When the People often turn to minerals like gold and silver as a hedge against stock market downturns when the economy goes south, but they are rarely able to keep their mineral investments onsite. However, even when the economy is good, Mick Shmazian understands there are sometimes huge overheads associated with keeping minerals like manufacturers need stockpiled. Also, when they can’t count on a steady supply, it can be too easy for a few large players to manipulate the market to their own benefit, which is usually to the detriment of others, since mineral prices tend to be zero-sum.
Mineral prospecting is a highly skilled profession, and what prospectors do is an extremely important element of mineral production. That is why, even though Mick Shmazian defies the stereotype of a prospector, as a man with a pick and a big hat who uses a burro to move his tools through the canyons of the American Southwest, he still works hard to be the best at what he does. Those who manufacture products that use steady supplies of certain minerals appreciate Mick, as do investors.