Mining by country

Mining in Italy

What Italy mines: cobalt, copper and nickel. Below: 1 project held by listed companies.

Mineral rents0%of GDP, 2021. Higher than 0% of countries.
Ores and metals2.4%of merchandise exports, 2025.
On our globe11 projects held by listed companies.
Governance, World Bank WGI 2025
  • Rule of law+0.58above 71% of countries
  • Political stability+0.46above 60% of countries
  • Regulatory quality+0.60above 75% of countries
  • Control of corruption+0.58above 71% of countries
Estimates from −2.5 to +2.5; the bar sits at the country's score.

Mining in Italy at a glance

Mining in GDP0.3%2019. Mineral industry production share of GDP, 2019.Source: USGS
Mining jobs22,0002019. Mining and quarrying employment at end-2019 (about 0.4% of total employment).Source: USGS
Mining law
Mining law No. 1443 of 29 July 1927 (state owns subsoil minerals). Concession royalties are regulated by a separate law. Source: USGS

Official sitesGeological survey

Mining employment from the ILO usually counts all of mining and quarrying, often with oil and gas; national shares of GDP and exports are as each source defines them.

History of mining in Italy

What the ground holds. feldspar, nepheline syenite, construction materials and stone and other industrial minerals. Source: USGS

People who shaped mining in Italy

How prospectors changed the worldThe full mining timeline

Projects held by listed companies

ProjectCompanyMineralsStage
Piedmont Nickel-Cobalt-Copper Project (Alpe Laghetto, Alpe Cevia, La Balma)Alligator EnergyCobalt, Copper, NickelExploration

By mineral

Cobalt minesCopper minesNickel mines

Mining elsewhere in Europe

RussiaSpainSwedenGermanyNorwayPolandAustriaPortugalFranceUkraine

World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.

Keep exploring

Stories from Italy and its minerals

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Cover photos from Wikimedia Commons: The Big Hole by Rudolph Botha, CC BY-SA 3.0.