ABSTRACT
Thailand produces two minerals of great world importance: tin and fluorspar. Both occur in the granites of the Malay Peninsula. It has been said that fluorspar is often found in tin-barren granites and vice versa. Thailand exports most of the minerals it produces but is totally dependent upon foreign sources for petroleum and hard coal. The fuel supply situation may change, however, in view of the commercial quantities of natural gas found not long ago. Thailand has had several changes of government recently, and its policy toward foreign investment and mining and industrial development is unclear. Thailand’s extensive fluorspar resources can support high-level production for decades. However, the average grade is only fair, and Japan, the principal market, is playing the field for better-grade material. World commodity prices are a matter of great concern to Thai mineral exporters, which partially explains why Thailand generally supports international associations and agreements.
