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The primary natural resources of Ireland include natural gas, petroleum, peat, copper, lead, dolomite, barite, limestone, gypsum, silver and zinc. Key industries based on these and other natural resources include fishing, mining, and various forms of agriculture and fish farming. In taking advantage of natural resources, Ireland's experience with state-sponsored renewable energy projects stretches back to 1925, and the Ardnacrusha project. Other new and renewable energy projects include other hydroelectric, solar, and wind power initiatives, including one of the country's first wind farms at Bellacorick in 1992. The Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources is charged with the legislative protection of the country's natural resources and is lead by the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. ==Mining== The historic and archaeological record of the island demonstrates a history of mining dating to Bronze Age Ireland, when the south was an important copper producer - including from sites at Ross Island, Kerry, Allihies, Cork and later Bunmahon, Waterford. Mining become more industrialised during the Industrial Revolution,〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Mining in Ireland )〕 and gold mining experienced some growth - including a "gold rush" in the late 18th and early 19th centuries at Gold Mines River, Wicklow. Later 20th and 21st century gold-mining plans were met with significant opposition owing to the expected environmental impact.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher= RTE )〕 By the late 20th century, Ireland became a significant player in the industry, ranking highly in a Fraser Institute survey.〔(【引用サイトリンク】 publisher =Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources )〕 As of 2007, Ireland produced 38% of Western Europe’s zinc and 25% of its lead,〔(【引用サイトリンク】 title= Irish Zinc Industry )〕 from lead and zinc mines including Lisheen Mine, Tipperary, Tara Mine, Meath, and Galmoy Mine, Kilkenny. As of the 21st century, mining companies operating in Ireland include: *Anglo-American plc - a mining and natural resources company with interests in gold, platinum, diamonds, coal, base and ferrous metals, industrial minerals and forest products.〔()〕 *Arcon - an Irish registered mineral and mining exploration organisation that managed the Galmoy Zinc Mine.〔()〕 Galmoy is now run by the Swedish owned company Lundin. *New Boliden - a mining and smelting company with operations in Sweden, Finland, Norway and Ireland. Boliden's main minerals are copper, zinc, lead, gold and silver.〔()〕 *Conroy Diamonds and Gold - established in 1995 to exploit the discovery of the Galmoy Ore deposits. Its current activities are on a geological structure known as the Longford-Down Massif.〔()〕 *Hereward Ventures plc - focused on the exploration of gold in Bulgaria, and base-land minerals in Ireland.〔()〕 *Minco Mining & Metals Corporation - engages in the acquisition, search and development of base and precious metal properties.〔()〕 *Minco plc - an active zinc explorer, focusing on Pallas Green in Limerick where excavation shows some zinc mineralisation.〔()〕 Primary raw material industries in Ireland include those involving steel, lead, zinc, silver, aluminium, barite, and gypsum mining processing. Heavy industry relying on these materials is centered around key cities such as Belfast, Dublin, Cork, and other port cities. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Natural resources of Ireland」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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