Africa has a diverse array of minerals, many of which are some of the richest deposits in the world. There are large reserves of oil, coal, ores of ferrous and especially non-ferrous metals (iron, manganese, copper, zinc, tin, chromites), rare metals and uranium ores, as well as bauxites. Of the non-metallic minerals, the deposits of phosphorites and graphite are of the greatest value.
The processes of mineralization proceeded mainly in the eras of the most ancient folding - in the Precambrian and at the beginning of the Paleozoic. In view of the fact that the ancient foundation of the platform is exposed mainly in Equatorial and South Africa, it is in these areas that all the most important deposits of ore minerals are concentrated. Deposits of copper in the Republic of South Africa, chromites in Southern Rhodesia, tin and tungsten in Nigeria, manganese in Ghana, and graphite on the island of Madagascar are associated with the metamorphization of the most ancient Archean and Proterozoic formations. However highest value among the minerals of the Precambrian is gold.
It is known that Africa has long and steadily retained the first place among the countries of the capitalist world in gold mining. Its main reserves are concentrated in the thickness of the Proterozoic conglomerates in the Republic of South Africa (Johannesburg), and the mines are of particular value. Mineralization processes during the Cambrian period led mainly to the accumulation of polymetallic ores, as well as ores of non-ferrous and rare metals.
Among the areas of Cambrian mineralization, first of all, the so-called Central African copper belt stands out, stretching from the Katanga region (in the southeast of the Congo) through Northern and Southern Rhodesia to East Africa. Numerous deposits within this belt are mainly epigenetic, characterized by a high metal content and provide the main amount of copper, for the extraction of which Africa ranks second among the capitalist countries. Along with copper, cobalt, lead, tin and tungsten are mined in this zone.
In Katanga, in the Kazolo-Shinkolobwe region, one of the world's most important uranium ore deposits with a very high uranium content (0.3-0.5%) is exploited. The second large area of Cambrian mineralization is concentrated in South Africa, where the formation of a number of large deposits occurred in connection with powerful outpourings of basic lavas and intrusions of granite batholiths. Complex processes of contact metamorphism ended with the formation of large deposits of platinum ores, gold, chromites, titanomagnetite ores.
In addition to non-ferrous metal ores, there are iron ore deposits in South Africa. Iron ores are generally low grade; it is believed that most of them were deposited in brackish sea or ocean waters. Their accumulation, which began as early as the Precambrian, continued into the Silurian. The main deposits are concentrated in the Pretoria region and in Capland. The third area of concentration of Cambrian polymetallic ores is the Moroccan highlands of the Atlas Mountains, in which the oldest rocks of the entire mountain system are exposed.
The mines of Morocco produce cobalt, molybdenum, zinc and lead. By the end of the Paleozoic and the beginning of the Mesozoic era, when the African platform experienced a relatively calm tectonic stage of development and thick strata of continental deposits were deposited on its ancient core, the formation of formations containing coals belongs. The coal basins in the Republic of South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, the Republic of the Congo (with Leopoldville as its capital), Tanganyika, and the island of Madagascar are of the greatest industrial importance.
To the north of the equator during this period of time there was an accumulation of iron and manganese ores of sedimentary origin and oil in the continental sandstones of the Sahara. Significantly more favorable conditions for the formation of various minerals were established at the end of the Mesozoic era, when the sea from the Tethys geosyncline region transgressed to the north of Africa and faults began, leading to the isolation of the African block, accompanied by active volcanism and the intrusion of large granite batholiths.
The group of areas of platform Africa includes the territory of almost the entire African platform, with the exception of its eastern outskirts - the Abyssinian Highlands, the Somali Peninsula and the East African Plateau. On this vast area, anteclises and syneclises of the ancient basement repeatedly alternate, and therefore the relief forms characteristic of the outcrops of the ancient basement and areas of development of the sedimentary cover replace each other.
