Final answer:
The four leading minerals in the Interior Plains are coal, oil, natural gas, and potash, with Alberta, Canada being a central region for their extraction and processing.
Step-by-step explanation:
The four leading minerals in the Interior Plains are coal, oil, natural gas, and potash. This region, particularly centered in the Canadian province of Alberta, is known for its extensive fossil fuel exploration. Both coal and oil, including oil absorbed in tar sands, are extracted in this region. The oil separated from the sands is refined for fuel, contributing heavily to the region's economy. Natural gas, another significant player in the energy sector, is also found in abundance. Lastly, potash, used primarily as a fertilizer, is a key mineral product from this area.
Other minerals such as copper, diamonds, and rare earth elements are present in different parts of the world and contribute to regional economies. For example, Kazakhstan is known for mining many metals, including uranium and even diamonds, whereas Australia has rich reserves of various kinds of minerals across different regions, including coal in Queensland and New South Wales and oil and gas fields in its northwestern waters.