Last year a good one for Canadian mineral production

The total value of Canada’s mineral production in 1995 increased by 5.4% (or about $2.2 billion) from its 1994 level, according to figures released by the Ministry of Natural Resources.

The total value of production of all mineral commodities rose to $43.4 billion in 1995 from $41.2 billion in the previous year.

An important factor cited in the increase in the overall value of production was higher metal market prices in 1995, particularly for the base metals.

A gain of approximately $2.3 billion was registered in the value of metal production; an increase of $200 million was recorded in the value of non-metal production; and a small increase of $27 million occurred in the value of structural metals production.

The value of non-fuel mineral production increased to $17.4 billion in 1995 from $14.9 billion the year before, for a gain of 16.7%.

The total value of metallic mineral production rose 23% to $12 billion in 1995 from $9.7 billion in 1994.

Copper production tonnages grew by 19.3%, while its total value increased by 49.2%. The value of nickel production increased by 59.8%, although production levels increased by only 17.5%. The value of gold production rose 2.7%, and the overall value of zinc production increased 16.9%. The value of iron ore production remained the same as in 1994, with an increase of only 2% in tonnage.

The value of output of the nonmetallic group, which includes asbestos, potash, salt, peat and sulpher, increased to $2.8 billion in 1995 from $2.6 billion during 1994, for a gain of 8.8%. Shipments of potash, the leading mineral in this group, increased by 3.9% in tonnage and by 13.6% in value from corresponding 1994 levels.

Based on value of output, the top non-fuel commodities in 1995 were: n copper ($2.8 billion);

n gold ($2.5 billion);

n nickel ($2 billion);

n zinc ($1.6 billion);

n potash ($1.5 billion); and

n iron ore ($1.2 billion).

Canada’s coal production reached a new record level in 1995 of 74.7 million tonnes, an increase of 2.2% over the previous high of 72.8 million tonnes recorded the year before.

Ontario contributed the largest share of the non-fuel mineral output, accounting for 32.9% of the total value, followed by Quebec (17.7%), British Columbia (14.2%), Saskatchewan (10.4%), New Brunswick (5.6%) and Newfoundland (5.2%). Other provinces and territories accounted for the remaining 14%.