MINERALS

Alaska is the largest producer of zinc in the United States, responsible for over 50 percent of the 1992 domestic mine production. Recent Alaska zinc output has decreased U.S. net import reliance by about 22 percent (from 61-48 percent). Green Creek Mine on Admiralty Island in Southeast Alaska was the largest silver mine in the United States from 1989 through 1992. The total Alaska silver production for 1992 represented over 17 percent of the U.S. total mine output. Alaska has the largest placer mining industry in the United States producing over 262,000 ounces of raw gold in 1992. Developing hard rock gold mines are poised to raise Alaska's gold production to over 1,000,000 ounces. Alaska currently produces over 1.5 million tons of low sulfur coal annually. About half of this coal is used to fuel interior Alaska power plants, the remainder is exported to South Korea under long term contract