The largest and most complex in structure and relief region of the Sahara-Sudanese plains and plateaus occupies the northern part of the platform, from the Atlas Mountains to the North Guinean Upland and the Azande Rise. In this area, the ancient foundation protrudes three times. In the west, it is exposed in the plains of the Karet-Yetti crystalline peneplain (up to 500 m high), in the region of the Ragibat shield. In the center, the ancient foundation was raised in the highlands of Ahaggar and Tibesti and the southern spurs of Ahaggar (Adrar-Iforas and Lir plateau). The uplift occurred along the fault lines of the northwest strike.
Volcanism and volcanic landforms are associated with faults - phonolitic peaks of Ahaggar (Mount Tahat 3005 m), basalt plateaus and extinct volcanoes Tibesti (Emi-Kycsu) -3415 m). On the eastern outskirts of the Sahara, the western wing of the Eritrean crystalline arch rises above the Red Sea as a blocky ridge of Etbay (the highest point of Mount Esh-Shayib 2184m), steeply plunging towards the coast. The areas of outcrops of crystalline rocks and their characteristic landforms are surrounded on all sides by covers of sedimentary deposits that make up low plains and medium-altitude plateaus. Lowlands occupy a limited area within the region. In front of the Caretietti plains lies the Atlantic accumulative sea plain; a strip of lowland also stretches along the coast of Libya and the UAR. It occupies the zone of subsidence of the edge of the African Platform to the Mediterranean geosynclinal region. In the RAR, on the lowland, there are several depressions lying below sea level (the depth of Qattara reaches -133 m), worked out by exogenous processes in monoclinal structures.
In front of the Atlas Mountains lies the foredeep of the platform, which is only in the east, near the Gulf of Gabes, expressed in relief as an area of recent subsidence. The lowest places of the basin are vast saline plains (Schotts) lying below the ocean level (Schott Melgir has a mark of -30 m). Most of the Pre-Atlas trough is made up of sedimentary strata that make up piedmont plateaus dissected by dry valleys. The crystalline peneplain of Karet-Yetti is separated from Ahaggar by the low stratified plains of El Jof and the stepped plateau of Tanezruft. The El Jof plains occupy most of the Aravan-Tauden syneclise filled with Paleozoic formations; the Tanezruft Plateau constitutes the western link of the ring of cuest ridges (tassili), worked out in monoclinal sedimentary rocks uplifted along the slopes of Ahaggar and Tibe
And South Africa. The comparison takes place according to the following points: a) part of the mainland b) landforms c) heights d) what rocks it is composed of e) the predominant minerals 1. What differences in the structure of the African platform affected the relief of North and West Africa, as well as East and South Africa ? 2. What parts of the mainland are the most elevated and why? 3. Which Africa...
They arise in the process of metamorphism of rocks that did not represent industrial value before, due to the rearrangement of mineral matter. Represented mainly by non-metallic minerals. Metamorphic deposits of marbles, quartzites, jasper, andalusite, staurolite, graphite and others are known. Magmatogenic deposits Magmatogenic deposits (deep and...
1.1 2. PROTECTION OF MINERAL RESOURCES 2.1 Main directions for rational use and protection of subsoil Subsoil protection is understood as a science-based rational and careful use of minerals, the most complete, technically accessible and economically feasible extraction, waste disposal, and elimination of damage caused to natural landscapes. Basic...
The predominant industry is crop production. There are two areas in the structure of crop production: the production of food crops for local consumption and the production of export crops. Crops consumed in Africa include: millet, sorghum, rice, wheat, corn, cassava, yams and sweet potatoes. The main crops of the African continent are millet and sorghum, ...
Africa is exceptionally rich in natural resources. It is one of the main suppliers of ferrous and non-ferrous metal ores for the global metallurgical industry. The continent boasts graphite deposits, deposits of oil and natural gas, and relatively small deposits of coal.
And yet the main treasure of Africa is the deposits of gold and gem diamonds. In addition, there are deposits of uranium ores on the mainland, the uranium content of which reaches 0.3%.
