KAWA MULTIMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Factors determining the exploitation of minerals
Value of the mineral: Minerals of high economic value such as gold , diamonds, petroleum and uranium may be mined at a very high cost because they can be sold at high prices. Other less valuable minerals would not be mined if the cost of mining was very high.
The size of the deposit: The size of the mineral reserve must be big enough to justify the very capital investment needed to exploit it.
Mineral concentration and quality: Mineral deposits may be highly concentrated or very sparsely spread within the rock concerned . The former are easier and cheaper to min and process.
Method of mining: The type of mining needed to obtain any given mineral may also help to determine where it is to be worked or not, and also the rate at which it can be obtained. For example opencast mining is much cheaper than deep shaft mining.
Accessibility; in certain situations some rich mineral reserves may remain unexploited due to their remoteness from their markets , or the absence of good transport facilities, or the high cost of providing it. The mineral rich southern highlands of Tanzania for example remained undeveloped until the completion of the TAN-ZAM Railway in the 1970s.
Nature of transport; because many minerals such as coal, iron ore, and oil have to be transported in bulk , it is necessary to develop cheap methods of transport for them preferably by water or railway.
The level of technology; as technical skills improve within a country it will be in a better position to control and exploit its mineral resources with out depending on imported technology.
Availability of capital; developing countries have generally lacked the necessary capital to develop their own minerals and therefore much effort has gone towards the attraction of foreign investors.
World market conditions; Fluctuations in world mineral prices will obviously also cause fluctuations in the profitability of exploiting given minerals. Some mining centres for copper in Zambia have even closed because of this.
The size of the deposit: The size of the mineral reserve must be big enough to justify the very capital investment needed to exploit it.
Mineral concentration and quality: Mineral deposits may be highly concentrated or very sparsely spread within the rock concerned . The former are easier and cheaper to min and process.
Method of mining: The type of mining needed to obtain any given mineral may also help to determine where it is to be worked or not, and also the rate at which it can be obtained. For example opencast mining is much cheaper than deep shaft mining.
Accessibility; in certain situations some rich mineral reserves may remain unexploited due to their remoteness from their markets , or the absence of good transport facilities, or the high cost of providing it. The mineral rich southern highlands of Tanzania for example remained undeveloped until the completion of the TAN-ZAM Railway in the 1970s.
Nature of transport; because many minerals such as coal, iron ore, and oil have to be transported in bulk , it is necessary to develop cheap methods of transport for them preferably by water or railway.
The level of technology; as technical skills improve within a country it will be in a better position to control and exploit its mineral resources with out depending on imported technology.
Availability of capital; developing countries have generally lacked the necessary capital to develop their own minerals and therefore much effort has gone towards the attraction of foreign investors.
World market conditions; Fluctuations in world mineral prices will obviously also cause fluctuations in the profitability of exploiting given minerals. Some mining centres for copper in Zambia have even closed because of this.