The place of the German Democratic Republic in the system of international socialist division of labor in the mining industry is determined by factors common to all countries and specific only for the GDR. The factors favorable for the development of the mining industry of the GDR include the following:1) large reserves and a significant amount of lignite and potassium salts;2) the development of electricity production, chemical and some other industries corresponding to the reserves;3) highly developed production of mining machinery and equipment, especially for surface mining;4) advanced technology and progressive technology of mining, beneficiation and processing of many types of minerals.