Features of the relief of Africa and their impact on mineral deposits
The processes of mineralization of the bowels of the African continent took place in the Precambrian period, as well as at the beginning of the Paleozoic. And since the ancient foundation of the continental platform rose to the surface in the southern parts and in the region of Equatorial Africa, it is there that all the most important places of occurrence of ore minerals are concentrated.
Metamofroses in the layers of ancient Archean and Proterozoic plates in various parts of the mainland led to the formation of deposits of chromites in Southern Rhodesia, copper ore in the South African region, tungsten and tin in Nigeria, as well as graphite in Madagascar and manganese in Ghana.
As a result of hydrothermal processes in the bowels of the mainland in West Africa, gold deposits were formed. South Africa is rich in gold ore of igneous origin.
Africa is so rich in diamonds that even one of the types of diamond pipes - kimberlite - was named after the African province of Kimberley, where this type of pipe was first discovered. Kimberlite pipes are the so-called primary deposits of diamonds formed from graphite, which was under pressure for a long time deep in the layers of the Earth (at a depth of 100 to 200 km), was modified into diamond and brought to the surface by magma during volcanic eruptions.
Types of minerals in Africa
combustible minerals
Coal(deposits in South Africa). Formed from parts of ancient plants, it is one of the most important energy resources today.
Oil(deposits in Libya, Algeria and Nigeria). Refers to fossil fuels, has an oily liquid structure, consists of hydrocarbons of various masses. Highly valued in the world.
Ferrous metal ores
manganese ores(deposits in South Africa). Used as an additive to iron alloys to give them hardness and strength, for the production of alloyed iron and steel.
Chromite ores(deposits in South Africa). From chromites, chromium is extracted, which is an indispensable component of stainless and heat-resistant superalloys.
Titanium magnetite ores(deposits in South Africa). Ores containing vanadium are the rarest ferrous metal. It is used for the production of grade alloys of steel and cast iron.
Ores of non-ferrous metals
Aluminum(deposits of bauxite in Cameroon). It has a wide application due to its lightness, high thermal and electrical conductivity, resistance to corrosion. The most common metal in earth's crust.
Copper(deposits in the copper belt of the Republic of the Congo and Zambia). The most valuable among non-ferrous metals. It is used in the power engineering industry, in mechanical engineering, as well as in the production of various alloys.
Lead(SOUTH AFRICA). It is part of such minerals as cerussite, galena, anglisite, etc. It is widely used in the automotive, electrical, electronic and military industries.
Nickel(SOUTH AFRICA). It is used for the production of nickel steel, as a coating for various metal alloys, in the manufacture of coins, etc. In the earth's crust, it is present only in the composition of various ores.
Cobalt(Republic of the Congo and Zambia). It is used for the manufacture of high strength alloys and in the production of powerful magnets.
Tin. Most tin is mined from the mineral cassiterite (tin stone). The metal is safe, corrosion resistant and non-toxic, so it is mainly used as a coating.
Antimony(Republic of the Congo). Contained mainly in the ore mineral antimonite. It is used for the manufacture of flame retardants - compounds that reduce the flammability of various materials.
precious metal ores
Gold(SOUTH AFRICA). A precious metal used in jewelry and other industries. It is found in the composition of ore, as well as in pure form in water sources.
Platinum and platinoids(SOUTH AFRICA). It is the rarest and most expensive among precious metals. It is valued for its refractoriness, high resistance to corrosion and oxidation, high strength and electrical conductivity.
Ores of rare and radioactive metals
There are deposits of mineral ores on the African continent, from which niobium (northern Nigeria), tantalum (Egypt), cesium (Zimbabwe and Namibia), radioactive uranium (Namibia and South Africa) are mined.
Diamonds
The most famous among gems. They are highly valued as jewelry, and are also widely used in industry due to their hardness.
