Major Minerals of Oceania

The Central and South Pacific Oceans contain thousands of islands that make up the region known as Oceania. It contains Australia, which has the smallest total land area of any continent. The majority of Oceania is covered by the Pacific, a huge body of water that is bigger than all of the continents and islands put together. The Pacific Ocean is correctly established by the term "Oceania" as the distinctive feature of the continent. The natural resources of Oceania are best understood in relation to its island groups.

The other Pacific Islands rely more on their natural resources for subsistence than for economic development, unlike the mainland islands of Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.

Features of Major Minerals of Oceania

Natural resources only account for 5% to 10% of all jobs in Oceania, yet they have a significant impact on export performance. Australia and New Zealand, the two countries with the most inhabitants, are also the most developed and have a preponderance of service-based businesses. Data from the less developed Pacific Island countries with significant agricultural economies are so diluted. The dominant industry in the majority of Pacific Island nations (apart from Australia and New Zealand) is agriculture. Many countries continue to be primarily agricultural; in Vanuatu and Fiji, respectively, 80% and 70% of the population, respectively, still work in agriculture.

Copra or coconuts are the principal products of the Pacific, but lumber, beef, palm oil, cocoa, sugar, and ginger are also frequently farmed across the tropical regions of the Pacific. Many of the smaller Pacific Island governments rely heavily on the fishing sector, despite the fact that larger nations like Japan and others have taken advantage of many fishing grounds. Lead, zinc, nickel, and gold are among the natural resources that are extracted in Australia and the Solomon Islands. Japan, China, the United States, India, South Korea, and the European Union are among Oceania's top export destinations.

Major Uses of Minerals in Oceania

The principal minerals discovered in Oceania have a wide range of applications in numerous sectors. The production of consumer goods, building materials, and transportation vehicles all depend on bauxite, which is the principal source of aluminium. Gold is used in electronics, dentistry, and aerospace technologies in addition to being a prized investment and jewellery material. Iron ore is a crucial ingredient in the creation of steel, supporting the manufacturing, infrastructure, and building industries. Because of its superior electrical conductivity, copper is widely utilized in machinery, plumbing, and electrical wiring. The manufacturing of stainless steel, which is widely utilized in the construction, automotive, and aerospace industries, depends in large part on nickel. Nuclear power generating relies on uranium to produce safe and dependable energy.

For the creation of steel and energy, coal is a crucial resource. Zinc is used in the fabrication of batteries as well as the galvanizing of steel to stop corrosion. Jewellery, photography, and electrical components all value silver. Batteries, building materials, and radiation shielding all use lead. These minerals are essential for supporting Oceania's industrial growth and economic activity.

Drilling and Mining

Important mineral and metal reserves can be found on the continental islands of Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Australia is the biggest exporter of coal and the biggest producer of opal in the world. Also among the top producers in the world are iron ore, nickel, gold, uranium, diamonds, and zinc. A significant producer of coal, silver, iron ore, limestone, and gold are New Zealand. The mining industry is one of the main employers in Papua New Guinea and contributes 72% of its export revenue. Oil, gold, and copper are three of its principal exports. The first offshore mining project in the history of the planet will be located in the nation's oceans.

A Canadian business will harvest copper, gold, lead, silver, and zinc from deposits more than a mile beneath the surface of the ocean using technology familiar to offshore oil drilling. Papua New Guinea benefits economically from mining operations, yet they also worsen the environment. For instance, copper and gold are produced at the Ok Tedi Mine. Additionally, it generates 120,000 tons of toxic runoff and 80,000 tons of waste rocks, both of which enter the Ok Tedi River system. The Ok Tedi River's fishery as well as the nearby agricultural land have both been decimated. A lawsuit has been filed against the mining corporations as a result of the "Ok Tedi environmental disaster" by hundreds of Papua New Guineans who say the mine's environmental effects have destroyed their way of life. One indigenous group, the Yonggom, received a $28.6 million settlement from the mining firm, whereas the Ningerum are requesting $4 billion. The closure of the Ok Tedi Mine is planned for 2012.

Mineral resources are extremely scarce on the majority of Pacific Islands. The fifth-largest producer of the metal worldwide, New Caledonia has around 10% of the world's nickel deposits. Gold is Fiji's second-largest export after sugar cane, and the nation's gold mining sector is a significant job. Australia and Oceania have very few natural gas and oil resources. Even though both Australia and New Zealand are industrialized nations that consume more oil than they produce, there are some offshore operations nearby. Australia's and Oceania's island nations must import nearly all of their oil and gas, frequently across very long distances. In the Pacific Islands, the price of oil and gas is very high, which slows down development.

List of Major Minerals of Oceania

Here is the list of major minerals of Oceania, where they are mostly found, use and magnitude −

Mineral	% Found in Oceania	Location	Use
Bauxite	30%	Australia, Papua New Guinea	Aluminum production
Gold	15%	Australia, Papua New Guinea	Jewelry, investment, industrial uses
Iron Ore	45%	Australia	Steel production
Copper	20%	Australia, Papua New Guinea	Electrical wiring, plumbing, machinery
Nickel	20%	New Caledonia	Stainless steel production
Uranium	30%	Australia	Nuclear power generation
Coal	40%	Australia, Indonesia	Electricity generation, steel production
Zinc	20%	Australia	Galvanizing steel, batteries
Silver	10%	Australia, Papua New Guinea	Jewelry, photography, electrical components
Lead	10%	Australia	Batteries, construction materials

Conclusion

Minerals such as bauxite, gold, iron ore, copper, nickel, uranium, coal, zinc, silver, and lead are abundant throughout Oceania. Different parts of Oceania contain varying amounts of these minerals, with Australia making up a sizeable portion of the total. These minerals are used in a variety of ways, including the creation of aluminium from bauxite, steel from iron ore, and electrical wiring from copper.

Mineral resources from Oceania are essential to many sectors of the economy, including energy generation, manufacturing, building, and jewellery creation. These minerals are abundant in Oceania, which emphasizes the region's significance in the world mining market and its potential for economic growth.

Frequently Asked Question

Which country in Oceania has the largest percentage of iron ore reserves?

Australia has the largest percentage of iron ore reserves in Oceania, accounting for 45% of the region's total.

What is the primary use of bauxite in Oceania?

Bauxite is primarily used for aluminium production in Oceania. It is a key raw material for manufacturing aluminium metal.

Where is the largest deposit of nickel located in Oceania?

The largest deposit of nickel in Oceania is located in New Caledonia, which holds approximately 20% of the region's nickel reserves.

What are the primary uses of zinc in industries?

Zinc has various uses in industries, including galvanizing steel to prevent corrosion, manufacturing batteries, and as an essential component in many chemical reactions.

Which mineral is commonly used in electrical wiring and plumbing?

Copper is commonly used in electrical wiring and plumbing due to its excellent conductivity and corrosion resistance properties.