Gold is the primary target of interest to North American-based companies active in Ivory Coast. The country’s Birimian rocks, as in Ghana and Burkina Faso, host gold deposits in quartz veins, lensoid reefs and argillites. Eluvial gold is common.
The Birimian rocks also host manganese, diamonds, nickel and cobalt, banded iron formations, tin, tantalite, rutile and some industrial minerals. SODEMI, the state-owned mining corporation, has an extensive inventory of mineral occurrences and is welcoming joint-venture proposals.
Proposals to change the mining code have been outlined; these include increasing security of tenure in transfer from exploration to exploitation. SODEMI has expressed interest in forming partnerships for feasibility studies and development of many deposits, including gold, diamond, nickel, manganese and platinum group metals. Those expected to generate the most interest are gold prospects, base metal deposits (including nickel), iron deposits, diamonds and manganese.
Among the foreign companies active in the country are BHP Minerals, Eden Roc Mineral (TSE), Falconbridge (TSE), Gencor, Hyder Gold (VSE), Marshall Minerals (ASE) and Trillion Resources (TSE).
Ivory Coast has a land area of 322,500 sq. km and a population of 12.5 million. French is the official language, although Baoule and local languages are also spoken. The country’s long-time president, Houphouet-Boigny, died in 1993, and the new government intends to continue efforts to improve the economy.
Be the first to comment on "MINING IN AFRICA SPECIAL — Gold is Ivory Coast’s main"