Is Brazil a good choice for mining?
As a mining country, Brazil is the biggest iron ore producer in the world, as well as substantial deposits of zinc, bauxite, copper, tin, nickel, gold, diamond, manganese, magnesium, lead, niobium, kaolin, talc, coal, titanium, quartz, phosphate, vermiculite, zirconite, tantalite, graphite, clays, limestone, fluorite, asbestos, chromate, oil and natural gas, ornamental stones, gems and others. There are over 1802 active mines in Brazil – the majority are open pit mines and with ISO 9000 certificates. Mining generated roughly 2.9% of the country’s GDP or US$12.9 billion by the end of the year 2002. The Brazilian government estimates that US$35 billion in mining investment will be required before 2010, of which US$4 billion will be directed to exploration and research with the remaining US$31 billion earmarked for increased mineral production. Approximately 40 Canadian mining exploration/equipment/service companies are active in Brazil due to the increased dynamics of the local market si
