Output of precious and base metals declines

Canadian production of refined copper, nickel and potash increased in April, compared with the same period last year. However, output of gold, silver, lead, zinc, primary copper, asbestos and salt was down.

The statistics shown below were compiled by Natural Resources Canada (NRC).

They are included in the April 1997 issue of Production of Canada’s Leading Minerals. To order a copy, contact Jaqueline Paquette of NRC at (613) 992-9005. NRC’s address on the world wide web is http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/mms/efab/mmsd .

NON-FERROUS

	April 1997	April 1996
Refined copper	47,629 tonnes	45,021 tonnes
Primary copper	53,040 tonnes	58,977 tonnes
Primary nickel	17,317 tonnes	17,196 tonnes
Gold	12.5 million grams	13.2 million grams
Silver	92,141 kg	105,988 kg
Primary lead	10,875 tonnes	19,100 tonnes
Refined lead	15,733 tonnes	17,404 tonnes
Primary zinc	65,564 tonnes	93,849 tonnes
Refined zinc	58,614 tonnes	63,080 tonnes

FERROUS

April 1997April 1996

Iron ore3.2 million tonnes2.8 million tonnes

NON-METALLICS

April 1997April 1996

Salt942,221 tonnes 955,177 tonnes

Asbestos40,559 tonnes 48,796 tonnes

Potash1.1 million tonnes919,550 tonnes