Mining Geology & Activity

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Minerals Map

Geology Map

Geological Overview

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REGUIBAT SHIELD

Archean (W) and Proterozoic (E) granitic and metamorphic terrains.

Minerals: iron, gold copper, uranium, zinc, lead, diamond, ornamental stones, nickel, chromium, tungsten, lithium, thorium, arsenic barite, fluorite, beryl, quartz, marble, platinum (PGE), salt.

TAOUDENI BASIN

Large sedimentary basin with Proterozoic rocks along the margins and Paleozoic and Mesozoic rocks in the center.

Minerals found along the western and southern margins: copper, gold, zinc, uranium, salt, phosphate, lead, barite, kaolin.

MAURITANIDES

Mountainous belt of folded and metamorphosed sedimentary and volcanic rocks.

Minerals include copper and gold as prospects and iron, rare earths, beryllium, chromium, tungsten, barium, manganeses, nickel, kaolin.

TINDOUF BASIN

An East-west sedimentary trough which is underexplored with evidence of several mineralizations.  

COASTAL BASIN

Continental areas and along the coast shows evidence of gypsum, phosphate, uranium, titanium, salt, quartz, peat.

Primary Exploited Minerals

Iron-Ore: SNIM exploits two types of iron-ore in the Tiris Zemmour region - hematite ore and magnetite ore free from contaminants (e.g. phosphorus, alumina, etc). Annual production is 12 million tons with the aim of increasing to 40 million tons in 2025. SNIM is also looking for gold and base metals.

Gold: Hydrothermal veins are exploited in the Reguibat Dorsal with important deposits at Tasiast and Tijirit. Gold with copper is found in Akjoujt and southern Mauritanides. Gold is also found in the southern Taoudeni basin area. It is estimated that potential reserves of gold may reach 35 million ounces.

Copper: Numerous showings in Akjoujt and in the Mauritanides, Reguibat Ridge, and southern Taoudeni basin. Mauritanian Copper Mines extracts copper, gold, and silver from the Guelb-Moghrein area: First Quantum Mineral with Emirati Wadi Arrawda and Australian General Gold International. Annual production is estimated at 60,000 ounces per year of gold. Copper reserves are estimated at 20 million tons proven reserves and 9.6 million tons probable reserves.

Uranium: Deposits are located in the Reguibat Ridge and the continental part of the coastal basin. Aura Energy confirmed the discovery of high-grade mineralization at Tiris with estimated resources at between 40 - 60 million pounds. 

Black Sands: coastal dunes and beaches are estimated to contain 420,000 tons of ilmenite in total. Important locations include Jreirda to Cape Timiris, Cap el Sass to Pointe Minou, and in the south around Legouichichi. Chinese company MTR has been active since 2017.

Quartz: The continental part of the coastal basin has estimated reserves of 11 million tons. Two types of quartz are exploited - white quartz for the artificial stone industry and large multicolored and white slabs for the construction and decorative industry.

Critical Minerals

  • Cobalt

  • Copper

  • Dysprosium

  • Fluorine

  • Gallium

  • Iridium

  • Lithium

  • Magnesium

  • Natural graphite

  • Neodymium

  • Nickel

  • Platinum

  • Praseodymium

  • Terbium

  • Silicon

  • Silicon carbide

Significant Other Minerals

Rare Earths (REE) and Rare Metals: found in alkaline to hyper-alkaline massifs, Ordovician and coastal sedimentary zones and distributed widely across the region.  

Niobium and Tantalum found with larger REE occurrences. Nb and Ta in pegamatitic massifs of the Archaen, in Ordovician sandstones in the Taoudeni basin and Tindouf basin and in beach sands along the coast. Other potential sources include within veins associated with carbonatites associated with the Guelb Er Richat dome.

Diamonds: About 40 kimberlites have been identified and the existence of diamonds has been proven.

Silver and Platinum Group: silver is associated with gold and base metals (Au-Ag and Pb-Zn-Ag). Platinum group metals are associated with Ni, Ni-Co, and Ni-Cu sulphide mineralization.

Chrome and Nickel: stratiform chromite mineralization in the Reguibat Ridge in Archean ultrabasic complexes. The central north part of the ridge contains circular-shaped basic and ultrabasic structures. Podiform chromite mineralization in associated with serpentenites in the Mauritanide chain.

Copper, Lead, and Zinc: potential for Pb-Zn-Cu poly metallic veins may occur in shear zones within the Reguibat Shield and in complex fracture zones within the southern Mauritanides.

Primary Prospective Areas

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