Africa has a diverse array of minerals, many of which are some of the richest deposits in the world. There are large reserves of oil, coal, ores of ferrous and especially non-ferrous metals (iron, manganese, copper, zinc, tin, chromites), rare metals and uranium ores, as well as bauxites. Of the non-metallic minerals, the deposits of phosphorites and graphite are of the greatest value.

The processes of mineralization proceeded mainly in the epochs of the most ancient foldings - in the Precambrian and at the beginning of the Paleozoic. In view of the fact that the ancient foundation of the platform is exposed mainly in Equatorial and South Africa, it is in these areas that all the most important deposits of ore minerals are concentrated. Deposits of copper in the Republic of South Africa, chromites in Southern Rhodesia, tin and tungsten in Nigeria, manganese in Ghana, and graphite on the island of Madagascar are associated with the metamorphization of the most ancient Archean and Proterozoic formations. However, gold is the most important among the minerals of the Precambrian.

It is known that Africa has long and steadily retained the first place among the countries of the capitalist world in gold mining. Its main reserves are concentrated in the thickness of the Proterozoic conglomerates in the Republic of South Africa (Johannesburg), and the mines are of particular value. Mineralization processes during the Cambrian period led mainly to the accumulation of polymetallic ores, as well as ores of non-ferrous and rare metals.

Among the areas of Cambrian mineralization, first of all, the so-called Central African copper belt stands out, stretching from the Katanga region (in the southeast of the Congo) through Northern and Southern Rhodesia to East Africa. Numerous deposits within this belt are mainly epigenetic, characterized by a high metal content and provide the main amount of copper, for the extraction of which Africa ranks second among the capitalist countries. Along with copper, cobalt, lead, tin and tungsten are mined in this zone.

In Katanga, in the Kazolo-Shinkolobwe region, one of the world's most important uranium ore deposits with a very high uranium content (0.3-0.5%) is exploited. The second large area of ​​Cambrian mineralization is concentrated in South Africa, where the formation of a number of large deposits occurred in connection with powerful outpourings of basic lavas and intrusions of granite batholiths. Complex processes of contact metamorphism ended with the formation of large deposits of platinum ores, gold, chromites, titanomagnetite ores.

In addition to non-ferrous metal ores, there are iron ore deposits in South Africa. Iron ores are generally low grade; it is believed that most of them were deposited in brackish sea or ocean waters. Their accumulation, which began as early as the Precambrian, continued into the Silurian. The main deposits are concentrated in the Pretoria region and in Capland. The third area of ​​concentration of Cambrian polymetallic ores is the Moroccan highlands of the Atlas Mountains, in which the oldest rocks of the entire mountain system are exposed.

The mines of Morocco produce cobalt, molybdenum, zinc and lead. By the end of the Paleozoic and the beginning of the Mesozoic era, when the African platform experienced a relatively calm tectonic stage of development and thick strata of continental deposits were deposited on its ancient core, the formation of formations containing coals belongs. The coal basins in the Republic of South Africa, Northern and Southern Rhodesia, the Republic of the Congo (with Leopoldville as its capital), Tanganyika, and the island of Madagascar are of the greatest industrial importance.

To the north of the equator during this period of time there was an accumulation of iron and manganese ores of sedimentary origin and oil in the continental sandstones of the Sahara. Significantly more favorable conditions for the formation of various minerals were established at the end of the Mesozoic era, when the sea from the Tethys geosyncline region transgressed to the north of Africa and faults began, leading to the isolation of the African block, accompanied by active volcanism and the intrusion of large granite batholiths.

The group of areas of platform Africa includes the territory of almost the entire African platform, with the exception of its eastern outskirts - the Abyssinian Highlands, the Somali Peninsula and the East African Plateau. On this vast area, anteclises and syneclises of the ancient basement repeatedly alternate, and therefore the relief forms characteristic of the outcrops of the ancient basement and areas of development of the sedimentary cover replace each other.

