South Africa’s mineral wealth shapes its towns, rails and ports — from coastal placer deposits to deep underground mines. Geology has driven settlement patterns and local industries for centuries, making a minerals list a handy guide to what the country produces and where.
There are 38 Minerals in South Africa, ranging from Baryte (barite) to Zircon. For each entry you’ll find below the key details organized as Main uses,Main provinces,Production (latest, t), so you can quickly see what each mineral does, where it’s mined and the most recent output you’ll find below.
Which provinces contribute most to South Africa’s mineral production?
Production is concentrated in a few regions depending on the mineral: the Northern Cape and Western Cape for minerals like manganese and diamonds, Gauteng and North West for gold and PGM-related ores, and Limpopo and Mpumalanga for industrial minerals and coal. The list below links each mineral to its main provinces so you can match resources to regions.
How should I interpret “Production (latest, t)” on the list?
“Production (latest, t)” gives the most recent reported annual tonnage; methods and reporting years can vary by mineral and source, so use it as a comparative snapshot rather than a definitive long-term trend and check original sources for year-by-year changes.
Minerals in South Africa
| Name | Main uses | Main provinces | Production (latest, t) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coal | Electricity generation, steel, cement, export | Mpumalanga, Free State, KwaZulu‑Natal | 250,000,000 |
| Iron ore (hematite/magnetite) | Steelmaking, export concentrate | Northern Cape, Limpopo | 75,000,000 |
| Manganese ore | Steel alloys, batteries, chemicals | Northern Cape (Kalahari Manganese Field) | 18,000,000 |
| Chromite (chromium ore) | Stainless steel, ferrochrome production | Limpopo, North West, Mpumalanga | 10,000,000 |
| Platinum group metals (PGMs) | Autocatalysts, jewellery, industry | North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga | 230 |
| Gold | Jewellery, investment, electronics | Gauteng (Witwatersrand), Free State, North West | 95 |
| Diamonds | Gemstones, industrial abrasives | Northern Cape, Limpopo, KwaZulu‑Natal | — |
| Copper | Electrical, construction, alloying | Limpopo, Northern Cape (Palabora) | 50,000 |
| Nickel | Stainless steel, alloys, batteries | Limpopo, Mpumalanga | 5,000 |
| Titanium minerals (ilmenite) | Pigment, titanium metal, welding rods | KwaZulu‑Natal, Eastern Cape | 1,200,000 |
| Rutile | Welding, titanium metal feedstock | KwaZulu‑Natal, Eastern Cape | 120,000 |
| Zircon | Ceramics, foundry sand, refractory uses | KwaZulu‑Natal, Eastern Cape | 60,000 |
| Phosphate rock | Fertiliser production, agriculture | Limpopo, North West | 2,000,000 |
| Fluorspar (fluorite) | Chemical industry, aluminium smelting, refrigerants | Western Cape, Limpopo | 300,000 |
| Limestone (calcite) & dolomite | Cement, lime, construction, steel flux | Mpumalanga, Gauteng, North West | 20,000,000 |
| Gypsum | Cement, plasterboard, soil conditioner | Northern Cape, Western Cape | 2,500,000 |
| Salt (halite) | Chemical industry, water treatment, food | Western Cape, Northern Cape | 3,000,000 |
| Baryte (barite) | Oil & gas drilling muds, weighting agent | Northern Cape, KwaZulu‑Natal | 50,000 |
| Graphite | Refractories, lubricants, batteries (emerging) | Eastern Cape, Northern Cape | — |
| Uranium (uranium oxide)* | Nuclear fuel, industry | Gauteng, Limpopo (gold tailings/byproduct) | — |
| Vanadium | Steel alloys, energy storage, catalysts | Limpopo, North West | — |
| Lead | Batteries, alloys, radiation shielding | Northern Cape, Gauteng | — |
| Zinc | Galvanizing, alloys, die‑casting | Gauteng, Northern Cape | — |
| Silver | Jewellery, electronics, photography | Gauteng, Free State | — |
| Cobalt | Batteries, superalloys, catalysts | Limpopo, North West | — |
| Bentonite | Foundry sands, drilling fluids, cat litter | Northern Cape, Western Cape | — |
| Kaolin (china clay) | Paper coating, ceramics, refractories | Northern Cape, Western Cape | — |
