COMPANY·HISTORIES
NAIC 212222

Silver Ore Mining

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

18companies1877–1996founding years18still active0no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironment
FoundedHomestake Mining CompanyFoundedHomestake Mining Company
1877
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedNV Umicore SAFoundedNV Umicore SA
1906
1908
TechnologyThe Ford Model T brings the automobile to the middle class.
FoundedFreeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.FoundedFreeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.
1912
1913
EconomyThe Federal Reserve is created.
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedNoranda Inc.FoundedNoranda Inc.
1922
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression begins.
1933
EconomyNew Deal reforms reshape banking and industry.
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long postwar expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented at Bell Labs.
1956
EconomyThe Interstate Highway program remakes commerce.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
FoundedRio Tinto PLCFoundedRio Tinto PLC
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedEcho Bay Mines Ltd.FoundedEcho Bay Mines Ltd.
1964
FoundedGrupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V.FoundedGrupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V.
1965
1970
EnvironmentThe EPA is founded; environmental regulation expands.
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; Nasdaq opens.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins with the Altair.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher.
1980
EnvironmentSuperfund law makes polluters pay for cleanup.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedPlacer Dome Inc.FoundedPlacer Dome Inc.
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall 22% in a single day.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
FoundedMeridian Gold, IncorporatedFoundedMeridian Gold, Incorporated
1996
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2001
EconomyThe September 11 attacks; a recession follows.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 begin to take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Homestake Mining Company →
Active · founded 1877
Owner and operator of the oldest gold mine in the United States, Homestake Mining Company is an international gold…
Homestake Mining Company →
Active · founded 1877
Owner and operator of the oldest gold mine in the United States, Homestake Mining Company is an international gold…
NV Umicore SA →
Active · founded 1906 · Belgium
NV Umicore SA--known as Union Minière until late 2001--is one of the world's leading producers of zinc, precious…
NV Umicore SA →
Active · founded 1906 · Belgium
NV Umicore SA--known as Union Minière until late 2001--is one of the world's leading producers of zinc, precious…
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc. →
Active · founded 1912
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold, Inc.
Noranda Inc. →
Active · founded 1922 · Canada
Noranda Inc.
Noranda Inc. →
Active · founded 1922 · Canada
Noranda Inc.
Rio Tinto PLC →
Active · founded 1962 · United Kingdom
An estimated 79 percent of Rio Tinto PLC's assets are in Australia, New Zealand, and North America, with the rest…
Rio Tinto PLC →
Active · founded 1962 · United Kingdom
An estimated 79 percent of Rio Tinto PLC's assets are in Australia, New Zealand, and North America, with the rest…
Echo Bay Mines Ltd. →
Active · founded 1964
Echo Bay Mines Ltd.
Echo Bay Mines Ltd. →
Active · founded 1964
Echo Bay Mines Ltd.
Grupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1965 · Mexico
Grupo Mexico, S.A.
Grupo Mexico, S.A. de C.V. →
Active · founded 1965 · Mexico
Grupo Mexico, S.A.
Placer Dome Inc. →
Active · founded 1987 · Canada
Placer Dome Inc., the fifth largest gold mining company in the world, produces approximately 3.5 million ounces of gold…
Placer Dome Inc. →
Active · founded 1987 · Canada
Placer Dome Inc., the fifth largest gold mining company in the world, produces approximately 3.5 million ounces of gold…
Meridian Gold, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1996
Meridian Gold, Incorporated mines for gold and silver.
Meridian Gold, Incorporated →
Active · founded 1996
Meridian Gold, Incorporated mines for gold and silver.
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