Techniques Used to Calculate Data on the Mineral Production in Canada
Data is organized into two categories, Production of Metals and Production of Nonmetals. Data for each mineral type is then calculated or reported based on specific aspects to highlight.
Metallic Mineral Production
Antimony
Production includes recoverable antimony in concentrates shipped. The value is calculated using the yearly average New York dealer price.
Bismuth
Production includes recoverable bismuth in concentrates shipped. The value is calculated using the yearly average New York dealer price.
Cadmium
Cadmium is associated with zinc. Production includes the recoverable content of cadmium in the zinc-lead concentrates shipped, valued at the yearly average New York dealer price.
Cesium
Production figures represent the cesium oxide content of pollucite ore shipped. The value is as reported by the producer.
Cobalt
Production includes recoverable cobalt in concentrates shipped. The value is calculated using the yearly average cathode dealer spot price.
Copper
Production includes recoverable copper in concentrates shipped. The value is calculated using a combination of the Commodity Exchange, Inc. (COMEX) first position price and the average London Metal Exchange Grade "A" Settlement price.
Gold
Production includes gold in crude bullion obtained directly from placer workings and lode gold mines, and recoverable gold in all types of ores and concentrates shipped. The value is calculated using the average final price as established by bullion dealers in London.
Ilmenite
Production includes shipments of direct shipping grade ore at Canada’s sole shipper’s reported value.
Indium
Production includes quantities recovered in the smelting of silver-lead-zinc ores from Canadian sources. The output is valued by the shipper.
Iron Ore
Production figures represent product shipments (pellets, concentrates, ores) at the values shown by the shippers. Production from steel plant waste oxides is excluded.
Iron, Remelt
This is sometimes called pig iron or sorel iron. It is a co-product in the smelting of ilmenite ores. Quantity and value figures are those reported by the producer.
Lead
Production includes recoverable lead in concentrates shipped. The value is computed at the average producer price for the year.
Lithium
Production figures represent the lithium oxide content of spodumene and amblygonite ore shipped. The value is as reported by the producer.
Molybdenum
Production figures are the molybdenum content of the oxides, ferromolybdenum and sulphides shipped; the value is that shown by the shipper.
Nickel
Production includes recoverable nickel in concentrates shipped. The value is calculated using an assessment price based on the London Metal Exchange price.
Niobium (Columbium)
Production includes niobium (columbium) contained in ferroniobium shipped with the value as reported by the shipper.
Platinum Group Metals (PGM)
Production figures for iridium, palladium, platinum, ruthenium and rhodium include recoverable metal in concentrates shipped. Quantities are valued using the average New York dealer price or the London Metal Exchange price, depending on the metal.
Selenium
Production includes selenium produced as a refinery by-product from Canadian sources and recoverable selenium contained in concentrates exported. The quantities are valued at the average New York dealer price for the year.
Silver
Production includes silver in crude bullion obtained directly from placer workings and lode gold mines, and recoverable silver in all types of ores and concentrates shipped. The value is calculated using the average of Toronto quotations for the year.
Tantalum
Production comprises the tantalum pentoxide content of concentrates shipped. The value is as reported by the producer.
Tellurium
Production includes tellurium produced as a refinery by-product from Canadian sources and recoverable tellurium contained in concentrates exported. The quantities are valued at the average producer’s price for the year.
Tungsten
Production figures include the content of concentrates shipped. The value is as reported by the shipper.
Uranium
Producers of uranium precipitates or concentrates report the metal content (U) of the shipments, and the value is calculated using the average producer’s price for the year.
Zinc
Production comprises recoverable zinc in concentrates shipped. The value is calculated using the average London Metal Exchange price for the year.
Nonmetallic Mineral Production
Owing to the fact that it is difficult to obtain figures of the actual production of nonmetallic minerals in Canada, and since the first actual measurement is when the product is sold, plant shipments have been taken to represent production in all cases.
Asbestos
Production figures represent shipments of the various grades at the total selling value, f.o.b. shipping points, less the value of containers.
Barite
Production is the shipments of the various grades at the selling value, f.o.b. shipping points.
Carbonatite
Production is the shipments from the plant. The value is f.o.b. plant, as reported by the producer.
Cement
Production comprises shipments of portland and masonry cements, exported clinker minus imported clinker, and transfers to other corporate divisions for use in other manufacturing processes. The value is f.o.b. plant, as reported by the shipper. (Note: As of 2017, NRCan is no longer reporting cement production or shipment.)
Clay Products
Production represents shipments of brick and other clay products made from domestic clays, and the shipments of unmanufactured clays (bentonite, diatomite) at the total selling value, f.o.b. works, as reported by the operator. Data relating to clay products manufactured from imported clays are not included.
