Mineral industry of Europe

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Kittila mine is the biggest gold mine in Europe. Finland has the largest concentration and producer of gold in the European Union. Kittila mine.jpg
Kittilä mine is the biggest gold mine in Europe. Finland has the largest concentration and producer of gold in the European Union.

The European mining industry has a long tradition. Although the continent's mining earns for a small share of GDP, it provides a large and significant share of the world-wide production. [3]

Contents

Before World War II, the economy of Europe remained largely on coal as its source as primary energy, with very little of the diversification into oil and gas that has already occurred on United States. [4] The mining and quarrying industry which extracts these minerals is very important to industrial, social and technological process in the European Union. [5] Industrial minerals, such as barytes, kaolinite or salt, are extracted within the European Union to supply a wide range of industries. [6]

Europe's mining industry had a long, profitable history, dating as far back as 8,000 years ago in eastern Europe, and mining copper as far back as early in eastern Europe and Spain. In Ancient Rome, mining for gold and copper in Spain, Cyprus and eastern Europe and tin in Cornwall were important. [7] [3] Dating back to as far as the Neolithic, every kinds of mineral rocks were mined in all parts of Europe. [8] Underground mining required significantly more energy than surface operations because of the need for ventilation, pumps and the longer haulage distances involved. [9] Coal, which was a fuel source for the world's largest economies that lasted over a century is now decreasing drastically to renewables [10] and due to this, the United Kingdom went 55 hours without coal in favor of clean powers like windmills. The UK was one of the earliest adopters of renewable energy and it has by far the most windmills installed than other countries in the world. [10]

The continent itself is rich in natural resources, and minerals, which are mined for usage in every-day life such as construction materials for infrastructure, building, roads, production of steel, cars, computers, medicines and fertilisers. [11] Of those, Sweden is one of the European Union's leading ore and metal-producing countries and the Swedish mining industry is in a period of strong growth. [12] An expanding Swedish mining industry would also contribute to greater self-sufficiency in the European Union, which was a priority in the ''Raw Materials Initiative — meeting our critical need for growth and jobs in Europe'', presented by the European Commission in 2008 and 2010. [13] By 2020, resource mines in the European Union can possibly become diversified. [14] [15]

Employment

The European metals and minerals mining sector employs more than 200,000 people directly in the extraction and beneficiation processes and numerous jobs are depending on it, the turnover of Europe alone is €13 billion Euros. [16] In addition, there are another 100,000 people working at subsidiaries across the world, depending on Europe based headquarters of mining companies. [16] In western Europe, about 182,000 jobs in coal-mining were lost between 1988 and 1993, a reduction in employment by 40%, whereas coal production fell by about 8%, reflecting significant gains in productivity. [17] [ failed verification ]

Boundary view of the Teghut Mine, which has been confirmed to be valued over 20 billion USD, due to its copper and molybdenum deposits, located in Armenia. Teghut Mine 2014.jpg
Boundary view of the Teghut Mine, which has been confirmed to be valued over 20 billion USD, due to its copper and molybdenum deposits, located in Armenia.

In 2012, an estimated 7 million people were employed in the mining industry, most of them in coal (including lignite) mining. [19]

Profits

Domestic mine production of industrial metals (excluding coal) was valued approximately $11 billion in 2018 compared with $10 billion in 2007 and $9.2 billion in 2006; the real producer's price index for industrial minerals in Germany increased about 3% in 2008, compared with 4% in 2007. [20]

Natural resources

Lignite

Several European countries are investigating in lignite mineral industry, despite the fact that the industry faces declining profit margins in competition with low-carbon energy production. [21] The global lignite production is approximately one billion metric tons in 2012, with major production coming from Europe, the continent accounts for roughly 40% in lithium reserves. [22] The Kosovar lignite mines are operated at one of the most strategic lignite deposits in Europe, due to its geological conditions. [23]

In terms of lignite production, Greece ranks seventh worldwide and third in EU after Germany, based on the total lignite reserves in the country and the planned future consumption rate, it is estimated that the reserves in the country could last for more than 45 years. [24] Poland is one of the largest lignite reserves in the European Union, with around 1.4 billion tons of lignite in the country, and an additional 22.1 billion tons in economic reserves. [25]

Gold

The northern part of Europe, in particular Sweden and Finland, has shown to be an area with an abundance and large potential for gold mining. [26] According to the magazine Tekniikka ja Talous, Finland has overtaken Sweden to become one of the largest producer of gold in Europe, which is located in Kittilä and is owned by the Canadian company Agnico Eagle, will be expanded out and, as a result, its production will increase to 6,000 kilograms per year. [27] In the 13th and 14th centuries, Bohemia was one of the main regions of gold production in Europe. [28]

