Obstacles to Mineral Development: A Pragmatic View covers the most common obstacles to mineral development in the developing countries. The text also encompasses the factors that dilute the value of foreign assistance, with special reference to mineral exploration; and the past as well as prospective role of the United Nations in overcoming these obstacles and, in particular, in avoiding some of the pitfalls of bilateral assistance. The book also presents case studies of specific obstacles, including resource depletion; taxation of mining enterprises; mining taxation policy in Canada; the prevention of ghost-mining towns in arid or desert zones; and small-scale mining in the developing world. The book will prove invaluable to people engaged in all phases of resource development.

Minerals are part of virtually every product we use. Common examples include copper used in electrical wiring and titanium used to make airplane frames and paint pigments. The Information Age has ushered in a number of new mineral uses in a number of products including cell phones (e.g., tantalum) and liquid crystal displays (e.g., indium). For some minerals, such as the platinum group metals used to make cataytic converters in cars, there is no substitute. If the supply of any given mineral were to become restricted, consumers and sectors of the U.S. economy could be significantly affected. Risks to minerals supplies can include a sudden increase in demand or the possibility that natural ores can be exhausted or become too difficult to extract. Minerals are more vulnerable to supply restrictions if they come from a limited number of mines, mining companies, or nations. Baseline information on minerals is currently collected at the federal level, but no established methodology has existed to identify potentially critical minerals. This book develops such a methodology and suggests an enhanced federal initiative to collect and analyze the additional data needed to support this type of tool.

Innovative Exploration Methods for Mineral, Oil, Gas, and Groundwater for Sustainable Development provides an integrated approach to exploration encompassing geology, geophysics, mining, and mineral processing. In addition, groundwater exploration is included, as it is central to the development of earth resources. As the demand for coal, minerals, oil and gas, and water continues to grow globally, researchers must prioritize sustainable exploration methods. Old technologies are being replaced speedily and exploration work has become fast, focused, meaningful, and readily reproducible keeping in pace with the changing global scenario. The themes of exploration of energy resources, exploration of minerals, groundwater exploration and processing and mineral engineering are separated out into sections and chapters included in these sections include case studies focusing on tools and techniques for exploration. Innovative Exploration Methods for Mineral, Oil, Gas, and Groundwater for Sustainable Development gives insight to modern concepts of exploration for those working in the various fields of energy, mineral, and groundwater exploration. Presents innovative research that will both challenge and complement the traditional concepts of exploration Covers a wide range of instruments and their applications, as well as the tools and processes that need to be followed for modern exploration work Includes research on groundwater exploration with a focus on conservation and sustainable exploration and development

The Office of Industrial Technologies (OIT) of the U. S. Department of Energy commissioned the National Research Council (NRC) to undertake a study on required technologies for the Mining Industries of the Future Program to complement information provided to the program by the National Mining Association. Subsequently, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health also became a sponsor of this study, and the Statement of Task was expanded to include health and safety. The overall objectives of this study are: (a) to review available information on the U.S. mining industry; (b) to identify critical research and development needs related to the exploration, mining, and processing of coal, minerals, and metals; and (c) to examine the federal contribution to research and development in mining processes.