Resources and deposits
Consider briefly the largest mineral deposits in Africa. The continent is considered a leading supplier of gold, platinum and diamonds. The first place in the world in the extraction of gold and platinum belongs to South Africa (in 2011, 198 tons of gold and 151 tons of platinum were mined in the country). Also, large deposits of these metals are located in Zimbabwe, Ghana, the Republic of the Congo and Mali. Zambia holds the lead in copper mining in the world, and Zambia, together with the Congo, leads in cobalt deposits.
Priceless reserves of minerals are concentrated in the bowels of South Africa: 91% of the world's manganese ores, 58% of chromite ores and 50% of vanadium deposits. Cameroon holds 3.8% of the world's aluminum reserves.
The richest diamond deposits are located in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Namibia and Angola. It is noteworthy that 100% of the diamonds mined in Namibia are of gem value.
There are large oil fields in Algeria (15th place in the world), Libya, Nigeria and Egypt. The northern coast of the continent is rich in iron, manganese and lead-zinc ores.
All states are usually divided into poor and rich. Prosperous include countries rich in minerals. The deposits of these resources are almost always inexhaustible and serve the state for quite a long time. Statisticians made calculations and identified the richest countries in the world.
On the one hand, it is rich in minerals only due to its area, and on the other hand, it needs to constantly work on transporting timber and building gas pipelines.
All innovations cost the state a lot of money. In terms of the presence of coal, Russia takes an honorable 2nd place, and in terms of gold mining - 3rd place, since Africa is the leader in this matter.
Fossil USA
The second place in the top is occupied by the United States of America. They have resources worth 45 trillion US dollars. In terms of black gold content, they are not among the top ten, but the cost of all the gas they own can be estimated at $3 trillion. This country is rich in timber ($10 trillion).
A third of the world's coal reserves are located in the United States. Today, it is his deposits that are most valued in the world. America has a lot of forests, so the country is famous for its timber exports. Forest plantations are estimated at 11 trillion dollars. They occupy 11 trillion acres of land. It is known that almost 90% of all minerals are coal and wood. The USA ranks 5th in the world in terms of copper, gold and gas content.
Fossils of Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia is considered to be the third leader, because the total value of the region's resources is 34.4 trillion US dollars. Oil product reserves on its territory amount to 31.5 trillion dollars, while Saudi Arabia has stockpiled gas for almost 3 trillion dollars. In terms of wood content, Arabia is not among the top ten.
It is in this country that black gold is mined in impressive volumes. Thus, the country has almost 20% of the world's oil. It produces gas, according to the content of which Saudi Arabia ranks 5th in the world ranking. These deposits are not replenished, so in a few decades the state will leave the top ten.
Canada, Iran and China
Canada is in 4th place in terms of reserves. The total value of its resources is $33.2 trillion. There are $21 trillion of black gold reserves in the state, which corresponds to 178.1 billion barrels. In terms of natural gas content, the region is not among the top ten, but the wood in it is worth 11.3 trillion dollars. The total forest area is 775 million acres.
A state like Canada was not among the top ten for a very long time until an oil sands deposit was discovered. Phosphates and phosphorites are mined in this state. Canada ranks 2nd in the world in terms of uranium ore content and 3rd in terms of the amount of timber.
Major mining areas in Canada
In terms of the number of minerals, it ranks 5th in the top ten. In Iran, the amount of oil is estimated at 16.1 trillion US dollars, and gas - at 11.2 trillion dollars. This country is considered to be rich in natural gas. Approximately 16% of the world's reserves are located here. Iran ranks third in terms of oil production.
China ranked 6th on the list. It does not have huge reserves of oil and gas, but it boasts of its forest plantations. There are 6.5 trillion dollars worth of them in the region. It contains 13% of all world coal reserves.
Resources from other countries
Brazil is ranked 7th. The main foreign exchange earnings come from iron ore and timber. Recently, offshore oil deposits have been discovered in the region. 8th place should be given to Australia. The total value of its resources amounted to 19.9 trillion American currency. In terms of oil and natural gas content, this territory is not among the top ten.
Australia is very rich in forest plantations, coal, copper, iron. The country is among the leaders in gold mining - 14.3%. Also on its territory there is a huge amount of natural gas. The region shares this wealth with Indonesia, as natural gas is on the border.
