PDF chapter test TRY NOW
Despite having less than \(10\%\) of the world's population, it has an extraordinarily high proportion of the world's resource wealth. Being a continent with rich mineral resources, extraction activities, such as mining and drilling, dominate the North American economy.
Truck in quarry
Raw Gold after washing
Mining plays a vital role in the continents' economy, providing jobs to millions and contributing billions of dollars. North America is the leading producer of Iron ore, Petroleum, Natural gas, Copper, Silver, Sulphur, Zinc, Bauxite and Manganese.
Most of the gold and silver mines operate in the western part of the continent. Lead and Uranium are the other important minerals. With a significant percentage of the world’s coal and oil output and electrical power production, it possesses the deciding elements of modern industry.
The United States, Canada and Mexico are among the world top oil producers.
In the below table we see the important minerals and it's regions in the North America.
Mineral | Area |
| Iron Ore | Canadian Shield, Great Lake region, Appalachian Highlands, central Alabama, Minnesota's |
| Copper | Great Lakes, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Montana and Rocky mountains, Ontario, British Columbia |
| Silver | Nevada, Utah, British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec. |
| Gold | Canada - Ontario, Quebec, USA - California, Colorado, Utah, Nevada |
| Coal | Appalachians, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Alabama, Alberta and Columbia. |
| Petroleum | USA - Alaska to Texas (North Dakota, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado), Canada - Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador and Mexico |
| Oil and Natural Gas | Central low lands, Gulf coast, Rockies, Appalachian, Alaska |
People visiting the Crater of Diamonds State Park, a mine in the U.S. state of Arkansas, can search for their diamonds.
Register for free to see more content