Giant deposits: industry, economics, politics

Abstract

Metals have been sought and produced since antiquity to be used for tools, weapons, utensils and adornments and, since the development of monetary economies, to generate profit for the property owner, operator, sovereign or state. Mineral economics and financial considerations (especially mining profitability) became the preoccupation of industrial civilizations although their role was reduced in times of national emergency (e.g. wars). In planned economies profitability has been subordinated to politically-defined national interest, especially materials self-sufficiency. It is not the purpose of this book to deal in depth with mineral resources, mining and exploration politics and economics (this has extensive literature, e.g. Megill, 1988); instead, selected examples and case histories are reviewed to show the role giant metallic deposit discovery, ownership and utilization played to influence global, mostly industrial politics and economics, and vice versa.