On the 9th place in terms of resource leaders is Iraq. The total cost is 15.9 trillion US dollars, of which 13.6 trillion falls on the most demanded minerals, like oil, and 1.3% on natural gas. By the amount of timber, the region cannot take a leading position.
Iraq has long been the leader in oil reserves. There are 115 billion barrels of it in the region and this corresponds to 1/10 of all world reserves. However, the state extracts and uses only a minimal part of this resource, since disagreements constantly arise in the country between the government of the center and Kurdistan. These 2 regions cannot share oil deposits. In this region, there are many reserves of such an element as phosphorite (1.1 trillion dollars).
10th place in the list of wealthy countries belongs to Venezuela. The total value of its resources is 14.3 trillion dollars. Of this amount, oil deposits account for almost 12 trillion dollars, and natural gas is at the level of 2 trillion dollars. By the amount of gas, the country ranks 8th in the top 10 best. Proved gas reserves amount to 5.4 trillion m³, i.e. 3% of the world reserve.
Africa. Physico-geographical essay. Minerals
Minerals.
In Africa, deposits of almost all known types of minerals have been established (see mineral map). Among other continents, Africa ranks 1st in the reserves of ores of manganese, chromites, bauxites, gold, platinoids, cobalt, vanadium, diamonds, phosphorites, fluorite, 2nd in reserves of ores of copper, asbestos, uranium, antimony, beryllium, graphite , 3rd - in terms of oil, gas, mercury, iron ore reserves; there are also significant reserves of ores of titanium, nickel, bismuth, lithium, tantalum, niobium, tin, tungsten, precious stones and other minerals.
Combustible minerals.
In terms of oil and natural gas reserves, Africa is inferior to the Near and Middle East, as well as North America. As of the beginning of 1984, reliable oil reserves in Africa amounted to about 8 billion tons (or 9.5% of the industrially developed capitalist and developing countries).
Reliable reserves of natural gas (mainly methane composition) have reached almost 6 trillion cubic meters. m 3 , or 12.4% of the reserves of industrialized capitalist and developing countries. The main areas of oil and gas concentration are concentrated in the Mediterranean subsidence zone - in the Sahara-Mediterranean oil and gas basin (Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt) and the Gulf of Suez basin (Egypt), as well as in the zone of pericratonic troughs of West Africa - the Gulf of Guinea basin (Nigeria, Gabon, Congo, Angola, Zaire). Single oil deposits have been discovered in many African countries (Cameroon, Ghana, Senegal, Kenya, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Mozambique, etc.). There are significant prospects for oil and gas potential within the shelf of the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. North Africa (primarily Libya and Algeria) is estimated to account for 60% of all discovered deposits, which account for about 70% of the proven oil and gas reserves on the continent.
Coal reserves - 155.7 billion tons, of which measured - 126.1 billion tons (beginning of 1984). Reserves mostly include bituminous coals and anthracites; brown coal reserves are estimated at only 189 million tons, including measured ones - 119 million tons. Over 80% of the reserves are in South Africa (129 billion tons). Among other African countries, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Botswana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Madagascar, Tanzania, Zambia.
Metal minerals.
In terms of iron ore reserves, Africa ranks second (after America) among other continents (42.3 billion tons, early 1984, including 15.5 billion tons proven). Reserves of manganese ores - 12.7 billion tons, including reliable 1.9 billion tons (early 1984). Almost 90% of the reserves are in South Africa, 3.5% in Gabon, and the rest is in Morocco, Ghana, and Zaire.
Chromium ore reserves - 4.1 billion tons (early 1984), including almost 78% of the reserves are in South Africa, 21% in Zimbabwe, which practically exhausts the reserves of industrially developed capitalist and developing countries. Reserves of titanium ores are insignificant (9.2 million tons of rutile and 77 million tons of ilmenite in terms of TiO 2 , early 1984). Reserves of vanadium ores are concentrated mainly in South Africa (92% of the total reserves of industrialized capitalist and developing countries, 13.9 million tons of V 2 O 5).
