For thousands of years of development as a species, humans never really needed to understand the real meaning behind big, unreachable numbers such as billions or trillions.
The massive figure includes a recently announced $23.5 billion for state-owned copper miner Codelco to revamp century-old mines that are running out of profitable ore.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the discovery of one of two ships that comprised Sir John Franklin's ill-fated expedition in 1845, which has revived interest in the metals wealth of the Arctic and its ownership.