Introduction:
The Gambia does not have a large mining industry nor
does it possess large discovered deposits of precious
minerals or gems, but there are deposits of lower value
minerals in certain areas. Successful mining of glass
and quartz sand deposits for valuable minerals has been
carried out near the coast South of Banjul.
Carnegie Corporation Limited (CCl) of Australia (50%)
in joint venture with Astron Ltd. of China (50%) held
an exclusive prospecting license for the Batokunku,
Kartong, Sanyang and Brufut mineral sands deposits.
In 2005, the joint venture completed a second-round
trial dredge program at the Sanyang deposit. Following
the completion of this dredge program the results are
a follows:
Total measured, indicated, and inferred resources at
the Batokunku, the Kartong, and the Sanyang deposits
were estimated to be 18.8 million metric tons (mt) that
contained about 1 mt of heavy minerals at a cut-off
grade of 1%. The heavy-mineral assemblage for these
deposits was estimated to be about 71% ilmenite, 15%
zircon, 3% rutile, and 11% other (Carnegie Corporation
ltd., 2005, p. 7-9; industrial minerals, 2005a, b).
Investment Opportunities:
There is also the Farim phosphate rock deposit had estimated
resources of more than 166 mt at a grade of 29% P2O5.
Opportunities exist initially in exploration for minerals
and oil and gas, and the Government of The Gambia is
very supportive of these efforts.
Sources: Giepa, The Mineral Industries of The Gambia,
Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal 2005, Red back mining inc.,
2006, p. 3; 2006§. |
