Industrial Mineral Developments and Opportunities in Manitoba 2005

摘要

Early industrial mineral production in Manitoba consisted of tools and implements, salt and pottery. Historical production has consisted of: salt, building stone, aggregate, lime and dolime, lignite coal, gypsum, natural and Portland cement; calcium bentonite; brick; light-weight aggregate; caustic soda and soda ash; and silica sand. Total annual mineral production in Manitoba has averaged about C$1 billion over the past ten years. Industrial mineral production has comprised almost 10% of the total, with more than half coming from the aggregate sector. In southeastern Manitoba, tantalum, spodumene and amblygonite concentrates; cesium and rubidium ores; cesium formate; dimension stone and sphagnum peat moss are produced. Gypsum and high-calcium limestone, high-purity dolomite, lime and dolime are produced in the Manitoba's Interlake. Sodium chlorate is produced in southwestern Manitoba by solution mining of Devonian salt beds, and from purchased sodium chloride feed from Saskatchewan potash producers. Future industrial mineral production may come from reactivated quarries, pits and wells or from new producers of current commodities. New products may include: stainless steel master alloy; silicon metal; titanium and magnetite; rare earth metals; lithium carbonate; float-plate glass and ferrosilicon; "marble" dimension stone; magnesium metal; potash and kaolin.