Future prospects of mineral processing technology

Since the oil crises in the 1970s, the mining industry in the developed countries has faced strong competition from the developing countries. Rapidly rising energy and labor costs have forced many domestic mines to close. In these countries, mineral processing technology is finding new applications in the processing of solid waste and waste water for environmental protection as well as for resource conservation, and in the preparation of new functional materials of extreme purity and/or unique properties for high-tech applications. Because the world's population is increasing and the living standards in the developing countries are advancing, the demand for mineral commodities is expected to grow. A sustained effort in improving mineral processing technology is needed to meet these demands.