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Originally Posted by fringe_dweller
Thanks Argonavis - acknowledged, but surely mining (in its varying guises) has been a consistent integral and underwriting part of Australia's history the whole time? along with the sheeps back and all that.
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My economic history is a little rusty, but I remember that Australia has been primarily a minerals exporter most of the last 200 or so years. Wool was only a major export earner in the 1830's and sometime in the 1900's - once gold was discovered in 1850 it made Australia the wealthest nation on earth for a time, and since then most exports have been minerals - iron ore, copper, silver, bauxite. The stock exchanges in the last century were dominated by BHP, Pancon, RioTinto etc. This mineral wealth has made Australia a lucky country despite the poor agicultural soils and harsh climate. Uranium is one part of this mix.