| Silica sand (quartz) | Glassmaking, foundry sand, silicon | Western Cape, Northern Cape | 1,000,000 |
| Sulphur (byproduct) | Sulphuric acid, fertilizers, chemicals | Mpumalanga, Gauteng | 500,000 |
| Titanium dioxide pigment (feedstock) | Paints, plastics, coatings | KwaZulu‑Natal, Eastern Cape | — |
| Rare earth minerals (monazite) | Specialty magnets, catalysts, phosphors | KwaZulu‑Natal, Eastern Cape | — |
| Phlogopite mica | Insulation, electronics, fillers | Limpopo, Mpumalanga | — |
| Feldspar | Ceramics, glass, fillers | Northern Cape, North West | — |
| Garnet (abrasive) | Abrasives, waterjet cutting, filtration | Northern Cape, KwaZulu‑Natal | — |
| Emerald (beryl) | Gemstones, collectors | Northern Cape, Mpumalanga | — |
| Tourmaline (gemstones) | Gemstones, collectors, piezoelectric research | Northern Cape, Limpopo | — |
| Chromium metal (refined ferrochrome) | Stainless steel production feedstock | Mpumalanga, Gauteng | 7,000,000 |
| Rhodium (PGM component) | Catalysts, electronics, chemical industry | North West, Limpopo | — |
Images and Descriptions
Coal
South Africa’s dominant energy mineral, mined mainly in Mpumalanga. Feeds Eskom power stations and export terminals, crucial for industry and jobs; major basins include Highveld and Witbank with large opencast and underground mines.
Iron ore (hematite/magnetite)
High-value commodity from the Northern Cape (Sishen, Saldanha) and Thabazimbi region. South Africa is a major iron exporter; ore feeds domestic steel mills and global markets via large export harbours.
Manganese ore
Kalahari Manganese Field supplies lump and fines for steel and battery chemicals. Manganese ore is a key export, with large open‑pit mines around Hotazel and significant ferroalloy industry locally.
Chromite (chromium ore)
Chromite from the Bushveld Complex underpins South Africa’s ferrochrome industry. Major producers supply global stainless steel makers; important deposits near Rustenburg and Lydenburg.
Platinum group metals (PGMs)
South Africa hosts the world’s largest PGM resources in the Bushveld Complex (Rustenburg, Amandelbult). PGMs power catalytic converters and high‑value industrial uses; production dominates the global market.
Gold
Historically dominant on the Witwatersrand, South African gold now comes from deep mines like South Deep and smaller deposits. Gold shaped the economy and still supports refined output, though production has declined.
Diamonds
South Africa produced famous kimberlites (Kimberley, Cullinan) and coastal alluvials. Diamonds are reported in carats rather than tonnes; mines such as Venetia historically significant for gem and industrial stones.
Copper
Copper production centers on the Palabora Mine and smaller Northern Cape deposits. Used in wiring, plumbing and industry, copper is a strategic base metal for domestic use and export.
Nickel
Nickel is recovered from Bushveld and former sulphide operations (Nkomati). It feeds alloy and emerging battery markets, though South African nickel output is modest compared with global leaders.
Titanium minerals (ilmenite)
Ilmenite and other heavy minerals from coastal dune and beach deposits (e.g., Richards Bay minerals) supply the titanium dioxide pigment and titanium metal industries; large export volumes support mineral sands operations.
Rutile
Rutile, a higher‑grade titanium mineral, is mined alongside ilmenite in coastal sands. It is prized for titanium metal production and welding electrodes; deposits occur in coastal dune systems.
Zircon
Zircon accompanies heavy mineral sands and is used in ceramics and high‑temperature applications. South African mineral sands operations recover zircon as a valuable co‑product.
Phosphate rock
Phosphate rock from sedimentary deposits supports local fertilizer manufacture and agriculture. Major mines in Limpopo and North West supply both domestic agro‑markets and some exports.
Fluorspar (fluorite)
Fluorspar is mined for hydrofluoric acid and metallurgical flux. South African operations supply chemicals and the aluminium industry, with both acid‑grade and metallurgical concentrates produced.
