During much of the current worldwide commodity boom, mining companies focused large parts of their operations on countries with low political risk and reliable infrastructure, such as the U.S., Canada, Chile and Australia. But deposits in those places are being depleted. So, they are setting up operations in some of the most violent, politically turbulent places, according to the NYMEX Direct newsletter.

Phelps Dodge opened the Tenke Fungurume copper and cobalt mine last December in Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of Congo. Expatriate homes for Tenke staff have panic buttons and full-time guards. Workers do role-playing exercises in which fake armed authorities detain them.