Mining in Africa
Africa mines 85% of the world’s tantalum, 75% of the world’s cobalt, 75% of the world’s manganese. Here is what each country mines, on a map, with 54 country guides and 189 projects held by listed companies.
Africa mines most of the world's tantalum, cobalt, manganese and much of its chromium, zircon, platinum group metals: the DR Congo mines most of the world's cobalt, South Africa leads in platinum, chrome and manganese, and Guinea mines a third of its bauxite. It is also a major source of gold (Ghana, South Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso), copper (DR Congo, Zambia), uranium (Namibia, Niger) and, increasingly, lithium (Zimbabwe, Mali).
Mining in Africa map
Pick a mineral to shade each country by its share of world mine production. Tap a country to open its guide.
Africa's share of world mine production
Minerals where Africa mines at least 4% of the world's output. Each bar opens that mineral's African mines.
Africa's share of world mine production, latest USGS year. ≥ where USGS groups some producers under 'other countries'.
Mines and projects in Africa
Mines with published output, and the projects listed companies hold, from Morocco's phosphate to South Africa's platinum. Filter by kind or mineral.
Lithium mining in Africa
Africa mines 13% of the world's lithium (2025): Zimbabwe (9.7%), Mali (3.2%). Listed companies hold 25 lithium projects on the continent, 11 with 3D drill models. Zimbabwe's hard-rock mines grew fast after 2021 and it bans exports of unprocessed lithium ore; Mali's Goulamina began production in late 2024, and Namibia, Nigeria and the DR Congo hold projects. Every lithium mine and project in Africa.
Gold mining in Africa
Ghana and South Africa alone mine 7.3% of the world's gold (2025, USGS), and Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Tanzania and a dozen more African countries add to that. The biggest mines, from Kibali to Ahafo, are ranked in the largest gold mines in Africa.
Tantalum mining in Africa
Africa mines 85% of the world's tantalum (2025): DR Congo (52%), Rwanda (16%), Nigeria (16%), Ethiopia (1.6%), Burundi (0.1%). Listed companies hold 21 tantalum projects on the continent, 8 with 3D drill models. Every tantalum mine and project in Africa.
Cobalt mining in Africa
Africa mines 75% of the world's cobalt (2025): DR Congo (74%), Madagascar (1.3%). Listed companies hold 3 cobalt projects on the continent, 1 with a 3D drill model. Almost all of it comes from the Central African Copperbelt in the DR Congo's Katanga, mined with copper. Every cobalt mine and project in Africa.
Manganese mining in Africa
Africa mines 75% of the world's manganese (2025): South Africa (38%), Gabon (25%), Ghana (10%), Côte d'Ivoire (1.8%). Listed companies hold 4 manganese projects on the continent. South Africa's Kalahari field holds most of the world's known manganese ore. Every manganese mine and project in Africa.
Chromium mining in Africa
Africa mines 49% of the world's chromium (2025): South Africa (45%), Zimbabwe (3.9%). Listed companies hold 15 chromium projects on the continent, 1 with a 3D drill model. Every chromium mine and project in Africa.
Zirconium (zircon) mining in Africa
Africa mines 46% of the world's zircon (2025): South Africa (22%), Mozambique (13%), Senegal (5.8%), Madagascar (2.2%), Sierra Leone (2.1%). Listed companies hold 3 zircon projects on the continent. Every zircon mine and project in Africa.
Platinum group metal mining in Africa
Africa mines 45% of the world's platinum group metals (2025): South Africa (37%), Zimbabwe (7.9%). Listed companies hold 21 platinum group metals projects on the continent, 5 with 3D drill models. Nearly all from South Africa's Bushveld Complex and Zimbabwe's Great Dyke. Every platinum group metals mine and project in Africa.
Titanium mineral mining in Africa
Africa mines 41% of the world's titanium minerals (2025): Mozambique (20%), South Africa (14%), Senegal (3.9%), Madagascar (3.2%). Listed companies hold 7 titanium minerals projects on the continent, 2 with 3D drill models. Every titanium minerals mine and project in Africa.
Aluminium and bauxite mining in Africa
Africa mines 34% of the world's bauxite (2025): Guinea (34%). Listed companies hold 2 bauxite projects on the continent. Every bauxite mine and project in Africa.
Phosphate rock mining in Africa
Africa mines 21% of the world's phosphate rock (2025): Morocco (14%), Egypt (2.2%), Tunisia (1.3%), Senegal (1.1%), South Africa (0.9%). Listed companies hold 3 phosphate rock projects on the continent. Every phosphate rock mine and project in Africa.
Copper mining in Africa
Africa mines at least 18% of the world's copper (2025): DR Congo (14%), Zambia (4.1%). Listed companies hold 32 copper projects on the continent, 10 with 3D drill models. The Copperbelt straddles the DR Congo and Zambia; Kamoa-Kakula and Tenke Fungurume are among the world's ten biggest copper mines (see the largest mines in the world). Every copper mine and project in Africa.
Tin mining in Africa
Africa mines 12% of the world's tin (2025): DR Congo (9.3%), Rwanda (1.6%), Nigeria (1.2%). Listed companies hold 23 tin projects on the continent, 10 with 3D drill models. Every tin mine and project in Africa.
Graphite (natural) mining in Africa
Africa mines 12% of the world's graphite (2025): Madagascar (4.4%), Tanzania (4.2%), Mozambique (3.3%). Listed companies hold 13 graphite projects on the continent, 9 with 3D drill models. Every graphite mine and project in Africa.
Beryllium mining in Africa
Africa mines 10% of the world's beryllium (2025): Nigeria (9.3%), Mozambique (0.7%), Madagascar (0.2%), Rwanda (0.2%). The beryllium story.
Mining by country in Africa
Every African country with a guide: the minerals it ranks highest in, mineral rents as a share of GDP (World Bank) and the projects listed companies hold there. Click a heading to sort.
Questions
What minerals are mined in Africa?
Africa's leading minerals include cobalt, platinum group metals, manganese, chromium, bauxite, tantalum, gold, copper, diamonds, uranium, titanium and zircon from mineral sands, phosphate and, increasingly, lithium and graphite (USGS).
Which African country has the most mining?
It depends on the measure. South Africa has the most varied and largest mining industry by value; the DR Congo leads world output of cobalt and is Africa's biggest copper producer; Guinea mines a third of the world's bauxite; Ghana is Africa's largest gold producer.
Where is lithium mined in Africa?
Mainly in Zimbabwe, the continent's largest producer, and Mali, where Goulamina began production in late 2024. Projects are being developed in Namibia, Nigeria, the DR Congo (Manono) and Côte d'Ivoire.
Where is gold mined in Africa?
Ghana and South Africa are the biggest producers, followed by Mali, Burkina Faso, Sudan, Tanzania and others. The largest single gold mines are Kibali in the DR Congo and Ahafo in Ghana.
What is the Central African Copperbelt?
A belt of copper and cobalt deposits about 450 km long across the DR Congo's Katanga region and Zambia's Copperbelt Province, mined since the early 20th century and today one of the world's largest copper and cobalt sources.
World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries. Mineral rents: World Bank WDI. Mines: open mine databases with public-use licences; projects: listed companies' own announcements.
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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: Malachite on cobaltocalcite, Musonoi by Ji-Elle, CC BY-SA 3.0. Pictures: Chiquicamata Mine, Chile, NASA/METI/AIST/Japan Space Systems, and U.S./Japan ASTER Science Team (Public domain (NASA media, no copyright)); Kopermijn te Kolwezi in de provincie Shaba (Katanka), Mieremet, Rob / Anefo / Europeana (Public Domain Mark 1.0).