Primary base metal output up as gold, silver slide

Candian production of primary copper and nickel, zinc and iron ore rose between May 1997 and May 1998, offsetting drops in the production of refined copper, lead, gold, silver, asbestos and potash.

The statistics shown below were compiled by Natural Resources Canada (NRC) and are included in the May 1998 issue of Production of Canada’s Leading Minerals. To order a copy, contact Jacqueline Paquette of NRC at (613) 992-9005. NRC’s address on the world wide web is

http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/efab/mmsd

NON-FERROUS	May 1997	May 1998
Primary copper	55,427 tonnes	57,139 tonnes
Refined copper	49,661 tonnes	45,202 tonnes
Primary nickel	17,331 tonnes	17,957 tonnes
Gold	14.6 million grams	12.9 million grams
Silver	103,380 kg	78,223 kg
Primary lead	12,766 tonnes	8,231 tonnes
Refined lead	15,131 tonnes	12,250 tonnes
Primary zinc	64,404 tonnes	71,956 tonnes
Refined zinc	55,167 tonnes	61,555 tonnes

FERROUSMay 1997May 1998

Iron ore3.4 million tonnes4 million tonnes

NON-METALLICSMay 1997May 1998

Asbestos30,269 tonnes24,700 tonnes

Potash888,650 tonnes871,735 tonnes