CANADA’S MINERAL WEALTH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 5 December 1940, Page 10

CANADA’S MINERAL WEALTH

RECORD PRODUCTION LAST YEAR OTTAWA, 21st October. Mineral production in Canada during 1939 reached the record value of 474.602.059 dollars as against 441.823.237 dollars in 1938, an increase of 7.4 per cent. Marked increases were recorded by all major divisions of the industry, i reflecting general expansion in production and the greatest advances in new development experienced in recent years. The value of metals and metallic ores amounted to 343.506.123 as compared with 323.075.154 in 1938. Coal, j crude petroleum, and other fuels totalled 70.671.328 dollars against asbestos, gypsum and other industrial minerals were valued at 25.061.849. an increase of 4.995.726. while clay products. cement, stone and other structural materials totalled 35.362,759 dollars. compared with 33.378.666 in 1938. Gold production reached the all-time peak of 5.094.379 fine ounces valued at 184,115.951. The value of Canada’s entire mineral production in 1922 totalled 184,297.242 dollars. BASE METALS New output records in base mcluls were established in 1939 for copper, nickel and zinc, the combined values of which aggregated 111.855.164 dollars. Lead production totalled 388.569.550 pounds, valued at 12,313.768 dollars. The fuel industries were featured in 1939 by a notable increase over the previous year in the production of crude petroleum, amounting to 7.826.301 barrels, compared with 6,966.084 barrels. Coal production totalled 15.537.443 tons, an increase of 8.7 per cc-nt. The output of natural gas reached a Record total of 35,185,146,000 cubic feet. GOLD The Canadian output of gold inJuly set up a new high monthly record at 456.626 ounces valued at 17.580.101 dollars. In June, 451.277 ounces were pro- I duced, while in July, 1939, the output | totalled 439.925 ounces During the j calender year to date Canada produced 3.028,668 ounces compared with 2,929,894 in the corresponding period of 1939.