The largest and most complex in structure and relief region of the Sahara-Sudanese plains and plateaus occupies the northern part of the platform, from the Atlas Mountains to the North Guinean Upland and the Azande Rise. In this area, the ancient foundation protrudes three times. In the west, it is exposed in the plains of the Karet-Yetti crystalline peneplain (up to 500 m high), in the region of the Ragibat Shield. In the center, the ancient foundation was raised in the highlands of Ahaggar and Tibesti and the southern spurs of Ahaggar (Adrar-Iforas and Lir plateau). The uplift occurred along the fault lines of the northwest strike.

Volcanism and volcanic landforms are associated with faults - phonolitic peaks of Ahaggar (Mount Tahat 3005 m), basalt plateaus and extinct volcanoes Tibesti (Emi-Kycsu) -3415 m). On the eastern outskirts of the Sahara, the western wing of the Eritrean crystalline arch rises above the Red Sea as a blocky ridge of Etbay (the highest point of Mount Esh-Shayib 2184m), steeply plunging towards the coast. The areas of outcrops of crystalline rocks and their characteristic landforms are surrounded on all sides by covers of sedimentary deposits that make up low plains and medium-altitude plateaus. Lowlands occupy a limited area within the region. In front of the Caretietti plains lies the Atlantic accumulative sea plain; a strip of lowland also stretches along the coast of Libya and the UAR. It occupies the zone of subsidence of the edge of the African Platform to the Mediterranean geosynclinal region. In the RAR, on the lowland, there are several depressions lying below sea level (the depth of Qattara reaches -133 m), worked out by exogenous processes in monoclinal structures.

In front of the Atlas Mountains lies the forward trough of the platform, which is only in the east, near the Gulf of Gabes, expressed in relief as an area of ​​recent subsidence. The lowest places of the basin are vast saline plains (Schotts) lying below the ocean level (Schott Melgir has a mark of -30 m). Most of the Pre-Atlas trough is made up of sedimentary strata that make up piedmont plateaus dissected by dry valleys. The crystalline peneplain of Karet-Yetti is separated from Ahaggar by the low stratified plains of El Jof and the stepped plateau of Tanezruft. The El Jof plains occupy most of the Aravan-Tauden syneclise filled with Paleozoic formations; the Tanezruft Plateau constitutes the western link of the ring of cuest ridges (tassili), worked out in monoclinal sedimentary rocks uplifted along the slopes of Ahaggar and Tibe

And South Africa. The comparison takes place according to the following points: a) part of the mainland b) landforms c) heights d) what rocks it is composed of e) the predominant minerals 1. What differences in the structure of the African platform affected the relief of North and West Africa, as well as East and South Africa ? 2. What parts of the mainland are the most elevated and why? 3. Which Africa...

They arise in the process of metamorphism of rocks that did not represent industrial value before, due to the rearrangement of mineral matter. Represented mainly by non-metallic minerals. Metamorphic deposits of marbles, quartzites, jasper, andalusite, staurolite, graphite and others are known. Magmatogenic deposits Magmatogenic deposits (deep and...

1.1 2. PROTECTION OF MINERAL RESOURCES 2.1 Main directions for the rational use and protection of subsoil landscapes. Basic...

The predominant industry is crop production. There are two areas in the structure of crop production: the production of food crops for local consumption and the production of export crops. Crops consumed in Africa include: millet, sorghum, rice, wheat, corn, cassava, yams and sweet potatoes. The main crops of the African continent are millet and sorghum, ...

Africa is rich in its natural resources. African states are the world's main exporters of raw materials for ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy. South Africa is considered the richest country in minerals.

Minerals of South Africa

In the regions of Equatorial and South Africa, the world's richest deposits of ore minerals are concentrated. Large chromite deposits are located in Southern Rhodesia, Nigeria is rich in tungsten, and Ghana has reserves of manganese.

The largest graphite deposits in the world are located on the island of Madagascar. However, gold mining is of the greatest importance for the economy of South African states.

The main gold reserves are located in the Republic of South Africa. Gold ores here were formed in the Cambrian period.

In the extraction of minerals such as copper, lead, cobalt, tungsten and tin, South Africa ranks first in the world. Also on the territory of this region are the most unique uranium ores, the content of pure uranium in which reaches 0.3%.

