Liberia sits on part of the West African craton, where varied geology supports deposits that have shaped local communities and trade for decades. Mining activity ranges from artisanal to larger-scale projects, with knock-on effects for roads, ports and local services.
There are 11 Minerals in Liberia, ranging from Diamonds to Zircon. Data are organized by Main location(s),Deposit type,Production status, which you’ll find below.
Which of these minerals are currently the biggest contributors to Liberia’s exports?
Iron ore and gold have historically been the largest export earners, with rutile and diamonds also contributing at times; several other minerals appear in smaller-scale or artisanal operations. Check the Production status column in the list below to see which deposits are active, suspended, or historical before relying on any single source.
How do I use the Main location(s), Deposit type, Production status columns when researching?
Treat Main location(s) as the geographic reference, Deposit type as the geological/mining context (placer, vein, sedimentary, etc.), and Production status as the operational snapshot; combine those with recent government or company reports to confirm current activity.
Minerals in Liberia
| Mineral | Main location(s) | Deposit type | Production status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron ore | Nimba County; Bong Range; northern Liberia | Banded Iron Formation (BIF) | Past production |
| Gold | Lofa; Nimba; Bong; Grand Gedeh; widespread interior | Alluvial and lode (vein) deposits | Producing (artisanal and small-scale) |
| Diamonds | Gbarpolu; Grand Cape Mount; Lofa; river systems | Alluvial (placer) gravels | Producing (artisanal); past commercial production |
| Rutile | Coastal counties (Grand Cape Mount to Grand Kru) | Placer (beach heavy-mineral sands) | Exploration |
| Ilmenite | Coastal counties (western and southern coast) | Placer (beach heavy-mineral sands) | Exploration |
| Zircon | Coastal beach and dune sands | Placer (heavy-mineral sands) | Exploration |
| Monazite | Coastal heavy-mineral sands | Placer (heavy-mineral sands) | Known occurrence |
| Garnet | Coastal sands and inland alluvials | Placer (heavy-mineral and river gravels) | Known occurrence |
| Kaolinite | Central and coastal counties | Residual/weathering clay (kaolin) | Producing (small-scale) |
| Limestone | Grand Bassa; central Liberia | Sedimentary carbonate rock | Producing (local cement and construction) |
| Silica (quartz) sand | Margibi; coastal and riverine areas | Sand/sandstone (quartz) deposits | Known occurrence; small-scale supply |
Images and Descriptions
Iron ore
High-grade hematite and magnetite in the Nimba and Bong ranges powered Liberia’s export economy. Large BIF-hosted deposits are regionally important for steel feedstock; many projects were active before civil war and remain targets for redevelopment.
Gold
Gold occurs as alluvial nuggets and lode veins across Liberia’s greenstone belts. Artisanal and small-scale miners dominate production; larger exploration projects target hard-rock deposits with potential commercial scale.
Diamonds
Alluvial diamonds are recovered from river and terrace gravels. Historically significant though small-scale today, diamond mining supports local communities and occasional commercial operations in productive gravel systems.
Rutile
Rutile is a titanium oxide mineral concentrated in Liberia’s coastal sand belts. It’s sought for titanium feedstock and pigment production; substantial coastal heavy-mineral targets have been mapped and are the focus of exploration.
Ilmenite
Ilmenite is the primary titanium-iron ore in beach sands. Liberian coastal deposits host ilmenite-rich concentrates alongside rutile and zircon; these sands attract exploration for export-grade heavy minerals.
Zircon
Zircon is a zirconium silicate found in Liberia’s heavy-mineral sands, valued for ceramics and refractory uses. Coastal concentrations are common and are explored together with rutile and ilmenite for mineral-sands projects.
Monazite
Monazite, a phosphate containing rare earth elements and thorium, occurs in beach sands. It’s a potential REE source but carries regulatory and radiological considerations that affect development.
Garnet
Garnet is commonly concentrated with other heavy minerals in beach and river sediments. Industrial garnet is used as an abrasive and filtration media; Liberia’s garnet occurrences are small but widespread.
Kaolinite
Kaolinite (kaolin) is a white clay used in ceramics, paper, and paint. Weathering of feldspathic rocks yields kaolin deposits that are locally mined for domestic industry and small commercial supply.
Limestone
Limestone (calcite-rich rock) is quarried for cement manufacture and construction aggregate. Local deposits supply national building materials and support cement plants and infrastructure projects.
Silica (quartz) sand
High-purity silica sands and quartz veins are present for glassmaking, foundry, and industrial uses. Localized deposits supply domestic industry, with potential for higher-value processing if upgraded.
