Canada

Lithium

Canada has deposits of lepidolite, K₂Li₃Al₄Si₇O₂₁(OH,F)₃.

Carbon (Diamond)

Canada contains commercially viable diamond deposits, it produced 11 million carats in 2003. It is estimated that South Africa has reserves of around 150 million carats.

Carbon (Graphite)

Canada has economically important sources of graphite. The United States Geological Survey states that in 2005 and 2006 it produced 28000 tonnes. Total world production of natural graphite in 2005 was 1.04 million tonnes and in 2006 was 1.03 million tonnes.

Aluminium

In 2005 Canada was the third largest producer of aluminium, behind China and Russia.

Silicon

Canada produced 66000 tons of silicon in 2006. World production of silicon in 2006 was 5.1 million tons.

Sulfur

In 2006, Canada produced around 9.04 million tonnes of sulfur. Total world production was 65.7 million tonnes.

Potassium

Saskatchewan is one of the main sources of potash, the principal source of potassium.

Three thousand feet below the surface of Saskatchewan are large deposits of potash which are important sources of this element and its salts, with several large mines in operation since the 1960s. Saskatchewan pioneered the use of freezing of wet sands (the Blairmore formation) in order to drive mine shafts through them.

Calcium

Canada's production of gypsum (CaSO₄.2H₂O) in 2006 was approx. 9 million tonnes. World production of gypsum in 2006 was 142.5 millions tonnes.

Titanium

In 2006, Canada produced approx. 2.4 million tonnes, making it the second largest producer, of ilmenite (FeTiO₃), one of only two commercially important titanium ores.

Iron

Canada's production of iron ore in 2006 was 34.094 million tonnes. Total world production of iron ore in 2006 was 1.81 billion tonnes.

Production of pig iron in Canada in 2006 was 8.864 million tonnes. Total world production of pig iron in 2006 was 925.8 million tonnes.

Cobalt

In 2006, Canada's mine production of cobalt was 6976 tonnes. Total world production of cobalt from mining, in 2006, was 59000 tonnes.

Nickel

Canada's mine production of nickel in 2006 was 233461 tonnes, the second largest producer. Worldwide mine production of nickel in 2006 was 1.526 million tonnes.

Canada's combined smelter/refinery production of nickel in 2006 was 153743 tonnes. Worldwide smelter/refinery production of nickel in 2006 was 1.337 million tonnes.

The Sudbury Basin deposit in Ontaria is theorized to have been created by a massive meteorite impact event early in the geological history of Earth.

Copper

In 2006, Canada's production of copper by mining was 606958 tonnes, total world production was 15.1 million tonnes.

In 2006, Canada produced 500463 tonnes of refined copper, total production of refined copper was 17.2 million tonnes.

Arsenic

In 2006, Canada produced approx. 250 tonnes of white arsenic (As₂O₃).

Selenium

In 2006, Canada was the world's fourth largest producer of selenium, 117 tonnes.

Niobium

Canada produces around 10% of the world's niobium, from its mine located in Saint-Honoré near Chicoutimi, Quebec.

Molybdenum

The Canada is one of the world's largest producers of molybdenum, with large mines in British Columbia.

Rhodium

In 2004 an estimated 22.4 tonnes of rhodium was produced. North America produced around 2% (~0.5 tonnes).

The copper-nickel sulfide mining area of the Sudbury, Ontario, region contains a very small quantity, but the large amount of nickel ore processed makes rhodium recovery cost effective.

Palladium

In 2006, Canada was the world's third largest producer (equal with the USA) of platinum by mining, with approx. 14 tonnes.

Cadmium

In 2006, Canada produced 2094 tonnes of cadmium, world production was around 21100 tonnes.

Indium

Canada is a leading producer of indium. The Teck Cominco refinery in Trail, British Columbia, is the largest single source, with production of 32500 kg in 2005

Tellurium

In 2006, Canada was the world's fourth largest producer of tellurium with 11 tonnes, world production was around 122 tonnes.

Caesium

One of the world's most significant and rich sources of this metal is at Bernic Lake in Manitoba. The deposits there are estimated to contain 300,000 metric tons of pollucite ((Cs,Na)₂Al₂Si₄O₁₂.2H₂O) at an average of 20% caesium.

Barium

In 2006, Canada produced 21000 tonnes of barytes (BaSO₄), the main source of barium. World production of barytes in 2006 was 8.8 million tonnes.

Tungsten

In 2006, Canada produced 2561 tonnes of tungsten. Total world production of tungsten in 2006 was 74400 tonnes.

Osmium

The large copper-nickel deposits near the Sudbury Basin are a significant source of osmium.

Iridium

The large copper-nickel deposits at the Sudbury Basin in Canada are significant sources of iridium. Annual world-wide production in 2000 was around three tonnes.

Platinum

In 2006, Canada was the world's fourth largest producer of platinum by mining, with approx. 8 tonnes.

The platinum arsenide, sperrylite (PtAs²), is a major source of platinum associated with nickel ores in the Sudbury Basin deposit in Ontario. In the Sudbury Basin the huge quantities of nickel ore processed makes up for the fact that platinum is present as only 0.5 ppm in the ore.

Gold

In 2006, Canada's mine production of gold was 104.2 tonnes. Total amount of gold mined in 2006 was 2310 tonnes.

Lead

In 2006, Canada produced 82393 tonnes of lead from mining. The total amount of lead mined in 2006 was 3.5 million tonnes.

In 2006, Canada's production of refined lead was 250464 tonnes. Total world production of refined lead in 2006 was 8 million tonnes.

Bismuth

In 2006, Canada produced 222 tonnes of bismuth, total world production of bismuth in 2006 was around 5200 tonnes.

Radium

Deposits of the uranium-bearing ore that contains radium, pitchblende, are to be found in the Great Lakes area and Ontario.

Thorium

It's believed that Canada has reserves of around 100 tonnes of monazite, the primary thorium mineral.

Uranium

Canada was the largest producer of uranium in 2006, 9862 tonnes, around 25% of the world total.

High-grade ores found in Athabasca Basin deposits in Saskatchewan, Canada can contain up to 70% uranium oxides, and therefore must be diluted with waste rock prior to milling, in order to reduce radiation exposure to workers.