Non-fuel Minerals Research Articles

Nonfuel mineral production in New Mexico [1979

Nonfuel mineral production in New Mexico [1979

Short-run price formation in non-fuel minerals markets: An algebraic note

Simple flow models are inadequate for understanding short-run price behaviour in non-fuel mineral markets. In this note the author derives a simple model of mineral price behaviour in terms of stocks, and shows how this may successfully explain some short-term features of mineral price behaviour.

The Future of Nonfuel Minerals

Journal Article The Future of Nonfuel Minerals Get access The Future of Nonfuel Minerals. By John E. Tilton. Washington: Brookings Institution. 1977. (Distrib. in UK by Blackwell, Oxford.) 113 pp. £6.60. Audrey Parry Audrey Parry 1Chatham House Search for other works by this author on: Oxford Academic Google Scholar International Affairs, Volume 55, Issue 1, January 1979, Pages 106–107, https://doi.org/10.2307/2617151 Published: 01 January 1979

Reserve classification of identified nonfuel mineral resources by the bureau of mines minerals availability system

Classification of nonfuel mineral reserves is the prime function of the Bureau of Mines Minerals Availability System (MAS). The MAS classifies reserves through geologic, engineering, and economic evaluation of presently identified resources. The classification of a reserve is accomplished by calculating the identified-resource availability in terms of present and prospective prices (costs). The availability of mineral supplies is definable as a function of natural physical phenomena, industry technology, costs, capital generation, time requirements, supply site infrastructure, mineral-land accessibility, environmental restraints, and political conditions. These and other criteria are being systematically evaluated and quantified in the MAS to arrive at verifiable estimates of present and future United States mineral reserve positions. The MAS is structured such that mine and deposit evaluations form the common denominator of supply, and costs represent the basic mechanism of supply analysis. A comprehensive, systematically structured minerals evaluation system is needed to objectively assess mineral supply impacts on the economy and society. The MAS is an element of that capability wherein a systematic unraveling of the mineral supply network is performed, with the results structured in electronic retrieval format for rapid listing, manipulation, and supply analysis. The key activity in accomplishing this end is the mineral deposit evaluation process that provides uniform, maintained information sets for aggregation into summary products. The MAS thereby enhances the basic data and response capability to support mineral specialists, mineral policy analysis, and the Government and industry decision process.

World reserves and consumption of some important non-fuel mineral commodities within the past decade

World reserves and consumption of some important non-fuel mineral commodities within the past decade

The thinking man's inventory of natural resources

To the world at large, the problems of energy supply and demand have tended to obscure the need to focus attention on what is happening in the nonfuel minerals area. But to those of us in the business, the problems are no less compelling and largely similar. Nonfuel minerals demand for the year 2000 is estimated to constitute approximately two‐thirds of total minerals demand in the United States. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that by the year 2000 U.S. dependence on imports will be complete for 12 commodities and over 75 percent for 19 others.

Long-term Constraints on Human Activity

Biophysical and other ‘outer limits’ of food, land, water, climatic change, stratospheric chemistry, energy, hazardous substances, non-fuel minerals, human stress, and social and ecological stability, raise fundamental questions about present trends in management methods and in global organization. The diverse outer limits surveyed in this paper reflect complex, poorly perceived, and often unsuspected, interconnections between numerous biological and geophysical processes, many of which are obscure or still unknown. Our lack of predictive power, let alone of quantitative understanding, implies a need to treat essential life-support systems with great caution and forbearance, lest we erode safety margins whose importance we do not yet appreciate.Even those outer limits which now seem remote are relevant to present policy, as their timely avoidance may require us to discard otherwise attractive short-term policies in favour of others that offer less immediate advantage but that retain options which may be needed later. Such alternative policies may have to rely more on social than on technical innovation in order to address underlying disequilibria rather than merely palliating their symptoms. Moreover, some outer limits are sufficiently imminent, or require such long lead-times to avoid, that fundamental changes in policy, in institutions, and in the degree of global interdependence, seem necessary if we are to live to enjoy some of the later and more interesting limits to human activity.

On the State of Man

AbstractUntil recently increasing agricultural productivity was able to supply the world's increasing population. Now the appearance of adverse trends suggests that social and political problems will outdistance technical solutions. Explosive cost increases of energy, of fertilizers and of non-fuel minerals, as well as the possibility of adverse climatic changes and the continuing threat of political instability constitute real dangers. Paramount is the uncontrolled growth of world population, especially in South Asia, which poses the ultimate question: can the populations of these countries be saved under any circumstances, or must Nature be allowed to take its course? The quality of life for our descendants will be determined by how many of them there will be.

On the State of Man

Until recently increasing agricultural productivity was able to supply the world's increasing population. Now the appearance of adverse trends suggests that social and political problems will outdistance technical solutions. Explosive cost increases of energy, of fertilizers and of non-fuel minerals, as well as the possibility of adverse climatic changes and the continuing threat of political instability constitute real dangers. Paramount is the uncontrolled growth of world population, especially in South Asia, which poses the ultimate question: can the populations of these countries be saved under any circumstances, or must Nature be allowed to take its course? The quality of life for our descendants will be determined by how many of them there will be.

Developing Countries and Non-Fuel Minerals

Trends in the world market place for nine major minerals, iron ore, bauxite, copper, manganese ore, lead, nickel, phosphate rock, zinc, and tin are discussed. Demand for bauxite, nickel, and phosphate rock is anticipated to increase faster than economic activity generally. Demand for iron ore, manganese ore, copper, and zinc will expand at rates of 4 to 4.5 percent per year. Lead and tin are estimated to increase at rates of 3.0 and 1.2 percent respectively. World reserves are ample for phosphate rock, iron ore, bauxite, nickel, and manganese ore; proven reserves for copper, lead, and zinc are expected to last 30 years or less; tin reserves are very low. Prices in the United States in 1973 have been very high due to currency adjustments, sharp upturns in industrial activity, and serious supply problems. Analysis of economic forces suggests that prices will drop in the following years. Developing countries' exports of these nine minerals are likely to increase from $4.8 billion in 1967-69 to $15.2 billion in 1980. Stockpiles, recycling possibilities, and substitution mitigate against the likelihood of an OPEC type cartel among mineral suppliers.

Iron ore deposits of Australia

Australia is one of the world's main producers and exporters of both fuel and non-fuel minerals. Among the main commodities produced for export are bauxite/alumina, iron ore, and nickel—Australia is also an increasingly important source of supply of black coal, especially for Japan, and is a significant producer and exporter of a number of base metals. Resources are adequate to support a substantial expansion of both non-oil fuels and other minerals. The potential for growth, both in terms of specific commodities and in the overall role of Australia in the world mineral industry, will depend to a very large extent on the cost competitiveness of Australian mining and on continuing inflow of capital.