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Mining is one of the core industries of any modern economy, as it provides basic raw materials to other important industries.

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The concept of mineral economics and commodities began in the years after World War II, a means of tapping into natural, non-renewable sources of precious metals for sale, development and export.

 

In today’s constantly modernising and advanced world, providing raw materials to almost every strata of civilised society is a key part of a functioning economy. Mining also yields significant stimulus to a country’s economic growth - creating jobs, supporting the processing systems for finished products and a significant boost to export offerings. This in turn contributes to the high standard of living many of us enjoy today.

 

Mining in the greater outlook of the industry, finds its place at the very beginning of the production cycle - therefore having the ability to control the output within the market, but also suffering the maximum losses due to drops in demand. It is a capital-intensive industry with great profits but also great losses if miscalculations occur.

 

Back to the idea of mining things that can’t be grown, we begin to take stock of the things we often take for granted. One of the very first things you do when you start your day, is brush your teeth - a task that wouldn’t be possible if not for the limestone, phosphate and fluoride compounds that you find in your toothpaste.

 

Other comforts like the car you drive to work, contain at least a ton of steel and iron, while phosphorus, nickel and copper are few of the raw materials needed to power the lightbulbs inside your home.

 

Mining is at the heart of it all and is too often disregarded, as the gap between supplier and consumer widens ever further. We still continue to find it convenient driving up to a store, to purchase things that have worked themselves up the mining supply chain - blissfully unaware of the intensive processes that have led up to it falling into our shopping baskets.