We mine silver, gold, lead and zinc, all of which are vital commodities in our daily lives. From cell phones and renewable energy products to medical equipment, these metals are the building blocks of society.
Demand for most metals continues to climb as the world's population rises and standards of living improve in developing countries. We are proud to contribute to this growing global demand by producing metals responsibly and by making a lasting contribution to local communities where we operate.
Silver has countless applications, however, 95% of the demand for silver is from three areas: industry, investment and silver jewelry and décor. In recent years, fabrication demand has greatly outpaced mine production forcing market participants to use existing stocks to meet demand. As these available sources continue to decline, silver's fundamental value continues to strengthen.
Source: The Silver Institute
Gold has been used for jewelry, decorative and monetary purposes for thousands of years. And it has long been considered a store value.
Today, gold is also increasingly important in the development of new technologies.
Source: World Gold Council
Zinc is integral to our daily lives. From transportation and medicine, to energy conservation, pollution control, electronics and space exploration, about 12 million tons of zinc is produced annually to meet this demand. About 75% of the zinc consumed worldwide originates from mined ores and 25% from recycled or secondary zinc.
Source: International Zinc Association
Lead is mined on all continents except Antarctica and is one of the most important metals to industrialized economies. Global demand for lead has more than doubled since the early 1990s. Today, lead has the highest recycling and reuse rates compared to other major metals.
Source: International Lead Association