The Environment/ Contents

Mineral resources

Wan Fuad Wan Hassan

Minerals have contributed to Malaysia's economic development from the early years of the 20th century. Of the metallic minerals, tin, gold, copper and iron were and still are important, with tin and its associated pewter industry being the single most significant and lucrative resource. Some of the mineral deposits are now exhausted, and although traditional mining still takes place, non-metallic minerals, such as oil and gas, clay, coal, limestone and silica sand, have eclipsed metallic types in economic importance.

  • Information in the full article includes
  • Why minerals occur
  • Fossil fuels
  • The world’s leading tin producer
  • Other metallic minerals
  • Future resources
Pewter

Perhaps the most well-known by-product of Malaysia's tin industry is pewter ware. Pewter is a silvery grey tin which is alloyed with a small percentage of other metals to give it strength.