Limestone (calcite) & dolomite
Limestone and dolomite are quarried extensively for cement and lime production, essential to construction and steelmaking. Large deposits near Johannesburg and the Highveld power much of the domestic cement industry.
Gypsum
Gypsum is an important industrial mineral for cement and plasterboard manufacture. South African production comes from sedimentary deposits and evaporation basins, supplying domestic construction markets.
Salt (halite)
Produced by coastal evaporation and inland brine operations, salt supports chemical industries and food processing. South African salt works supply both domestic demand and regional markets.
Baryte (barite)
Barite is mined for drilling muds and industrial fillers. South African occurrences supply local oilfield service needs and some export markets for high‑density barite.
Graphite
Natural graphite occurs in metamorphic belts; commercial production is limited but of growing interest for battery anode markets. Projects are in development to expand supply for advanced materials.
Uranium (uranium oxide)*
South African uranium is often recovered as a byproduct of gold and phosphate operations. Historic production and resources exist, with uranium used mainly as nuclear fuel and industrial isotopes.
Vanadium
Vanadium occurs in magnetite deposits and the Bushveld Complex; South Africa produces vanadium-bearing titano‑magnetite and concentrates for alloy and emerging redox‑flow battery applications.
Lead
Lead has been mined historically in small tabular and stratabound deposits. Modern production is modest and linked to base‑metal mining and recycling for battery and industrial use.
Zinc
Zinc occurrences exist but large commercial zinc mining is limited; zinc concentrates arise from polymetallic deposits and are used in corrosion protection and alloying.
Silver
Silver occurs as a byproduct of gold and base‑metal mining. While not a leading primary commodity, it supports jewellery and industrial demand when recovered with gold and other ores.
Cobalt
Cobalt is typically a byproduct of copper and nickel operations; South African cobalt output is small but strategically important for battery and specialty alloy supply chains.
Bentonite
Bentonite clays are quarried for drilling muds, foundry moulds and absorbents. Deposits occur in volcanic ash layers and support local industrial mineral markets.
Kaolin (china clay)
Kaolin is used in paper, ceramics and as a filler. South African kaolin deposits supply local industries and some export markets where high‑quality clays are required.
Silica sand (quartz)
High‑purity silica sand is quarried for glass, foundry and silicon production. Coastal and inland deposits supply national glassmakers and specialized industrial uses.
Sulphur (byproduct)
Sulphur is recovered from petroleum and gas processing and smelter off‑gases, feeding sulphuric acid plants used in fertiliser manufacture and chemical industries.
Titanium dioxide pigment (feedstock)
Produced indirectly from ilmenite and rutile feedstocks recovered from mineral sands. South Africa supplies ilmenite concentrates for global TiO2 pigment production.
Rare earth minerals (monazite)
Monazite occurs in heavy mineral sands and hosts rare earth elements. South African production is limited but of strategic interest for high‑technology applications and separation projects.
Phlogopite mica
Commercial mica production is limited; phlogopite occurs in ultramafic and metamorphic settings and is used in electrical insulation and specialty industrial fillers.
Feldspar
Feldspar is quarried for the ceramics and glass industries as a flux and filler. South African operations supply local manufacturing and some regional markets.
Garnet (abrasive)
Garnet from metamorphic deposits is used as a high‑quality abrasive in waterjet cutting and blasting; small commercial operations supply niche industrial markets.
Emerald (beryl)
South Africa hosts emerald and beryl occurrences with occasional gem‑quality finds. Production is limited and artisanal, notable for collector specimens rather than large commercial output.
Tourmaline (gemstones)
Tourmaline occurs in pegmatites and alluvials; gem varieties are recovered occasionally by small‑scale miners and collectors, prized for color and crystal forms.
Chromium metal (refined ferrochrome)
Ferrochrome is produced domestically from chromite concentrates, powering South Africa’s stainless steel supply chain. Smelters near ferroalloy clusters convert ore into industrial metal alloys.
Rhodium (PGM component)
Rhodium is recovered as part of PGM concentrates from Bushveld mines. Extremely valuable and used in autocatalysts and specialty industrial catalysts; output reported as part of PGMs rather than tonnes.