Bauxite reserves - more than 25 billion tons (60% of the reserves of industrialized capitalist and developing countries), proven reserves are estimated at 12.3 billion tons. The largest deposits are concentrated in Guinea (21 billion tons), Cameroon, Ghana, Mali, Sierra -Leone, Congo, Malawi, Madagascar.
Reserves of copper ores are estimated at 162.7 million tons (in terms of metal), including proven 78.9 million tons (early 1984). The most important deposits of copper ores are located in the so-called Copper Belt of Central Africa, passing through Zaire. Zaire accounts for 36% of Africa's copper reserves, Zambia for 54%.
With an abundance of ore occurrences in general, Africa is poor in deposits of lead ores (metal reserves over 16 million tons, including proven 11 million tons) and zinc (metal reserves over 31 million tons, including proven 24.7 million tons) . There are three major distribution areas - North African (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia), Central African (Zambia, Zaire), South African (Namibia, South Africa). The main lead reserves (54%) are in South Africa (over 9 million tons of metal). Zinc reserves are distributed as follows: South Africa accounts for 16 million tons, Zaire 7.0 million tons, Morocco - 2.1 million tons, Algeria - 2 million tons, Namibia - 1 million tons.
Reserves of nickel ores - 16.8 million tons of metal (early 1984), including proven 5.2 million tons. Reserves of cobalt ores (early 1984) - 2.26 million tons (in terms of metal). Almost all of Africa's reserves are concentrated in the deposits of the copper belt of Zaire and Zambia.
Reserves of mercury ores (12 thousand tons, in terms of metal, early 1984) account for about 11% of mercury reserves in industrially developed capitalist and developing countries. The main reserves are concentrated in Algeria.
Over 30 antimony and antimony-containing deposits contain 455 thousand tons of metal (over 20% of the reserves of industrially developed capitalist and developing countries, early 1984).
Reserves of tungsten ores - 83 thousand tons of metal. Deposits of tungsten ores are numerous, but their reserves are small.
Reserves of tin ores - 750 thousand tons of metal, including proven 370 thousand tons (early 1984). The reserves of beryllium ores (in terms of BeO) are estimated at 192 thousand tons, including 27 thousand tons in Zimbabwe, 40.2 thousand tons in Uganda, and 42 thousand tons in South Africa.
Reserves of cesium ores - 40 thousand tons (in terms of Cs 2 O), lithium ores 875 thousand tons (in terms of LiO), tantalum ores 65 thousand tons (Ta 2 O 5).
In terms of reserves of gold ores, Africa occupies a leading position. The most important on a global scale are the fields of the Witwatersrand (South Africa), which contain 93% of the reserves and 94% of the production of the continent. Gold reserves in South Africa are estimated at 35 thousand tons (60% of the reserves of industrially developed capitalist and developing countries).
The main reserves of platinum ores (18.18 thousand tons, or 97% of the reserves of industrially developed capitalist and developing countries, 1984) are in the bowels of South Africa.
Sufficiently substantiated proven reserves of uranium (early 1984) amount to 535,000 tons (at a price of less than $80 per 1 kg). The most significant reserves (thousand tons): in South Africa (191), Niger (160), Namibia (119), Algeria (26), Gabon (19). The reserves of uranium deposits in Somalia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Zaire, Angola, Morocco, Algeria, and Egypt have not yet been estimated.
Non-metallic minerals.
Significant reserves of apatite ores - 1.6 billion tons (including reliable 547.2 million tons), which corresponds to 28% of the reserves of industrially developed capitalist and developing countries. Reserves of high-quality phosphorites 70 billion tons, including reliable 26.5 billion tons, account for 70% of the reserves of industrially developed capitalist and developing countries. The main resources are associated with deposits in Morocco, Western Sahara, Tunisia, Algeria, Egypt, Niger, etc.