Coal

The total production of coal in Europe is about 15.14 million tons, translating to 3.9% of the total coal produced in the world, coal is preferred as a source of energy, due to its low cost compared to petroleum and natural gases. [29] Europe's coal industry continues its downward spiral as 25% of European Union countries have now shut down its mines to the energy source, scientist estimate that more than 80% of global coal reserves should stay unburned in order to limit global warming to 2 °C (36 °F). [30]

Iron ore

Sweden accounts for 91% of the continent's ore. In 2014, Swedish ore production broke a new record for the fifth year in a row; the increase was 2% from the previous year, and production amounted to almost 89.1 million tons. [31] Of all the global market mining of ore, eastern Europe was the smallest region accounting around just 1% of the market, the use of robots in the metal ore mining industry is improving the efficiency and productivity of mines and reduces operational costs. [32] The EU metallic mining sector produces a wide range of ores yielding metal substances. [33]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining</span> Extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth

Mining is the extraction of valuable geological materials and minerals from the surface of the Earth. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot be grown through agricultural processes, or feasibly created artificially in a laboratory or factory. Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal, oil shale, gemstones, limestone, chalk, dimension stone, rock salt, potash, gravel, and clay. The ore must be a rock or mineral that contains valuable constituent, can be extracted or mined and sold for profit. Mining in a wider sense includes extraction of any non-renewable resource such as petroleum, natural gas, or even water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lignite</span> Soft, brown, combustible, sedimentary rock

Lignite, often referred to as brown coal, is a soft, brown, combustible sedimentary rock formed from naturally compressed peat. It has a carbon content around 25–35% and is considered the lowest rank of coal due to its relatively low heat content. When removed from the ground, it contains a very high amount of moisture, which partially explains its low carbon content. Lignite is mined all around the world and is used almost exclusively as a fuel for steam-electric power generation.

The Socialist Republic of Czechoslovakia (1948–1990) had significant natural resources available. Energy resources included coal and lignite, but to meet energy needs the country also engaged in energy conservation, imports of oil and natural gas from the Soviet Union, and nuclear power and hydroelectricity programs. Czechoslovakia had limited deposits of various metallic mineral ores, and the bulk of mineral supplies were again imported. Other resources within the country were agricultural land, forestry, and labor power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in Japan</span> Overview of mining in Japan

Mining in Japan is minimal because Japan does not possess many on-shore mineral resources. Many of the on-shore minerals have already been mined to the point that it has become less expensive to import minerals. There are small deposits of coal, oil, iron and minerals in the Japanese archipelago. Japan is scarce in critical natural resources and has been heavily dependent on imported energy and raw materials. There are major deep sea mineral resources in the seabed of Japan. This is not mined yet due to technological obstacles for deep sea mining.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in Iran</span>

Mining in Iran is still under development, yet the country is one of the most important mineral producers in the world, ranked among 15 major mineral-rich countries, holding some 68 types of minerals, 37 billion tonnes of proven reserves and more than 57 billion tonnes of potential reserves worth $770 billion in 2014. Mineral production contributes only 0.6 percent to the country's GDP. Add other mining-related industries and this figure increases to just four percent (2005). Many factors have contributed to this, namely lack of suitable infrastructure, legal barriers, exploration difficulties, and government control.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in Brazil</span> Major industry in Brazil, South America

Mining in Brazil is centered on the extraction of iron, copper, gold, aluminum, manganese, tin, niobium, and nickel. About gemstones, Brazil is the world's largest producer of amethyst, topaz, agate and is a big producer of tourmaline, emerald, aquamarine, garnet and opal.

Coal mining regions are significant resource extraction industries in many parts of the world. They provide a large amount of the fossil fuel energy in the world economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining industry of Romania</span>

Romania ranks tenth in the world in terms of the diversity of minerals produced in the country. Around 60 different minerals are currently produced in Romania. The richest mineral deposits in the country are halite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining industry of South Africa</span>

Mining in South Africa was once the main driving force behind the history and development of Africa's most advanced and richest economy. Large-scale and profitable mining started with the discovery of a diamond on the banks of the Orange River in 1867 by Erasmus Jacobs and the subsequent discovery of the Kimberley pipes a few years later. Gold rushes to Pilgrim's Rest and Barberton were precursors to the biggest discovery of all, the Main Reef/Main Reef Leader on Gerhardus Oosthuizen's farm Langlaagte, Portion C, in 1886, which kicked off the Witwatersrand Gold Rush and the subsequent rapid development of the gold field there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining industry of Nigeria</span>

