Nevada continues to be top gold producer in the nation – by Suzanne Featherston (Elko Daily Free Press – June 7, 2018)

https://elkodaily.com/

CARSON CITY — Gold production in Nevada increased more than 3 percent in 2017 compared to last year while gold prices were up slightly, according to reports released in May by the Nevada Division of Minerals.

Nevada’s mines produced 5.64 million ounces of gold in 2017. This total was up 3.2 percent from the 2016 production level of 5.47 million ounces. The average annual price of gold increased slightly from $1,251 per ounce in 2016 to $1,257 per ounce in 2017.

Nevada continues to be the nation’s top gold-producing state, contributing 72 percent of the total U.S. gold production in 2017 of 7.88 million ounces, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey.

Gold is Nevada’s No. 1 export, with a 2017 value of about $6.29 billion, the division reported at the SME Northern Nevada Section on May 14, citing statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. Utah is the nation’s only other major gold exporter, with nearly half of Nevada’s production value.

Other states with major precious stone or mineral exports are Alaska, with the biggest export being zinc; and New York, with the biggest export being diamonds. Nevada produced 5.6 percent of total world gold production in 2017, ranking fifth behind China, Australia, Russia and Canada.

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