Quebec’s 26 producing gold mines in 1989 turned out almost 36 million grams of the precious metal, but a lower world price of gold resulted in a drop of 10.1% in total value compared with 1988. Provincial gold output rose by 7.2% last year and represented 18.5% of Quebec’s total 1989 mineral production, according to Quebec’s Ministry of Energy and Resources.
Total Quebec mineral production increased in value by 3.8% in 1989 to $2.8 billion.
Copper and zinc enjoyed a better year in 1989. Production of copper rose by 26.4% to 60,209 tonnes for a total value of $206 million (up from $150 million). Zinc production jumped by 14.1% to 93,636 tonnes for a total value of $202 million, up by 49.2% from 1988.
Silver production dropped by 6.2% and its total value fell by 26.7%.
Iron production last year was similar in total to 1988, but the value rose by 10%.
The value of asbestos increased by 4% on a slightly reduced output.
Grassroots mineral exploration spending in the province last year is estimated to have dropped by about 50% from the 1988 total.
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