Deposits of potash salts are concentrated in Ethiopia (total reserves of K 2 O 20 million tons, 1984), Congo (20 million tons of K 2 O) and other countries. Botswana, Ethiopia, and others have significant salt resources. Fluorite reserves - over 220 million tons (over 50% of the reserves of industrially developed capitalist and developing countries), are concentrated mainly in the bowels of South Africa (190 million tons) and Kenya (13.5 million tons). Stocks of asbestos make up 20% of stocks of industrially developed capitalist and developing countries and are concentrated in Swaziland, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Sudan. Barite deposits are known in Liberia and South Africa, vermiculite deposits - in Tanzania, Kenya, South Africa. Industrial deposits of phlogopite are located in the southern part of Madagascar. Deposits of high quality muscovite are rare; small deposits of muscovite pegmatites are known in Sudan, Somalia, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Kenya, Zaire, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa; Mozambique, Namibia, Angola, Madagascar. The main reserves of crystalline graphite are concentrated in the deposits of Madagascar and are estimated at 5.29 million tons (early 1984), deposits of amorphous graphite - in South Africa (20 million tons). Known deposits of corundum (South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Zambia), piezo-optical quartz (Madagascar, 2nd place in the world after Brazil; Angola, Somalia and other countries), Icelandic spar (South Africa), kyanite and sillimanite (Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland , Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Madagascar and other countries), huge reserves of high-quality micro-cline ceramic raw materials in numerous deposits. The resources of talc, magnesite, gypsum, olivine, calcite, abrasive garnet, various clays, glass sands, and dolomite are known but insufficiently taken into account.
Precious and ornamental stones.
Africa's total diamond reserves are estimated at 1.165 billion carats, including 318 million carats of jewelry. Primary diamond deposits are associated with pipes, dikes, and sill-like deposits of kimberlites of various ages. The total number of known kimberlite bodies exceeds 1400, including about 700 in Angola, about 250 in South Africa, 193 in Tanzania, and about 60 in Namibia. The largest in the world is the Kamofuka-Kamazombo pipe in Angola (3200 × 1300 m), discovered in 1972; before that, the Mwadui pipe in Tanzania was considered the largest in the world (1525 × 1068 m). The largest continental placers of diamonds are in Ghana, Zaire, Angola and South Africa. Coastal and marine diamond placers are most characteristic of Namibia and South Africa.
Significant placer deposits of emerald, ruby, sapphire, alexandrite, jewelry garnet are developed in Tanzania, which exports up to 14 tons of precious stones per year. Industrial deposits of emerald are found in Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Madagascar. Noble beryls, aquamarines, morganites, black beryls, colored tourmalines of Mozambique and Madagascar are widely known. Small deposits of chrysolite are unique on the islands of the Red Sea (Zeberged). Topaz, spinel, amethyst, amazonite, violet quartz, dumortierite, lapis lazuli are mined in various African countries. Jewelry wulfenite (Namibia) is highly valued. Facing, exhibition and collection stones are varied.
I. V. Davidenko.
Encyclopedic reference book "Africa". - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. Editor-in-Chief An. A. Gromyko. 1986-1987 .
See what "Africa. Physical and geographical outline. Minerals" is in other dictionaries:
physical map Africa. Africa is a continent of compact form, with a weak dissection of the surface. In terms of average height above sea level (750 m), Africa is second only to Asia (950 m). The highest height is 5895 m in the Kilimanjaro volcanic massif. ... ...
Vultures and marabou. Serengeti National Park. Tanzania. Among the priority environmental issues for Africa, the most relevant are the growing loss of tropical forests, agricultural land and pastures, expanding desertification, ... ... Encyclopedic reference book "Africa"
Africa (mainland)- Africa. I. General information Concerning the origin of the word "Africa" there are great disagreements among scientists. Two hypotheses deserve attention: one of them explains the origin of the word from the Phoenician root, which, with a certain ... ...
