Texasgulf mineral bounty falling to overseas control

The United States is losing its hold on a rich mixture of silver, oil, copper , zinc, and sulfur operations around the nation as Canadian and French companies take control of Texasgulf Inc. Despite attempts by the US government to block the takeover, the French government-controlled oil firm, Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine, and Canada Development Corporation have bought enough stock to force remaining stockholders to sell their shares of Texasgulf, which had sales of $1 billion last year. It was considered a triumph for Canada, which for years had chafed as US companies bought into Canadia n ones.