in the mining sector, demand for iron and steel is high. Albeit, India produces 95 minerals and is the third largest producer of coal. The country’s other natural resources include bauxite, chromite, diamonds, limestone, natural gas, petroleum, and titanium ore.
Mining company Coal India even has plans to reopen abandoned mines to keep up with the demand. Partha Bhattacharyya, former chairman of Coal India, cites advanced technology for the growth spurt.
“Technologies have improved in the last few years and the MDO model for abandoned mines,” he says.
Russia:
The Russian mining industry has developed positively in recent years and today the country is one of the richest in terms of mineral resources. Almost all important mineral resources are mined here including: base and precious metals, coal, iron ore, bauxite and diamonds. In particular, the country plays a leading role in the mining of platinum group metals and diamonds. It is also among the world leaders for nickel, copper, cobalt and rare earths.
