Senegal sits at the junction of several West African geological belts, producing a varied mix of resources from coastal sand deposits to inland greenstone belts. That diversity supports artisanal miners, local operations, and international exploration projects across the country.
There are 24 Minerals in Senegal, ranging from Alluvial gold to Zircon. For each entry you’ll find the three key columns: Category,Main deposits/regions,Production status, so you can quickly see what the commodity is, where it’s found, and whether it’s produced commercially or remains prospective — you’ll find below the full list.
Which minerals are actively mined in Senegal today?
Active production changes by project, but commonly produced commodities include alluvial and hard-rock gold, phosphate, and heavy mineral sands (which yield minerals like ilmenite and zircon); several other minerals remain at exploration or development stages, so check the Production status column below for current activity.
How should I use this list for research or planning a site visit?
Use the Category column to narrow resources of interest, Main deposits/regions to identify locations, and Production status to assess feasibility; always corroborate with recent government records, company reports, and local contacts before field visits or investment decisions.
Minerals in Senegal
| Name | Category | Main deposits/regions | Production status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Metal | Kédougou region (southeast) | Active |
| Alluvial gold | Metal | River valleys, Kédougou and eastern streams | Artisanal |
| Iron ore | Metal | Falémé area (southeast) | Exploration/Inactive |
| Phosphate (phosphorite) | Industrial mineral | Taiba, Matam and Thiès basins | Active/Exploration |
| Heavy mineral sands | Mineral sand | Grande Côte and Atlantic littoral | Active |
| Zircon | Mineral sand | Grande Côte coastal deposits | Active |
| Ilmenite | Mineral sand | Grande Côte and coastal beaches | Active |
| Rutile | Mineral sand | Grande Côte coastal zone | Active |
| Monazite | Mineral sand | Grande Côte and coastal sands | Active/Restricted |
| Garnet (industrial) | Mineral sand | Coastal deposits and river outlets | Active |
| Silica sand (quartz) | Industrial mineral | River valleys, coastal dunes | Active |
| Limestone | Industrial mineral | Thiès, Rufisque and coastal uplands | Active |
| Clay/Kaolin | Industrial mineral | Casamance, Kaolack region | Active |
| Gypsum | Industrial mineral | Northern and central basins | Exploration/Local |
| Salt (halite) | Salt | Coastal pans, Lac Rose, Saint-Louis area | Active |
| Building sand and gravel | Industrial mineral | Nationwide river terraces and coasts | Active |
| Dimension stone (granite/quartzite) | Industrial mineral | Various inland outcrops | Active |
| Magnetite (iron mineral) | Metal | Falémé and associated banded iron zones | Exploration |
| Monoclinic clays (bentonite/attapulgite) | Industrial mineral | Scattered basins, central Senegal | Exploration/Local |
| Manganese (occurrences) | Metal | Reported in eastern and southern zones | Exploration |
| Phosphorite nodules | Industrial mineral | Senegalese shelf and coastal basins | Exploration |
| Heavy-mineral concentrates | Mineral sand | Coastal processing sites (Thies region) | Active |
| Tourmaline and pegmatite minerals | Industrial/mineral | Scattered pegmatite outcrops | Artisanal/Exploration |
| River pebbles (aggregate) | Industrial mineral | Senegal River and tributaries | Active |
Images and Descriptions
Gold
Primary hard-rock and alluvial gold occurs in the Kédougou belt. Economically important for exports and local artisanal miners; used for jewelry, reserves and investment. Gold formed in greenstone-hosted veins and river gravels.
Alluvial gold
Placer gold in streams and river gravels supports artisanal mining; important rural livelihood. Easily recovered by panning and sluicing; sourced from eroded primary veins in the gold belt.
Iron ore
High-grade hematite-magnetite deposits in the Falémé belt were explored for export. Significant potential for steel feedstock; development constrained by infrastructure and market factors.
Phosphate (phosphorite)
Sedimentary phosphate beds occur in northern and western basins. Used for fertilizer production and agricultural inputs; strategic for domestic fertilizer supply and export potential.
Heavy mineral sands
Coastal dune and beach sands concentrate heavy minerals. Industrially important for zircon, ilmenite, rutile and monazite extraction; formed by wave and wind sorting of resistant minerals.
Zircon
Dense zircon in coastal mineral sands used in ceramics and refractory industries. Economically valuable export mineral concentrated by marine processes along the Thies–Dakar coastline.
Ilmenite
Titanium-iron oxide abundant in mineral sands; feedstock for titanium dioxide pigment and titanium metal. Coastal placer deposits are mined for export and downstream processing.
Rutile
Titanium oxide mineral present in beach sands; used in pigments and metallurgy. Rutile enhances the economic value of mineral-sand deposits.
Monazite
Rare-earth and thorium-bearing phosphate in mineral sands. Potential source of REEs for high-tech uses; regulatory and radiological considerations affect development.
Garnet (industrial)
Hard silicate grains concentrated in heavy sands used as abrasive and filtration media. Found in coastal placer deposits alongside zircon and ilmenite.
Silica sand (quartz)
High-purity silica sand used in glassmaking, foundry moulds and construction. Common across river alluvium and coastal dune systems.
Limestone
Sedimentary limestone used for cement manufacture and construction aggregates. Important for domestic building materials and local cement plants.
Clay/Kaolin
Kaolinite-rich clays used in ceramics, paper coating and whiteware. Derived from weathered granites and sedimentary deposits; locally exploited for crafts and industry.
Gypsum
Sedimentary gypsum beds occur in some basins; used in cement, plaster and agriculture. Local occurrences support small-scale supply for construction.
Salt (halite)
Marine and lake salt pans produce sea salt for domestic use and export. Economically important in coastal communities and as traditional livelihood.
Building sand and gravel
Ubiquitous aggregate resource for concrete and construction. Readily accessible deposits near population centers; crucial for infrastructure and urban growth.
Dimension stone (granite/quartzite)
Local granites and hard stones quarried for building facades, paving and monuments. Sourced from near-surface igneous and metamorphic outcrops across the country.
Magnetite (iron mineral)
Magnetite occurs within Falémé iron formations; potential for pellet and concentrate production. Magnetic iron oxide hosted in banded iron systems.
Monoclinic clays (bentonite/attapulgite)
Expansive clays occur in small basins; useful as drilling mud, absorbents and in ceramics. Limited commercial development but local uses exist.
Manganese (occurrences)
Manganese mineralization reported in several localities; potential alloy and battery-use metal. Occurrences remain largely under exploration with limited production history.
Phosphorite nodules
Phosphorite occurs as nodules in marine sediments and shallow basins. Potential supplemental phosphate source for fertilizers after processing.
Heavy-mineral concentrates
Composite concentrates of zircon, ilmenite, rutile and garnet processed for export. Key intermediate product from coastal mining operations before separation.
Tourmaline and pegmatite minerals
Accessory gemstones and industrial minerals occur in pegmatites; small-scale collection for gems and local crafts. Geological interest for pegmatite-hosted rare minerals.
River pebbles (aggregate)
Rounded fluvial gravels and cobbles used in construction and road building. Widely exploited near river corridors for local infrastructure projects.
