Lee Allison's Arizona Geology blog recently reported that the latest annual survey from the Fraser Institute showed that Arizona rose from 31st to 15th in "current mineral potential," out of 96 various government jurisdictions internationally.
The Fraser Institute Annual Survey of Mining Companies was sent to approximately 4,100 exploration, development, and other mining-related companies world-wide. It got responses from 742 companies, Allison reported. Allison is Arizona's state geologist and the Arizona Geological Survey's director.
Current mineral potential measures whether a state, province or country's mineral prospects under existing government policies including environmental regulations encourage or discourage mineral exploration, the institute said.
Arizona didn't do as well in a separate but related category known as the policy potential index, where it finished 28th. That index ranks a government on the overall attractiveness of its mining policies. The index "can serve as a report card to governments on how attractive their policies are from the point of view of an exploration manager," the institute said. This state's ranking there rose a notch from 29th a year ago, although Arizona ranked 25th in the previous two years.
The institute noted that considerable overlap exists between the two indexes, adding that's perhaps because "good policy will encourage exploration, which in turn will increase the known mineral potential."
In its report, the institute, a Canadian-based think tank describes itself as "an independent research and educational organization with locations throughout North America, and international partners in over 80 countries."
its world view is toward the free market end of the political spectrum. The institute says, "The Fraser Institute’s vision is a free and prosperous world where individuals benefit from greater choice, competitive markets, and personal responsibility."
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