The mining of minerals in Nigeria accounts for only 0.3% of its gross domestic product, due to the influence of its vast oil resources. The domestic mining industry is underdeveloped, leading to Nigeria having to import minerals that it could produce domestically, such as salt or iron ore. The rights to ownership of mineral resources is held by the Federal Government of Nigeria, which grants titles to organizations to explore, mine, and sell mineral resources. Organized mining began in 1903, when the Mineral Survey of the Northern Protectorates was created by the British colonial government. A year later, the Mineral Survey of the Southern Protectorates was founded. By the 1940s, Nigeria was a major producer of tin, columbite, and coal. The discovery of oil in 1956 hurt the mineral extraction industries, as government and industry both began to focus on this new resource. The Nigerian Civil War in the late 1960s led many expatriate mining experts to leave the country. Mining regulation is handled by the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development, who are tasked with the responsibility of overseeing the management of all mineral resources in Nigeria. Mining law is codified in the Federal Minerals and Mining Act of 1999. Historically, Nigeria's mining industry was monopolized by state-owned public corporations. This led to a decline in productivity in almost all mineral industries. The Obasanjo administration began a process of selling off government-owned corporations to private investors in 1999. The Nigerian Mining Industry has picked up since the "Economic Diversification Agenda", from Oil & Gas, to Agriculture, Mining, etc., began in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in Afghanistan</span>

Mining in Afghanistan was controlled by the Ministry of Mines and Petroleum, prior to the August 15th takeover by the Taliban. It is headquartered in Kabul with regional offices in other parts of the country. Afghanistan has over 1,400 mineral fields, containing barite, chromite, coal, copper, gold, iron ore, lead, natural gas, petroleum, precious and semi-precious stones, salt, sulfur, lithium, talc, and zinc, among many other minerals. Gemstones include high-quality emeralds, lapis lazuli, red garnet and ruby. According to a joint study by The Pentagon and the United States Geological Survey, Afghanistan has an estimated US$1 trillion of untapped minerals.

The mineral industry of Russia is one of the world's leading mineral industries and accounts for a large percentage of the Commonwealth of Independent States' production of a range of mineral products, including metals, industrial minerals, and mineral fuels. In 2005, Russia ranked among the leading world producers or was a significant producer of a vast range of mineral commodities, including aluminum, arsenic, cement, copper, magnesium compounds and metals, nitrogen, palladium, silicon, nickel and vanadium.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coal in India</span> Aspect of Indian industry

Coal in India has been mined since 1774, and India is the second largest producer and consumer of coal after China, mining 777.31 million metric tons in FY 2022. Around 30% of coal is imported. Due to demand, supply mismatch and poor quality with high ash content, India imports coking coal to meet the shortage of domestic supply. Dhanbad, the largest coal producing city, has been called the coal capital of India. State-owned Coal India had a monopoly on coal mining between its nationalisation in 1973 and 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in New Zealand</span>

Mining in New Zealand began when the Māori quarried rock such as argillite in times prior to European colonisation. Mining by Europeans began in the latter half of the 19th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in the United Kingdom</span> Overview of the mining industry in the UK

Mining in the United Kingdom produces a wide variety of fossil fuels, metals, and industrial minerals due to its complex geology. In 2013, there were over 2,000 active mines, quarries, and offshore drilling sites on the continental land mass of the United Kingdom producing £34bn of minerals and employing 36,000 people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mineral industry of Colombia</span>

Mineral industry of Colombia refers to the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials in Colombia. Colombia is well-endowed with minerals and energy resources. It has the largest coal reserves in Latin America, and is second to Brazil in hydroelectric potential. Estimates of petroleum reserves in 1995 were 3.1 billion barrels (490,000,000 m3). Colombia also possesses significant amounts of nickel and gold. Other important metals included platinum and silver, which were extracted in much smaller quantities. Colombia also produces copper, small amounts of iron ore, and bauxite. Nonmetallic mined minerals include salt, limestone, sulfur, gypsum, dolomite, barite, feldspar, clay, magnetite, mica, talcum, and marble. Colombia also produces most of the world's emeralds. Despite the variety of minerals available for exploitation, Colombia still had to import substances such as iron, copper, and aluminum to meet its industrial needs.

Natural resources are abundant in Kosovo. Kosovo is mainly rich in lignite and mineral resources such as: coal, zinc, lead, silver and chromium, but also with productive agricultural land. Kosovo is also rich in forests, rivers, mountains and soil; Kosovo is especially rich in coal, being aligned among European countries as the third with the largest coal reserves. Kosovo possesses around 14,700 billion tons of lignite in reserves, which aligns Kosovo as the country with the fifth largest lignite reserves in the world.