Minerals of North Africa

On the territory of North Africa there are deposits of such minerals as zinc, lead, cobalt, molybdenum. These fossils were formed in North Africa at the beginning of the Mesozoic era, during the period of active development of the African platform.

Also, this region of the African continent is rich in manganese. Oil-bearing sources are located in the Northern Sahara and Morocco.

Phosphorite-bearing zones are located between the Atlas Mountains and Libya. Phosphorites are used in the metallurgical and chemical industries, as well as in the production of agricultural fertilizers. More than half of the world's phosphorites are mined in the North African phosphorite zone.

Morocco occupies the first place among the countries of the world in the extraction of phosphorites.

Minerals of West Africa

The main wealth of the bowels of West Africa is coal and oil. Today, there is an active development of new methods of oil production in this region.

The main large deposits are located in the Niger Delta. West Africa is also rich in such minerals as niobium, tantalum and tin, iron ore, and non-ferrous metal ores.

On the territory of the coastal regions of West Africa there are large basins of natural gas. The southern territories are rich in gold ores.

Active mining in West Africa favorably affects the development of industry in this part of the African continent. So over the past decade, non-ferrous metallurgy, the chemical industry and mechanical engineering have reached a high level of development.

All states are usually divided into poor and rich. Prosperous include countries rich in minerals. The deposits of these resources are almost always inexhaustible and serve the state for quite a long time. Statisticians made calculations and identified the richest countries in the world.

On the one hand, it is rich in minerals only due to its area, and on the other hand, it needs to constantly work on transporting timber and building gas pipelines.

All innovations cost the state a lot of money. In terms of the presence of coal, Russia takes an honorable 2nd place, and in terms of gold mining - 3rd place, since Africa is the leader in this matter.

Fossil USA

The second place in the top is occupied by the United States of America. They have resources worth 45 trillion US dollars. In terms of black gold content, they are not among the top ten, but the cost of all the gas they own can be estimated at $3 trillion. This country is rich in timber ($10 trillion).

A third of the world's coal reserves are located in the United States. Today, it is his deposits that are most valued in the world. America has a lot of forests, so the country is famous for its timber exports. Forest plantations are estimated at 11 trillion dollars. They occupy 11 trillion acres of land. It is known that almost 90% of all minerals are coal and wood. The USA ranks 5th in the world in terms of copper, gold and gas content.

Fossils of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is considered to be the third leader, because the total value of the region's resources is 34.4 trillion US dollars. Oil product reserves on its territory amount to 31.5 trillion dollars, while Saudi Arabia has stockpiled gas for almost 3 trillion dollars. In terms of wood content, Arabia is not among the top ten.

It is in this country that black gold is mined in impressive volumes. Thus, the country has almost 20% of the world's oil. It produces gas, according to the content of which Saudi Arabia ranks 5th in the world ranking. These deposits are not replenished, so in a few decades the state will leave the top ten.

Canada, Iran and China

Canada is in 4th place in terms of reserves. The total value of its resources is $33.2 trillion. There are $21 trillion of black gold reserves in the state, which corresponds to 178.1 billion barrels. In terms of natural gas content, the region is not among the top ten, but the wood in it is worth 11.3 trillion dollars. The total forest area is 775 million acres.

A state like Canada was not among the top ten for a very long time until an oil sands deposit was discovered. Phosphates and phosphorites are mined in this state. Canada ranks 2nd in the world in terms of uranium ore content and 3rd in terms of the amount of timber.

Major mining areas in Canada

In terms of the number of minerals, it ranks 5th in the top ten. In Iran, the amount of oil is estimated at 16.1 trillion US dollars, and gas - at 11.2 trillion dollars. This country is considered to be rich in natural gas. Approximately 16% of the world's reserves are located here. Iran ranks third in terms of oil production.

China ranked 6th on the list. It does not have huge reserves of oil and gas, but it boasts of its forest plantations. There are 6.5 trillion dollars worth of them in the region. It contains 13% of all world coal reserves.

Resources from other countries

Brazil is ranked 7th. The main foreign exchange earnings come from iron ore and timber. Recently, offshore oil deposits have been discovered in the region. 8th place should be given to Australia. The total value of its resources amounted to 19.9 trillion American currency. In terms of oil and natural gas content, this territory is not among the top ten.

