Minerals and Energy--Their Economic Impact on a Region: ABSTRACT

Abstract

A knowledge of the interrelations of the mineral and energy industry with the total national or regional economy is critical for formulation of fuels and minerals policies. The scope of the Colorado mineral industry starts with raw natural resources, their discovery by exploratory effort, and their production by extraction industries. These materials enter the mineral processing industries to yield energy and processed materials of mineral origin. Traditional measurements of the mineral industry's contribution to the economy are based on the U.S. Bureau of Mines' tabulation of production at the mineral raw-material stage. However, the commonly accepted view of the mineral industry's contribution is much broader in scope. The particular industry parameters assessed in this study are the amount of investment, level of employment, quantity and End_Page 799------------------------------ value of mineral commodities produced, and the magnitude of state and local taxes. The quantity and value of the flows of mineral materials into and out of the state are measured and their impact assessed in this study. The study for the State of Colorado can be visualized as a prototype of a large-scale study of a region or the entire United States. The use of data obtained by a comprehensive study of mineral commodity flows will allow formulation of a systems approach to the mineral and energy policy. End_of_Article - Last_Page 800------------