14. Canada – one of the major producers and exporters of minerals.

Canada is one of the world's leading producers and exporters of minerals. In 1997, Canada ranked first in the production of potash and uranium, second in the production of asbestos, sulphur, nickel, zinc and gypsum, and third in the production of titanium, aluminum, copper, platinum and group metals. In 1998, the ten top leading minerals in Canada by value of production were aluminum, coal, copper, potash, iron ore, zinc nickel, cement, sand and gravel, and stone. Gold production earned $2.8 million in 1998, coal $1.79 million, copper $1.69 million, and potash $1.66 million. In 1998, mining caused Canada's GDP to increase by $26.5 million to $718 million. The four mineral processing stages each had a different impact on this increase. The primary mineral production stage (mining and concentrating) contributed 28.8%, mineral production (smelting and refining) 16.0%, minerals and metals based semi fabrication industries 23.0%, and metal fabrication industries 32.3%.

Of the 749 mining establishments in Canada, 79 are metal producers, 132 are non-metal producers, 501 are structural, 35 produce coal and 2 are oil sand operations. The total value from the mining establishments in 1998 in Ontario alone was $4.99 million or 27.3% of the total value of mineral production in the country. Ontario was followed by Quebec with $3.44 million (18.8%) and British Columbia with $2.9 million (15.8%). Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia were responsible for producing 86.5% of Canada's gold and 90% of the country's copper; 91.7% of the coal was produced in British Columbia, Alberta and Nova Scotia, while 100% of Canada's 'manufactured' oil came from the oil sands m in Alberta.

Of all the minerals and mineral products, 80% are exported and 20% are consumed locally. Minerals and mineral products comprised 14.5% of Canada's total exports in 1998, making it very important to Canadian trade. The top three mineral exports, iron and steel, aluminum and gold, made up 44.6% of the total mineral exports.

21.The student's Daily Routine

I am a student of the Krivoy Rog Technical University. As well as for all students every my day passes almost identically.

As a rule, I get up at half past 5. I put on my dressing-gown, go into bathroom and turn on the bath taps. Good health is better than wealth, so I do my morning exercises. I get breakfast at seven-thirty and listen to the news over the radio. I like to begin the day well, so my breakfast is always a good one. For breakfast I usually have hard-boiled eggs or an omelet, bread and butter, tea or coffee. Then, I say "Good-bye" to my relatives and go to university. I live far from my school, so it doesn't take me long to get there.

The lectures start at 9. Each lecture lasts for one hour and twenty minutes. The lectures are over at two o'clock. I come back home, have dinner, wash up and go shopping. I buy foodstuffs for the family. Coming back I begin to clean the house and get the vegetables ready for supper. We have supper at seven.

I do my homework for the next day. It usually takes me several hours to prepare well for the lectures and practice.

In the evening, I always try to spend at least an hour with my friends. As a rule my parents and I sit and talk, watch a film on TV, read newspapers and magazines. Sometimes, we go to the cinema. I go to bed at about eleven o'clock, but my parents like to sit up late and watch TV.