Text version of images:

Figure 2

Figure 2 is a bar chart showing annual ore reserve levels contained in mineable ore for copper, nickel, lead, zinc, molybdenum, silver, and gold from 1983 to 2010. The overall long-term trend for these metals has been downward. On a commodity basis, the chart shows that, more recently, copper and gold values increased from 2004 to 2010; nickel, lead, and zinc remained on a downward trend; molybdenum increased from 2005 to 2010; and silver leveled out from 2004 to 2010. The data for the chart are below.

Figure 2. Canadian Reserves of Selected Major Metals, 1988-2010
(Metal Contained in Proven and Probable Mineable Ore in Operating Mines and Deposits Committed to Production as at December 31 of Each Year)

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on company reports.
Note: This series was revised during 1996.

Figure 3

Figure 3 is a combination line graph and stacked bar chart. The graph depicts the main components of change in reserves. The stacked bars include additions to reserves, production in ore, and deletions to reserves. The line indicates the net change. The data are presented on an annual basis for each metal: copper, nickel, lead, zinc, molybdenum, silver, and gold in contained tonnes of metal. The different categories are quite variable from year to year.

Figure 4

Figure 4 is a bar chart indicating the percent change from one year to the next of contained metal in resources by metal from 2008 to 2010.  The changes are outlined in the table below.