South Africa is well-known for its wealth of mineral resources.
It is believed to have the world’s fifth-largest mining sector in terms of gross domestic product value, and its mining corporations are worldwide players. South Africa has the biggest reported deposits of gold, platinum group metals, chrome ore, and manganese ore in the world, as well as the world’s second-largest reserves of zirconium, vanadium, and titanium. The Department of Mineral Resources is in charge of promoting and regulating the country’s minerals and mining in order to change, expand, and develop. Its ultimate purpose is to ensure that all South Africans benefit from the country’s natural resources in a sustainable manner.
Almost all of South Africa’s cement and building aggregates are produced locally, and 80% of the country’s steel is produced locally from locally mined iron ore, chrome, manganese, and coking coal, in furnaces powered 95% by electricity generated by coal-fired power plants (the remaining 20% imported steel is specialty steel products). Mineral riches Mineral richness in South Africa is often found in the following well-known geological formations and settings:
- The Witwatersrand Basin accounts for around 93% of South Africa’s gold output and contains significant uranium, silver, pyrite, and osmiridium deposits.
- The Bushveld Complex is noted for platinum group metals (with accompanying copper, nickel, and cobalt mineralisation), titanium-iron ore deposits containing chromium and vanadium, and industrial minerals like as fluorspar and andalusite.
- The Transvaal Supergroup has massive manganese and iron ore reserves.
- The Karoo Basin, which stretches through Mpumalanga, KwaZulu-Natal, the Free State, and Limpopo, contains significant bituminous coal and anthracite resources.
- The Phalaborwa Igneous Complex is home to significant amounts of copper, phosphate, titanium, vermiculite, feldspar, and zirconium ore.
- Kimberlite pipes include diamonds, which can also be found in alluvial, fluvial, and marine settings.
- Ilmenite, rutile, and zircon are found in heavy mineral sands.
- Significant quantities of lead-zinc ores linked with copper and silver have been discovered near Aggeneys in the Northern Cape.
Reserves
South Africa possesses the world’s greatest resources of platinum group metals (87.7% of worldwide total), manganese (80%), chromium (72.4%), gold (29.7%), alumino-silicates, and accounts for more than 40% of global ferrochromium, platinum group metals, and vanadium production. The mining industry contributes 51.7% of global ferrochromium exports and 54% of global alumino-silicates, and it is a major exporter of platinum group metals, gold, and vanadium, as well as a substantial exporter of manganese ore. Ferromanganese and fluorspa are two more key export items.
What is the most abundant metal in South Africa?
platinum
South Africa is the world’s top producer of platinum and chromium, which are mined in northeastern locations such as Rustenburg and Steelpoort and are becoming increasingly commercially significant. Massive concentrations of platinum-group and chromium minerals can be found primarily to the north of Pretoria.
What is South Africa’s most significant mineral?
Coal. Coal supplies more than 70% of South Africa’s energy needs (electricity and liquid fuels). According to the Minerals Council South Africa, South Africa has enough coal reserves to last more than a century.
What is South Africa’s most expensive mineral?
Platinum reserves are predominantly concentrated in South Africa, which supplies around three-quarters of global demand. The top three global platinum producers are Anglo American Platinum, Impala Platinum, and Lonmin.
