(a) The tax rate shall be at an amount equal to one tenth of one percent (.1%), not to exceed one tenth of one percent, of the gross income from the business activity upon every person engaging or continuing in the business of mining, smelting, or producing for sale, profit, or commercial use any copper, gold, silver, or other mineral product, compound, or combination of mineral products; but not including the extraction, removal, or production of sand, gravel, or rock from the ground for sale, profit, or commercial use.
(b) The rate specified in subsection (a) above shall be applied to the value of the entire product mined, smelted or produced for sale, profit, or commercial use, when such activity occurs within the City, regardless of the place of sale of the product or the fact that delivery may be made to a point without the City or without the State.
(c) If any person engaging in any business classified in this Section ships or transports products, or any part thereof, out of the State without making sale of such products, or ships his products outside of the State in an unfinished condition, the value of the products or articles in the condition or form in which they existed when transported out-of-State and before they enter interstate commerce shall be the basis for assessment of the tax imposed by this Section.