Australia is very rich in forest plantations, coal, copper, iron. The country is among the leaders in gold mining - 14.3%. Also on its territory there is a huge amount of natural gas. The region shares this wealth with Indonesia, as natural gas is on the border.

On the 9th place in terms of resource leaders is Iraq. The total cost is 15.9 trillion US dollars, of which 13.6 trillion falls on the most demanded minerals, like oil, and 1.3% on natural gas. By the amount of timber, the region cannot take a leading position.

Iraq has long been the leader in oil reserves. There are 115 billion barrels of it in the region and this corresponds to 1/10 of all world reserves. However, the state extracts and uses only a minimal part of this resource, since disagreements constantly arise in the country between the government of the center and Kurdistan. These 2 regions cannot share oil deposits. In this region, there are many reserves of such an element as phosphorite (1.1 trillion dollars).

10th place in the list of wealthy countries belongs to Venezuela. The total value of its resources is 14.3 trillion dollars. Of this amount, oil deposits account for almost 12 trillion dollars, and natural gas is at the level of 2 trillion dollars. By the amount of gas, the country ranks 8th in the top 10 best. Proved gas reserves amount to 5.4 trillion m³, i.e. 3% of the world reserve.

The topic of the relief of Africa in geography is studied in the 7th grade. The relief of Africa is quite complex, although there are no high mountain ranges and lowlands. Basically, the mainland is dominated by plains, the average height of which is from 200 to 1000 meters (above sea level).

Relief types

The African plains were formed in different ways. Some were formed due to the destruction of the mountains that existed here in the Precambrian era. Others were formed due to the rise of the African platform.

The African-Arabian platform, on which Africa stands, is also a relief-forming one for the Arabian Peninsula, the Seychelles and Madagascar.

In addition to the plains in Africa, there are also:

• plateaus ;
• hollows (the largest are located in the states of Chad and Congo);
• faults (It is on this continent that the largest fault in the earth's crust is located - East Africa, from the Red Sea to the mouth of the Zambezi River, through the Ethiopian Highlands).

Fig 1. Map of the relief of Africa

Relief characteristics by regions of Africa

Judging by the height map, all of Africa can be divided into two parts: South and North Africa and East and West Africa. There is one more conditional division: High and Low Africa.

The lower part is wider. It occupies up to 60% of the entire territory of the continent and is geographically located in the north, west and in the central part of the mainland. Peaks up to 1000 meters prevail here.

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High Africa is the south and east of the mainland. The average heights here are 1000 - 1500 meters. Here are the highest point, Kilimanjaro (5895) and slightly inferior to her Rwenzori and Kenya.

Figure 2. Mount Kilimanjaro

If we talk about the characteristics of the reliefs, then they can be briefly represented as follows.

Region	Dominant relief
North Africa	Here is the Atlas mountain range (the longest on the mainland - more than 6 thousand km), quite young, formed at the junction of two lithospheric plates (the highest point is Mount Toubkal, Morocco, 4165 meters). This region also contains part of the Ethiopian highlands with maximum peaks of 4 m (the most seismically region, which is sometimes called the "roof of Africa").
East Africa	Most of this region is occupied by the East African Plateau (or the East African Rift Valley). Here are the highest mountains and extinct volcanoes (Kilimanjaro), as well as the deepest lakes of the continent.
South Africa	In this region, the relief is quite diverse. There are mountains (Cape, Draconian), basins and the South African Plateau.
West Africa	The region is also dominated by mountains (Atlas) and plateaus.

In terms of average height, 750 meters above sea level, Africa ranks third in the world after Antarctica and Eurasia. So, Africa can rightly be considered one of the "highest" continents on the planet.

Relief and minerals of Africa

The minerals of Africa, due to its tectonic structure, are diverse. In addition, the deposits of some of them are the largest in the world.

Since serious tectonic activity took place in Africa at the dawn of its formation, there are a lot of igneous rocks that led to the formation of various ore minerals. These deposits are not deep, especially in South and East Africa, where the crystalline rocks lie close to the surface, so that they are mined in an open way.

