Although more than 50 kinds of minerals have been found in Taiwan, total mineral resources are modest. Coal is the most important, reserves occurring near Taibei and in several other areas of the north amounting to about 254,000,000 tons. Deposits of copper and gold are found in Taibei area. Iron and sand reserves are small. Sulfur and sulfur-pyrite reserves amount to about 2,500,000 tons, with deposits in north of Taipei.

Dolomite

Marble and limestone are abundant in Hualian on the east coast, which has reserves of 330,000,000 tons. Dolomite (limestone or marble rich in magnesium carbonate) is mostly deposited near Hualian. Petroleum, phosphorus, and natural gas exist in small quantities and occurrences of manganese, asbestos, talc, glass sand, and other minerals have been found.

Salt is produced by the evaporation of seawater. Forest is most abundant in the high mountains. One of the natural resources of Taiwan is camphor laurel, from which a great deal of camphor is produced.

Annual coal production averages between 4,000,000 and 4,500,000 tons. Copper production is about 3,900 tons. Quarrying of marble exceeds 1,100,000 tons and of dolomite 55,000 tons. Annual production of crude petroleum is about 88,000 tons and that natural gas about 1,200,000. Salt production is located mainly on the southwestern coast.

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