Saskatchewan mining industry experiencing growth in all sectors

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When many people hear the words "mining" and "Saskatchewan" they tend to think of uranium. And that makes sense. After all, Saskatchewan is the world's largest producer of uranium, responsible for about 30 per cent of the world supply.

But mining in Saskatchewan is about so much more than just uranium.

According to information on the Web site of the Saskatchewan department of Industry and Resources, Saskatchewan is also the largest producer and exporter of potash in the world. And the third largest coal producer in the country. And let's not forget all the other minerals that can be found here-copper, zinc, gold, lead, cadmium, platinum, nickel, silver, selenium. And the new kid on the block-diamonds.

Saskatchewan also has a number of industrial minerals hidden under its soil, like calcium and magnesium brines, gypsum, graphite, sodium sulphate, peat, silica sand, salt, clay and limestone.

Total mineral sales in Saskatchewan in 2004 were worth $3 billion, and that number increased to $3.5 billion in 2005. And the mining industry supports about 20,000 jobs, many of them in rural or northern parts of the province, and contributes more than $2 billion to the economy each year in the form of wages, goods and services.

One mining sector experiencing growth is Potash. In February, the Saskatchewan department of Industry and Resources announced that the province's potash industry had set a new record for production. in 2005-16.6 million tonnes, up five per cent from the previous year's record.

The value of potash sales also set a record in 2005, bringing in $2.7 billion, a 26 per cent increase over 2004 earnings.

Potash is the largest mining sector in Saskatchewan, creating about 6,000 direct and indirect jobs. About 95 per cent of the potash produced in the province is used to make fertilizer. The remaining five per cent is used in the manufacture of commercial and industrial products.