Full Knowledge Base

The metallic mineral, industrial mineral and construction material resources in Mozambique have been mapped as part of the Mineral Resources Management Capacity Building Project, financed by a grant provided by the Nordic Development Fund. A database covering the location and characteristics of more than 600 mineral indications, showings and deposits within the geographical contract area assigned to the GTK Consortium was created. A total of 140 mineral occurrences were selected for field surveys and assessments that were mainly carried out during May-November 2003, 2004 and 2005. All available data in the report archives of the client, the National Directorate of Geology (DNG), was collected and transferred to the mineral occurrence database, which was then updated with information from field surveys and with new data published by exploration and mining companies on the Internet. New mineral resources maps at the scales 1:50 000 (part of contract area), 1:250 000 and 1:1 million were prepared with the corresponding symbols for various commodities plotted. Favourability maps showing zones with high potential for selected commodities were compiled at the 1:250 000 scale. The mineral resources in Mozambique were described in the four map explanation volumes and summarized in the final reports for the projects Geological Mapping LOT 2 and Geological Mapping LOT 3. As a consequence of increased geological knowledge, facilitated by the activities of the GTK Consortium, investments in Mozambique’s mineral potential by leading international and regional mining companies is already increasing. Currently, global mining houses are investing in exploration for energy minerals (hydrocarbons, coal and uranium), for titanium and zirconium in heavy mineral sands, for gold and gemstones, for the agricultural minerals lime and phosphate and for tantalum, fluorite and other industrial minerals.