---
entity_slug: mine_fertility
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T05:53:02.260524'
overall_score: 4.2
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: The definition clearly distinguishes mine fertility as productivity per
    unit of labor/capital, avoiding circularity and providing measurable criteria.
    It could be slightly more precise about what constitutes "valuable material" but
    otherwise captures a distinct economic concept.
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This concept is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book I, Chapter
    11, where he explicitly discusses how the fertility of mines affects rent and
    pricing. The entity accurately reflects Smith's comparative analysis between mineral
    extraction and agricultural production.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: '"Production" is the correct domain placement as mine fertility directly
    relates to the productive capacity and efficiency of extractive operations. This
    fits naturally within Smith''s broader analysis of productive factors and their
    economic effects.'
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 3.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: Mine fertility maps most naturally to S1 (primary operations) as it describes
    the productive capacity of basic economic units, but it also has some relevance
    to S4 (intelligence) regarding resource assessment. However, it's somewhat abstract
    as a natural characteristic rather than an active system component.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating why mineral
    rents differ from agricultural rents and how natural endowments affect market
    structures. It reveals an important mechanism in Smith's theory of how natural
    factors influence economic outcomes and pricing.
---

# Evaluation: Mine Fertility

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly distinguishes mine fertility as productivity per unit of labor/capital, avoiding circularity and providing measurable criteria. It could be slightly more precise about what constitutes "valuable material" but otherwise captures a distinct economic concept.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This concept is directly grounded in Smith's analysis in Book I, Chapter 11, where he explicitly discusses how the fertility of mines affects rent and pricing. The entity accurately reflects Smith's comparative analysis between mineral extraction and agricultural production.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

"Production" is the correct domain placement as mine fertility directly relates to the productive capacity and efficiency of extractive operations. This fits naturally within Smith's broader analysis of productive factors and their economic effects.

## vsm_relevance — 3.0 / 5.0

Mine fertility maps most naturally to S1 (primary operations) as it describes the productive capacity of basic economic units, but it also has some relevance to S4 (intelligence) regarding resource assessment. However, it's somewhat abstract as a natural characteristic rather than an active system component.

## explanatory_value — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity provides genuine explanatory power by illuminating why mineral rents differ from agricultural rents and how natural endowments affect market structures. It reveals an important mechanism in Smith's theory of how natural factors influence economic outcomes and pricing.