Diamonds
Production is shipments from the mine. The value is as reported by the producer.
Gemstones
Production is the tonnage of crude and rough cut gemstones (excluding diamonds) at the selling value, f.o.b. shipping points.
Graphite
Production is the shipments of various grades from the mill at the selling value, f.o.b. the mill, less container costs.
Gypsum1
Production is taken as the tonnage of crude gypsum and anhydrite shipped from quarries or mines in lump, rushed, or fine-ground forms. The value is that reported by the operators.
Lime
Production represents the tonnage of hydrated and quicklime shipped (sold by the producer) together with the tonnage of these limes produced and used by the producers of chemicals and allied products. The value is as reported by the producer.
Magnesite
Production is the tonnage of crude material sold by primary producers, plus the tonnage of calcined or dead-burned material sold or used by primary producers. The value is as reported by the producer.
Marl
Production is the producer’s shipments from the plant. The value is f.o.b. plant, as reported by the producer.
Mica
Production is recorded as shipments from plants dressing new mica and exported shipments directly from the mines. The value of shipments is taken as reported by the operator.
Nepheline Syenite
Production of crude and ground nepheline syenite is the amount of the various grades shipped at the total selling value, f.o.b. works, less container costs.
Peat
Production comprises:
- Crude peat shipped to Canadian non-producers as fuel or for export;
- Baled peat shipped; and
- Peat content of mixed products shipped.
The value is sales, f.o.b. works, less container costs.
Phosphate
Production is shipments from the plant. The value is f.o.b. plant, as reported by the producer.
Potash
Production represents the producers’ shipments of various grades of finished product, commonly referred to as “muriate of potash” (MOP) or “potassium chloride” (KCl) or just simply “product.” Potassium oxide ( K2O ) is used to measure the percentage of potassium in the product. The value is f.o.b. plant, as reported by the producer. (Note: Shipments of potash to Canadian potassium sulphate plants are not included in the mineral production table.)
Potassium Sulphate
Production is the producer’s shipments from the plant. The value is f.o.b. plant, as reported by the producer.
Pumice
Production is the producer’s shipments from the plant. The value is f.o.b. plant, as reported by the producer.
Quartz (Silica1)
Production represents the tonnage of crude or pulverized quartz, quartzite, pure silica sand, or other natural silica material shipped for sale, plus the tonnage of any of these materials used by producers. The value is taken as reported by the producer.
Salt
Production is the producers’ shipments of various grades of dry salt, plus the salt content of brine used by producers for industrial (chemical) purposes. The value is as reported by the producer.
Sand and Gravel
Production represents shipments of natural gravel, sand and crushed gravel at the value reported by the operator of sand and gravel pits or dredges.
Soapstone, Talc, Pyrophyllite
Production comprises:
- Crude, ground or sawn soapstone shipments;
- Crude, milled or refined talc shipments; and
- Crude or ground pyrophyllite shipments.
All shipments are f.o.b. the mill or plant and are valued by the shipper.
Sodium Sulphate
Production is the tonnage of crude or refined natural sodium sulphate shipped at its selling value, f.o.b. shipping points. The figures exclude the sodium sulphate produced as a by-product of paper or rayon manufacturing.
Stone1
Production represents quarry shipments of crude or non-dressed stone, crushed stone, and dressed stone, if the latter is prepared by the quarry operator at the value reported by the operator. The figures include data for both private and public or municipally owned properties. Production figures do not include dressed stone prepared from imported stone or prepared from domestic stone in works not at the quarries.
Sulphur, in Smelter Gas
Prior to final metal recovery, sulphide concentrates are smelted or roasted and the resultant gases may be used to produce marketable sulphur, sulphur dioxide, or sulphuric acid. Production is considered as the sulphur content of sulphuric acid made, sulphur dioxide marketed, and sulphur shipped. This sulphur is valued at the average price for sulphur sold in acid. Production is shown by the province/territory of origin of concentrates.
Sulphur, Elemental
In the western provinces, sour natural gas is processed to remove hydrogen sulphide, which is further reduced to yellow elemental sulphur. Sulphur recovered from the refining of Canadian crude petroleum is also included. Production is shown by the province/territory of origin of material and the value is as reported by the shipper.
Titanium Dioxide
Ilmenite ore is smelted at Sorel, Quebec, to produce a slag containing titanium dioxide. Production is the titanium dioxide content of slag valued by the producer.
Zeolite
Production is shipments from the plant. The value is f.o.b. plant, as reported by the producer.
Fuels
Coal
Production figures are equal to shipments from the mine/ plant plus “own” consumption as valued by the shipper, f.o.b. mine/plant.