Africa- I I. General information Regarding the origin of the word "Africa" among scientists there are great disagreements. Two hypotheses deserve attention: one of them explains the origin of the word from the Phoenician root, which, when ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
Bolivia. Nature- The Pune Plateau near Cochabamba. Bolivia. Nature Bolivia is located in the subequatorial and tropical zones, occupies a large, eastern part of the Central Andes in the west and vast plains in the east; these parts differ sharply in ... ...
Venezuela. Nature- Coast of the Caribbean Sea to the east of La Guaira. Venezuela. Nature The territory of Venezuela is located in the subequatorial belt northern hemisphere. The shores of the Caribbean Sea in the extreme northwest of the country are low-lying; in the north and northeast ... ... Encyclopedic reference book "Latin America"
Colombia. Nature- The coast of the Guajira Peninsula in the Ojo de Agua region. Colombia. Colombia is located in the northwestern part South America, in equatorial and subequatorial latitudes. Due to the peculiarities of its relief natural conditions very… … Encyclopedic reference book "Latin America"
Israel- This term has other meanings, see Israel (meanings). State of Israel מדינת ישראל Medinat Israel
Greece- I Ancient Greece, Hellas (Greek Hellás), the general name of the territory of the ancient Greek states that occupied the southern Balkan Peninsula, the islands of the Aegean Sea, the coast of Thrace, the western coastal strip of Asia Minor and spread their ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
Zaire- (Zaїre) Republic of 3air (La République du Zaїre; until October 1971 the Democratic Republic of the Congo). I. General information Z. state in Central Africa. It borders on the west with the People's Republic of the Congo, on the northwest and north with ... ... Great Soviet Encyclopedia
As you know, in Africa you can find a lot natural resources. African states occupy high places in the ranking of world exports of raw materials for non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy. It is no secret that South Africa is the richest in minerals in Africa.
Minerals of South Africa
All the most important deposits of ore minerals are concentrated in the regions of Equatorial and South Africa. Nigeria is rich in tungsten, large natural mineral aggregates (chromites) can be found in Southern Rhodesia, and large reserves of manganese are found in Ghana.
The main reserves of gold are in Republic of South Africa. Natural mineral formations with gold content were formed in this region in the Cambrian period.
A large-scale graphite deposit was discovered on the island of Madagascar, but this is not as beneficial for the economy as the gold mining of states.
For the extraction of minerals such as cobalt, copper, lead, tin and tungsten, South Africa ranks 1st in the world. In addition, rare uranium ores are located in this territory, in which the content of pure uranium is 0.3%.
Minerals of West Africa
West Africa is the main producer of oil and coal. Today, states are actively developing new methods for oil production in this region.
The main large deposits are located in the Niger Delta. In West Africa, you can also find such minerals as: non-ferrous metal ores, iron ores, tantalum, niobium and tin ores.
Large pools of natural gas are located in the coastal regions of West Africa.
The extraction of such minerals in the West African region has a positive effect on the development of industry in the country. Thus, the chemical industry, non-ferrous metallurgy and mechanical engineering are actively developing.
Minerals of North Africa
In the north of the continent there are the main oil producers - Morocco and Northern Sahara.
Also in North Africa are large sources of manganese. There are deposits of such minerals as lead, molybdenum, zinc, cobalt. These fossils were formed back in the Mesozoic era.
In the region of the Atlas mountain range, not far from Libya, there is a unique strip of phosphorite occurrence. They are quite useful and valuable for the chemical industry and metallurgy. Morocco ranks first in the extraction of phosphorites among all countries in the world.
The main types of minerals in Africa
Platinum and gold are the most valuable metals mined in South Africa. Also, the country is mining such precious stones as diamonds. They are often used in jewelry or industry due to the strength of the stones.
Africa is home to such minerals as oil and coal, whose deposits are located in Algeria, South Africa, Nigeria, Libya. Ores of ferrous and non-ferrous metals - copper, aluminum, manganese, titanium-magnesium, antimony, tin - are mined in Zambia and South Africa, in the Republic of the Congo and Cameroon.
Minerals of Africa - video