Tin Minerals and Ores in the World

The tin reserves of the world are estimated to 8 miUion tonnes, concentrated in the coastal areas of Southeast Asia and in South America. Important tin ore producers are China, Indonesia, Peru, Brazil, BoHvia, AustraHa, according to Table 42.1. In 2001 the total world production (counted as tin) was 220000 tonnes. 

The distribution of tin production among countries has changed. In 1990 Brazil and China had the top positions and produced about 40 000 tonnes each. In 2001 Chi- 

Country Production tonnes Percentage of total production Country Production tonnes Percetrtage of total production 

Indonesia has very large tin reserves, situated on islands in the straits between Sumatra and Borneo. Thailand is also an important tin country. The winning of tin- 

Stone was often a small family business, and the work was very hard and dirty, partly because of lack of technical facilities, and partly because the ore is of placer type and has to be washed for winning of the cassiterite. In the 1980s there were about 200 tin mines in the country. In the 1990s the number had decreased to 100, and by 1997 to 22. The amount of tin wiiming has also diminished. In connection with Thai tin winning, niobium and tantalum are also obtained. 

---