Explanatory Notes ================== Coverage ---------- *World Mineral Production* covers the majority of economically important mineral commodities. For each commodity constant efforts are made to ensure that as many producing countries as possible are reported. For some commodities, where statistics on production are not publicly available, estimates are made. Users of this compilation are advised that more statistical information than can be included in a publication of this nature is held in the British Geological Survey files and is available for consultation. Historical data (from 1913 for many commodities) can be obtained from the predecessors to this series entitled *World Mineral Statistics and* the *Statistical Summary of the Mineral Industry*. Copies of these publications are available in the World Archive section of the website: www.mineralsUK.com. Arrangement of Countries ------------------------- Countries are ordered alphabetically in geographical groupings as follows: | Europe | Africa | North and Central America, including the Caribbean | South America | Asia | Australasia, including the Pacific Islands Metals ------- Mine production of many metals is expressed in terms of metal content. This is clearly indicated at the head of the table, adjacent to the unit used. For aluminium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, nickel, tin and zinc, mine production and metal production are shown in separate tables. Unless otherwise specified, metal production statistics relate to metal recovered from both domestic and imported materials, whether primary or secondary, but exclude remelted material wherever possible. World totals ------------- For certain minerals and metals no world total is shown due to the non-availability of certain individual country totals. Exclusion of Warranty ----------------------- Use by recipients of information provided by the BGS, is at the recipients' own risk. BGS has taken care to ensure that information provided is as free from error as is reasonably practical. In view of the disparate sources of information at BGS's disposal, including such material donated to BGS, that BGS accepts in good faith as being accurate, the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) gives no warranty, expressed or implied, as to the quality, accuracy, performance, and merchantability of the information supplied, or to the information's suitability for any use whether made known to BGS or otherwise. NERC/BGS accepts no liability whatever in respect of loss, damage, injury or other occurrence however caused. Acknowledgements ------------------ Compilation of this volume of mineral statistics has been possible only by obtaining information from a very large number of organisations throughout the world, chiefly home and overseas government departments and specialist national or international authorities concerned with particular sectors of the minerals or metals industries. To all these bodies the British Geological Survey expresses its grateful acknowledgement for the information made available, whether in published form or provided by direct correspondence. Particular acknowledgement is made to the Mines Departments and other government agencies of many countries whose regular statements, yearbooks and other reports are worthy of direct consultations by readers in search of detail. Specialist commodity organisations which have kindly allowed information to be reproduced include the International Copper Study Group, the International Lead and Zinc Study Group, the International Nickel Study Group and the Barytes Association. In a few instances, information on specific commodities has been obtained directly from company sources. The co-operation of other members of the International Consultative Group on Non-Ferrous Metal Statistics is also gratefully acknowledged. Appendix 2 contains a fuller list of organisations to whom acknowledgement is made. Units ----- The Statistics shown in this volume are expressed in metric units. The following factors are given for converting to non-metric units: | tonnes × 0.9842 = long tons | tonnes × 1.1023 = short tons | kilograms × 2.2046 = pounds | kilograms × 32.1507 = troy ounces | cubic metres × 35.3147 = cubic feet | 1 tonne of crude petroleum equals on average 7 barrels of crude petroleum. | 1 flask mercury = 34.5 kilograms Symbols --------- | ... figures not available | 0 quantity less than half unit shown | — nil | \* estimated | BGS British Geological Survey