MINERAL STRATEGY

Overview of the Mineral Sector

What commodities are being extracted at Québec’s 22 producing mines? Primarily iron, zinc, nickel and copper, precious metals such as gold, industrial minerals like chrysotile, ilmenite, mica, and salt. Besides mines, Québec also has sand and gravel pits, quarries, and peat bogs.

People do not realize just how many of the most modern and technologically advanced objects that they use contain mineral substances.
Among the thirty or so minerals produced in Québec, many are used in strategic sectors of the new economy, in areas like information technology, robotics, and the aerospace industry as well as an eco-friendly products such as solar panels, wind turbines, water filters (peat moss), and batteries for electric vehicles.
Québec is a major producer of nickel and zinc, which are in high demand in the aerospace industry due to their remarkable resistance to corrosion. Nickel is also used to make stainless steel, and zinc is used in making galvanized steel, two materials that are found in numerous widely used products.
In addition to being an excellent conductor, gold is the most malleable and ductile metal there is, and is extremely resistant to corrosion.
Copper is used in the manufacture of many industrial products because of its high conductivity.
The automobile and medical instrument industries would not be able to function without certain metals, such as titanium and nickel, which are indispensable in many technologically advanced products.
Many commonly used materials like cement, sand, gravel, and cut stone are essential to the construction of our roads, civil engineering structures, and buildings.

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In 2007 there were approximately 18,000 people employed in mining-related jobs in Québec.
In 2006, the average annual salary in the mining sector was $66,500, almost twice that of industries by and large.
Nearly half of the mining jobs in Québec are in the Côte-Nord, Abitibi-Témiscamingue, and Nord-du-Québec regions. Montérégie also has a high percentage of jobs, due to the presence of primary processing facilities.

ArcelorMittal Mines Canada

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In 2007 the total value of mineral shipments in Québec was $5.5 billion, 29% of which was comprised of nonmetallic minerals (industrial minerals and construction materials).
Between 2003 and 2007, exploration expenditures rose from $134 million to $476 million. Growth tapered off in 2008 and is expected to improve in 2010.

Aurizon Mines