Thailand ranked second in tungsten and third in tin production and ranked fifth in feldspar and eighth in gypsum. The country also has considerable resources of diatomic, dolomite, limestone, potash and rock salt
GOLD GOLD GOLDthais love the stuff
Thailand's major minerals include fluorite, gypsum, lead, lignite, natural gas, rubber, tantalum, tin and tungsten. The tin mining industry has declined sharply since 1985, and so Thailand has become a net importer of tin. As of 2008, the main mineral export was gypsum. Thailand is the world's second largest exporter of gypsum after Canada, even though government policy limits gypsum exports to prevent price cuts. In 2003 Thailand produced more than 40 types of minerals with an annual value of about US$740 million. However, more than 80 percent of these minerals were consumed domestically. In September 2003, in order to encourage foreign investment in the mining industry, the government relaxed severe restrictions on mining by foreign companies and reduced mineral royalties payable to the state.
