When considering the availability of natural resources it is essential to note and understand the significance of the terms used. Confirmed reserves (reflecting precise economic, technical and political factors influencing availability), total resources (based on inferred geological information), and various classifications in between each relate to stages of resource exploration. Enormous difficulties exist in any attempt to accurately assess the resource potential of unknown or barely known geological areas and these difficulties are reflected by the terms used to describe each deposit. It is not currently possible to produce a definitive report on levels of either global tin reserves or resources since any information that is available tends to be reported to different national or international standards and is not comparable.

As with all natural resources, industry only works to confirm reserves for a time period relating to the future business planning requirements of the individual companies concerned. For natural resources in general this period tends to be in the region of 15-20 years; the tin industry tends to the lower limit. This apparent limitation on reserve life often gives a falsely negative impression of the long-term availability of the resource in question.

Exploration in the tin industry to confirm reserves for near-future use has, in particular, been limited by the historically low prices for the metal in the last two decades. Minimal profit margins at production operations were common, and reported reserves therefore also remained low due to a low level of exploration expenditure. It is important to realise that low reported reserve levels do not automatically equate to a shortage of supply in practice.

Although firm data on tin reserve levels is limited by the factors outlined above, it is not correct to believe that the level of tin resource is low. A study sparked by the first oil crisis in 1973 quoted a tin resource level of 37 million tons(1), the equivalent of around 130 years of current mine production. It is also interesting to note that this figure does not contain any reference to countries outside those producing tin at the time i.e. the study makes no mention of Peru, an area that has subsequently become the worlds third largest tin supplier.

The only commonly available tin reserve and resource figures are presented by the USGS (US Geological Survey). It should be noted that the USGS do not have access to any additional information on this subject and the data presented has limitations that stem from the exploration issue outlined above.

Tin can be, and is, recycled to pure high grade metal, or re-used in the form of alloys or chemical products. Recycled material makes a significant contribution to the extension of resource life.

ITRI believes that the supply of tin can be guaranteed for significantly longer than the 15-30 years that is sometimes quoted in general literature.


For further information please contact: kay.nimmo@itri.co.uk

Reference 1:Tin. C L Sainsbury and Bruce L Reed. United States Mineral Resources. US Geological Survey Professional Paper 820. USDI. Washington. 1973