Mining remains one of the province’s most important and valuable industries.

While the industry has seen its ups and downs in recent years, Natural Resources Minister Siobhan Coady says there were almost $4.3 billion in mineral shipments in this province in 2019, employing more than 6,300 people.

Coady says government efforts are underway to strengthen the mining sector with the aim to make Newfoundland and Labrador a globally competitive, top tier jurisdiction for mineral exploration and development.

Coady says a recent Geological Survey discovered traces of rubies and sapphires in the rocks near Hopedale, Labrador. The surrounding geology is similar to that in parts of Greenland where ruby and sapphires are currently mined.