An estimate of the world tungsten demand and supply until 2018 has been made. The figures were obtained by extrapolating from past trends of tungsten production from1905, and its demand from 1964. In addition, estimate suggestions of major production and investment companies were taken into account with regard to implementations of new projects for mining of tungsten or possible termination of its standing extraction. It can be assumed that tungsten supply will match demand by 2018. This suggestion is conditioned by successful implementation of new tungsten extraction projects, and full application of tungsten recycling methods.

Each mining project goes through the same life-cycle, from prospecting and exploration to closure and post-closure periods. This prompts the question whether the closure of a mine constitutes the end of its life-cycle or whether the decommissioned mine can be employed for some other purpose. Best-practice references indicate that there are many viable options. In our opinion, the production of service water is one such option. Laboratory research was carried out on the water from a flooded underground coal mine in Ostrava-Karvina coal district, Czech Republic, concerning the production of service water from pumped mine-water. The research proved the practical feasibility of service or process water production. Given the effect of global climate change with regard to water resources, good prospects for this additional resource can be assumed since the water has to be pumped in any case for safety reasons.

Článek se zabývá využitím diskriminační analýzy pro predikci budoucího vývoje firmy. Je testován předpoklad vícerozměrné normality diskriminátorů a jsou identifikovány vybočující hodnoty. Redukce původních datových souborů o vybočující data přispívá k přiblížení rozložení dat vícerozměrné normalitě a vede k podstatnému zlepšení klasifikační schopnosti diskriminační funkce

The paper has focused on market for critical raw materials and its influence on mineral prices. Usually ores and ore products are deemed critical raw materials if they mostly or totally come from foreign countries, have difficult replacement, and are vital for the Nation’s economy, especially for defence issues. Tungsten, niobium, graphite and lithium were chosen for analysis from the critical mineral commodities declared by the European Commission and the Government of the Czech Republic. An analysis of these mineral commodity market conditions has been made, and their impacts on particular mineral availability and price have been assessed. As regards tungsten supplies, there are relatively many producer countries with the existing or developing extraction structures, but China has at its disposal 60% of the deposits. Lithium reserves are sufficient, but supplies are highly concentrated – four producer companies deliver about 90% of lithium in the world. Also niobium supplies are extremely concentrated, in the period, 2009–2012, two Brazilian mines and a single Canadian one produced 99% of niobium in the world. The biggest world producer of natural graphite is China that dominates 70% of the market. Natural resources of the above mentioned mineral commodities are not critical. The Earth’s crust deposits are sufficient for long - -term exploitation, and what’s more, a technology has been patented for lithium recycling. What rather matters is the issue of the free play of market forces. The theoretical preconditions for the free play of market forces and balanced price convergence – market presence of many various producers and many customers – are disturbed by producer structure, high concentration of mining com - panies and countries. Free market interference is implied in dominance of individual producer countries or production companies, and their ability to decide about production levels and related prices. Nevertheless, the inevitable rise of mineral commodity prices will mean that exploitation of some sources, which are currently deemed uneconomical, may become interesting.

The paper takes into account mineral commodities that have been listed as critical by the EU Commission. It concentrates attention on the issue of global demand/supply balances, and summarizes causes for critical listing of these commodities.