An important mineral producer, Mexico ranked among the top world producers in a variety of nonfuel minerals. Based on U.S.
Geological Survey production figures, it was the world’s leading producer of bismuth (with more than 20% of the world’s refinery
output), celestite (with more than 30% of the world’s total), and silver (with 14% of the world’s total) and a significant supplier of mining and mineral products to the United States.
In 2002, Mexico’s total exports were valued at $160.8 billion. The value of mineral exports (excluding petroleum and natural gas) accounted for $2.7 billion, or less than 2%, of the total. The value of metal exports totaled $2.2 billion, or 82%, of total mineral exports (excluding petroleum and natural gas). Total imports were valued at $168.7 billion. Mineral imports (excluding petroleum and natural gas) accounted for $2.5 billion, or 1.5%, of total imports (Consejo de Recursos Minerales, p. 26).
During several years, about 85% of Mexico’s mineral exports went to the United States, and 46% of its mineral imports originated in the United States (Consejo de Recursos Minerales, p. 128, 136). The value of exports to the United States increased, and the value of imports from the United States decreased. Silver was the largest source of foreign exchange with $600 million, or 22%, of total mineral exports and was followed by iron ($568 million), gold ($348 million), and copper ($305 million)(Consejo de Recursos Minerales, p. 123, 125, 131-132).
In Mexico, the San Dimas unit comprised the San Antonio, Santa Rita, and Tayoltita Mines. As of December 2001, these mining units had proven and probable reserves of 12,600 kg
(reported as 404,000 troy ounces) of gold and 945,000 kg (reported as 30,380,000 troy ounces) of silver (Wheatron River Minerals Ltd., 2002b)................
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