Mining in Radictistan
Mining in Radictistan is one of the preeminent contributors to the Radictistani economy. The sector directly employs over five hundred and ninety thousand persons, mostly in the County of Norcustsur, and indirectly employs millions of persons in supporting industries. The mining industry is dominated by a small number of large corporations, many of which also involved in the production of finished materials.
Location
Most large-scale mining activity in Radictistan takes place in the northern-most County of Norcustsur. Some mines are located in northern Yestingsur and Westwoodsur.
Employment
The Radictistani mining industry directly employs about 590,000 persons, mostly in Norcustsur where most mineral production occurs. The largest employer of miners in Radictistan is Kazdan Mining and Metals which employs about 110,000 at its iron, coal, nickel, and bauxite mines. The mining sector employs millions more indirectly through ore processing and metal fabrication industries, including steelmaking which employs 168,000. Mining and its supported industries are heavily unionized placing them among the most desirable blue-collar jobs in Radictistan. Miners are represented by two major unions, GB Bergbau and GB Mineral, while many steel and smelter workers are represented by GB Metalle.
Minerals and resources
Coal
Radictistan produces roughly four hundred and sixty million metric tonnes of coal annually. Coal is mined extensively in Norcustsur and in the the northwestern corner of Yestingsur. Smaller deposits are found in Eastval and Westwoodsur. Most of Radictistan's coal reserves take the form of bituminous coal and most coal mined in the country is used in coke production for the steel industry or exported overseas for similar use. Lignite is found mainly in Yestingsur where it is extracted through open-pit mining. In addition to metallurgical uses, Radictistani coal is converted to liquid hydrocarbons as an alternative to petroleum-based fuels. Syngas produced as a byproduct of the coking process is used to produce diesel fuel through the Fischer-Tropsch process. The Bergius process is also used for synthetic fuel production from coal.
Iron
Iron ores are extracted mainly in Norcustsur where most production is used by the steel industry which itself produces close to a hundred million tonnes of raw steel annually. A majority of extracted iron ore comes from mines owned by steel firms such as Kazdan Mining and Metals and Nor Stahlwerk.
Aluminum
Each year Radictistani mines produce roughly twenty-two million tonnes of bauxite, the most common aluminum ore. About two and a quarter million tonnes of aluminum metal is produced in Radictistan each year from domestic and imported ore, mostly in Norcustsur where cheap coal and hydroelectric power is available.
Copper and gold
Radictistan produces roughly 480,000 tonnes of copper annually. The largest copper mine in Radictistan, the Klassenberg mine, produces 238,000 troy ounces of gold yearly in addition to 191,000 tonnes of copper, making it the largest producer of the precious medal.
Zinc and lead
Zinc, a vital alloy metal and anti-corrosive, is mined together with lead at two locations in Norcustsur. Annual zinc production is 525,000 tonnes. Annual lead production is 97,000 tonnes. Silver produced as a byproduct at these mines account for virtually all of Radictistan's production of the precious metal.
Nickel
The Schulenbarg mine owned by KBM produces 17,100 tonnes of nickel annually along with iron from pentlandite, an iron-nickel sulfide.
Uranium
Radictistan has substantial uranium reserves. Current production is around 8,400 tonnes annually from three mines which fuel the large nuclear energy sector. Two of these mines utilize in-situ recovery with the ore dissolved underground with chemicals and then pumped to the surface. The third mine, which also produces copper, operates through traditional underground hard rock mining techniques.
Fossil fuels
Radictistan possesses modest petroleum reserves. Most production is from offshore platforms in the Breitgolf and at other locations along the western and northeastern coasts. Radictistani petroleum production is insufficient to meet current domestic demand. The major petroleum production and importation companies are Rothram Energy and Murkervech Petrochemical Corporation.
Small natural gas fields are found in southern Erdwoodsur and western Eastval. Radictistan is a net importer of natural gas.