OTTAWA - NRCAN has crunched the numbers and estimated that the value of Canadian mineral production was $24.2 billion in 2004, a 20.4% jump over 2003. Leading the way were metals with a 29.6% increase in value, followed by non-metals (12.6%) and coal (7.1%).
Not only metal prices, but most commodities enjoyed higher prices during the year. The value of nickel production rose 56.8% and copper 56.2%. The value of diamond production grew by 34.8% and that of potash by 20.0%.
A list of highest-valued commodities finds nickel again leading the field, with output valued at approximately $3.3 billion. This is followed by gold ($2.2 billion), diamonds ($2.1 billion), copper ($2.0 billion), potash ($1.9 billion), coal ($1.6 billion), iron ore ($1.4 billion) and zinc ($1.0 billion).
These and more mineral facts can be found online at www.nrcan-rncan.gc.ca/mms in the information for the media.
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