Editing Economy of Iran (section)

==== Mines and metals ====
{{Main|Mining in Iran}}
[[File:Foolad Mobarakeh50.jpg|thumb|[[Mobarakeh Steel Co.|Mobarakeh]] in [[Isfahan]] is Iran's largest [[Mining in Iran#Stell|steel mill]] listed on the [[Tehran Stock Exchange]].<ref>[http://www.iranbourse.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6bvhjROw2AI%3d&tabid=86&mid=429&forcedownload=true Monthly Bulletin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318122255/http://www.iranbourse.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=6bvhjROw2AI=&tabid=86&mid=429&forcedownload=true |date=March 18, 2012 }}. Tehran Stock Exchange (June 2010). Retrieved April 4, 2011.</ref>]]

Mineral production contributed 0.6% of the country's GDP in 2011,{{citation needed|date=July 2021}} a figure that increases to 4% when mining-related industries are included. Gating factors include poor infrastructure, legal barriers, exploration difficulties, and government control over all resources.<ref name="Austrade">{{cite web |url = http://www.austrade.gov.au/Mining-to-Iran/default.aspx |title = Mining to Iran |access-date = February 5, 2011 |year = 2007 |publisher = [[Australian Government]] |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080723094637/http://www.austrade.gov.au/Mining-to-Iran/default.aspx |archive-date = July 23, 2008 }}</ref> Iran is ranked among the world's 15 major mineral-rich countries.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.infomine.com/countries/iran.asp |title = Mining in Iran |publisher = InfoMine |access-date = October 18, 2011 }}</ref>

Although the petroleum industry provides the majority of revenue, about 75% of all mining sector employees work in mines producing minerals other than oil and natural gas.<ref name="Ministry of Commerce" /> These include coal, iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, chromium, [[barite]], salt, [[gypsum]], [[molybdenum]], [[strontium]], [[silica]], uranium, and gold, the latter of which is mainly a by-product of the [[Sar Cheshmeh]] copper complex operation.<ref>Philip M. Mobbs (2004): [http://www.parstimes.com/library/mineral_industry_2004.pdf The mineral industry of Iran]. Parstimes. Retrieved February 3, 2011.</ref> The mine at Sar Cheshmeh in [[Kerman Province]] is home to the world's second largest store of copper.<ref>{{Cite book |last1 = Curtis |first1 = Glenn |url = https://archive.org/details/irancountrystudy00curt_2/page/167 |last2 = Hooglund |first2 = Eric |title = Iran, a country study |place = Washington, D.C., USA |publisher = [[Library of Congress]] |date = April 2008 |page = [https://archive.org/details/irancountrystudy00curt_2/page/167 167] |isbn = 978-0-8444-1187-3 }}</ref>
Large iron ore deposits exist in central Iran, near Bafq, [[Yazd]] and Kerman. The government owns 90% of all mines and related industries and is seeking foreign investment.<ref name="Austrade" /> The sector accounts for 3% of exports.<ref name="Austrade" />

In 2019, the country was the 2nd largest world producer of [[gypsum]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-gypsum.pdf|title=USGS Gypsum Production Statistics|website=Pubs.usgs.gov|access-date=November 12, 2021}}</ref> the 8th largest world producer of [[molybdenum]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-molybdenum.pdf|title=USGS Molybdenum Production Statistics|website=Pubs.usgs.gov|access-date=November 12, 2021}}</ref> the world's 8th largest producer of [[antimony]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-antimony.pdf|title=USGS Antimony Production Statistics|website=Pubs.usgs.gov|access-date=November 12, 2021}}</ref> the 11th largest world producer of [[iron ore]];<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-iron-ore.pdf|title=USGS Iron Ore Production Statistics|website=Pubs.usgs.gov|access-date=November 12, 2021}}</ref> the 18th largest world producer of [[sulfur]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-sulfur.pdf|title=USGS Sulfur Production Statistics|website=Pubs.usgs.gov|access-date=November 12, 2021}}</ref> in addition to being the 21st largest worldwide producer of [[table salt|salt]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pubs.usgs.gov/periodicals/mcs2021/mcs2021-salt.pdf|title=USGS Salt Production Statistics|website=Pubs.usgs.gov|access-date=November 12, 2021}}</ref> It was the 13th largest producer in the world of [[uranium]] in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.world-nuclear.org/information-library/nuclear-fuel-cycle/mining-of-uranium/world-uranium-mining-production.aspx|title=World Uranium Mining - World Nuclear Association|website=World-nuclear.org|access-date=November 12, 2021}}</ref>

Iran has recoverable coal reserves of nearly 1.9 billion&nbsp;[[short ton]]nes. By mid-2008, the country produced about 1.3 million&nbsp;short tonnes of coal annually and consumed about 1.5 million&nbsp;short tonnes, making it a net importer.<ref name="Iran">{{Cite document |title = Energy and Electricity Forecast |publisher= [[Economist Intelligence Unit]] |year = 2008 }}</ref> The country plans to increase hard-coal production to 5 million&nbsp;tons in 2012 from 2 million&nbsp;tons in November 2008.<ref name="bloomberg.com">[https://archive.today/20120728131036/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601104&sid=a1rzkB_rOKok Iran Plans to Produce 250,000 Tons of Copper in Year to March]. Bloomberg, November 28, 2008. Retrieved November 28, 2008.</ref>

The main steel mills are located in Isfahan and [[Khuzestan]]. Iran became self-sufficient in steel in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nitc.co.ir/iran-daily/1388/3421/html/economy.htm |title=Steel Self-sufficiency |access-date=July 23, 2010 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414124724/http://www.nitc.co.ir/iran-daily/1388/3421/html/economy.htm |archive-date=April 14, 2011 }}. ''Iran Daily'', June 11, 2009.</ref> Aluminum and copper production are projected to hit 245,000 and 383,000&nbsp;tons respectively by March 2009.<ref name="bloomberg.com" /><ref name="ReferenceA" /> Cement production reached 65 million&nbsp;tons in 2009, exporting to 40 countries.<ref name="ReferenceA">[http://www.payvand.com/news/08/nov/1148.html Iran: $30 Billion Dollar to be invested in industry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210031255/http://www.payvand.com/news/08/nov/1148.html |date=December 10, 2008 }}. IRNA, November 15, 2008. Retrieved November 15, 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=213927 Iran exports cement to 40 countries]. ''Tehran Times'', February 8, 2010. Retrieved October 31, 2010.</ref>