By Chris Sherwood
Chile is a beautiful country with one of the most diverse landscapes in all of the world. With many different climate zones, the biodiversity and mineral resources available in Chile are some of the most diverse available. In fact many of the worlds endangered animals and rare commodities are available in Chile alone. Chile's natural resources are also diversified and range from common minerals to sources of natural energy and electrical power.
Minerals
Chile is a mineral-rich country that boasts a large amount of available minerals. The most common minerals located within the country are copper, iron ore and molybdenum. Molybdenum is an element commonly used to make high strength steel alloys. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Chile also contains other mineral resources such as crude iodine, diatomite, feldspar, ferromanganese and silicomanganese, gold, gypsum, rhenium, selenium, silver and zinc.
Timber
Chile also has a thriving timber industry made of southern beeches, manio and broad leaf evergreen trees. Chile is also where most of the temperate rain forests left in the world are located. These rain forest areas allow for some of the most diverse wildlife which has recently been threatened by the rarely regulated timber industry in Chile.
Oil
Chile started producing crude oil around 1980 with about 30 thousand barrels of crude oil produced per day. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, that number has dropped dramatically due to a decrease in available resources to only three thousand barrels of oil per day as of 2006.
Hydroelectric Power
Chile is also a large producer of hydroelectric power using its vast water systems to harness natural power. According to the United States Energy Information Administration, Chile has gone from producing about seven billion KWH in 1980, to well over 28 billion KWH in 2006.
Resources
About the Author:
Chris Sherwood is a professional journalist who specializes in health and fitness, diseases, medical and health research, and drug and alcohol effects research. Sherwood works in healthcare administration, specifically with wound care, medical billing and insurance.
