Minews - Iran, world’s 8th biggest mineral producer: WMC

(Minews) - The International Organizing Committee of the World Mining Congress (WMC) has ranked Iran as the 8th country in the world in terms of mineral production.

The organization has put the country’s total mineral production, including metal and non-metal products, precious stones, as well as oil and gas, at $162 billion in 2013.

The WMC has placed Iran above Brazil, India, and South Africa in the ranking.

China, the U.S., and Saudi Arabia are the top three mineral producers in the world.

Iran is believed to hold more than 7 percent of the world’s total mineral reserves. It ranks at the 10th place in terms of the variety of mineral resources. Key large deposits that still remain underdeveloped are zinc, copper, iron, uranium, and lead.

The World Mining Congress (WMC) was initiated in 1958. It is a UN-affiliated organization.