Mining in North Korea is important to the country's economy. North Korea is naturally abundant in metals such as magnesite, zinc, tungsten, and iron; with magnesite resources of 6 billion tonnes, particularly in the North and South Hamgyong Provinces, as well as the Chagang Province. However, often these cannot be mined due to the acute shortage of electricity in the country, as well as the lack of proper tools to mine these materials and an antiquated industrial base. Coal, iron ore, limestone, and magnesite deposits are larger than other mineral commodities. Mining joint ventures have occurred with other countries include China, Canada, Egypt, and South Korea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Industry of Kosovo</span>

Kosovo has a slowly developing plain industry. In 2009, the Industry accounted for 22.60 of GDP and a general workforce of 800,000 employees. It's on 150 th place, compared to the rest of the world. There are numerous reasons for this kind of stagnation, ranging from consecutive occupations, political turmoil and the recent Kosovo War (1999).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mining in Sweden</span> Mining industry in Sweden

The mining industry in Sweden has a history dating back 6,000 years.

References

  1. ↑ "There's gold in them fells". Yle Uutiset. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  2. ↑ "GOLD MINES IN THE EU – TGM". www.tgm.gr. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  3. 1 2 Crowson, Phillip (1996-03-01). "The European mining industry: What future?". Resources Policy. 22 (1–2): 99–105. Bibcode:1996RePol..22...99C. doi:10.1016/S0301-4207(96)00025-6. ISSN   0301-4207.
  4. ↑ Odell, Peter R. (2013-10-14). Oil and World Power (Routledge Revivals). Routledge. ISBN   9781134101719.
  5. ↑ "Minerals and non-energy extractive industries - Growth - European Commission". Growth. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  6. ↑ "Industrial minerals - Growth - European Commission". Growth. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  7. ↑ "isbn:0444522336 - Sök på Google" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2018-04-12.
  8. ↑ Mining, Monies, and Culture in Early Modern Societies: East Asian and Global Perspectives. BRILL. 2013-06-07. ISBN   978-9004253568.
  9. ↑ "Metallic minerals - Growth - European Commission". Growth. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  10. 1 2 "UK goes a record 55 hours without coal as clean power expands". mining.com. Retrieved 2018-04-22.
  11. ↑ "European mining jobs | Talascend". www.talascend.com. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  12. ↑ "Sweden's Minerals Strategy" (PDF). www.government.se. September 2012.
  13. ↑ "Brochure" (PDF). www.hannansreward.com. September 2012.
  14. ↑ Hebestreit, Corina (January 2015). "The European Mining Industry ― An Outlook" (PDF). Framtidensgruvochmineral.
  15. ↑ Oetinnger, Günter (2011). "Energy 2020" (PDF). EC Europa.
  16. 1 2 "isbn:1329091159 - Sök på Google" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  17. ↑ "isbn:9221093301 - Sök på Google" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  18. ↑ "Value Of Minerals In Teghut Mine Is $20 Billion, Yet Only $300 Million Is Anticipated In Taxes". Lragir.am. Retrieved 2018-05-08.
  19. ↑ "Labour: Dirty jobs in a dirty industry | Heinrich Böll Foundation". Heinrich Böll Foundation. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  20. ↑ Inc, IBP (2015-05-06). Western European Countries Mineral Industry Handbook Volume 1 Strategic Information and Regulations. Lulu.com. ISBN   9781329091290.{{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  21. ↑ "Lignite power developments in Europe | Airclim". www.airclim.org. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  22. ↑ "Sanatized report" (PDF). www.ey.com.
  23. ↑ "Microsoft Word - WhitePaper_Lignite_ver1.doc" (PDF). Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  24. ↑ "Lignite in the Greek energy system: facts and challenges". Energy Transition. 2016-02-09. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  25. ↑ "Poland". the voice of coal in Europe. 2014-11-01. Retrieved 2018-04-15.
  26. ↑ "Gold prospects in Europe" (PDF). www.euromines.org.
  27. ↑ "Finland rises to no. 1 gold producer in EU". Good News from Finland. 2015-04-09. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  28. ↑ "Research data" (PDF). journals.pan.pl.
  29. ↑ "The Top Coal Producing Countries in Europe". WorldAtlas. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  30. ↑ "25% of Europe Quits Coal". 7 April 2016. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
  31. ↑ "Learn more about Sweden's mining industry | Miningforgenerations". Miningforgenerations. 2016-06-14. Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  32. ↑ "Global Metal Ore Mining Market Briefing 2017 - Research and Markets" . Retrieved 2018-04-13.
  33. ↑ "Metallic minerals - Tillväxt - European Commission". Tillväxt. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
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