The largest deposits are located in South Africa:

• gold;
• uranium;
• tin;
• tungsten;
• lead;
• zinc;
• copper.

North and West Africa is also rich in:

• coal;
• salts (of various types and properties);
• manganese;
• oil (the coast of the Gulf of Guinea; Algeria, Libya, Nigeria);
• natural gas;
• phosphorites;
• chromites;
• bosquitoes.

Deposits of cobalt, tin, antimony, lithium, asbestos, gold, platinum and platinoids were discovered here.

The richest country in Africa is South Africa. Almost all types of natural resources are mined here, with the exception of oil, natural gas and bauxite. There is especially a lot of coal in South Africa, and its deposits here are as superficial as possible, so the extraction of this natural resource does not cause difficulties.

Fig 3. Map of mineral resources of Africa

What minerals is Africa rich in yet? Naturally, diamonds, which are used not only for the manufacture of diamonds, but also in industry due to their exceptional hardness.

What have we learned?

The African relief is complex. Basically, it consists of plains, plateaus and highlands. There are very few lowlands, although there are faults and depressions.

Due to the fact that Africa once experienced the strongest tectonic activity, there are a large number of deposits of a wide variety of natural resources on the mainland.

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What wealth is hidden in the depths of the Black Continent? The mineral resources of Africa are very diverse. And some of them are of global importance.

Geology, relief and minerals of Africa

The distribution and diversity of mineral resources is closely related to the nature of the relief and the geological structure of the territory. This geographical pattern, of course, also applies to the hottest continent on the planet. Therefore, at first it is worth paying some attention to this issue.

The relief and minerals of Africa are directly dependent on the geological structure of the continent.

Most of the mainland is located on the ancient African platform, whose age is Precambrian. Atlas is the only young mountain system in Africa (it is also the largest). The eastern part of the mainland is cut from north to south by a powerful rift valley, at the bottom of which a number of large lakes have formed. The total length of the rift is impressively large: up to 6 thousand kilometers!

In orographic terms, the entire mainland is usually divided into two parts:

1. Low Africa (northern part).
2. High Africa (southeastern part).

The first is characterized by absolute heights of less than 1000 meters, and the combustible minerals of Africa are associated with this part of the continent. High Africa is also named so not by chance: its absolute heights exceed 1000 meters above sea level. And here are concentrated rich reserves of coal, non-ferrous metals, as well as diamonds.

highest mainland

This is how Africa is often called, because "high" forms prevail in its relief: plateaus, highlands, plateaus, volcanoes and peaks of the remnant type. At the same time, some regularities are observed in their distribution over the territory of the mainland. So, mountain ranges and highlands are located "along the perimeter" of the continent, and plains and flat plateaus - in its inner part.

The highest point located in Tanzania is Mount Kilimanjaro, whose height is 5895 meters. And the lowest is in Djibouti - this is Lake Assal. Its absolute mark above sea level is 157 meters.

Minerals of Africa: briefly about the main

The continent is a major and important supplier of non-ferrous metals and diamonds to the world market. Surprisingly, how is it that most African states are considered very poor? Many metallurgical plants also work on iron ore mined in African subsoil.

Africa's minerals are also oil and natural gas. And those countries, in the bowels of which there are their deposits, live quite well and prosperously (against the background of the rest of the mainland). Here it is worth highlighting Algeria and Tunisia first of all.

But the deposits of non-ferrous metal ores and precious stones are concentrated in the southern part of Africa, within the economically backward countries. And the development of such deposits, as a rule, is particularly costly, so the extraction of these resources is carried out with the involvement of foreign capital.

The main deposits on the continent

Now it is worth dwelling in more detail on in which parts of the mainland the development of certain mineral resources is taking place. The main mineral deposits in Africa are distributed very unevenly throughout the territory. The table below shows the top ten mineral resources of the mainland. It clearly shows how unevenly distributed the main minerals of Africa.

The table includes 10 mineral resources, as well as the regions of Africa in which they are being developed.

Deposits of the main minerals and their distribution

№	Minerals	Where are the main deposits
1	Oil and natural gas	North Africa and the coast of the Gulf of Guinea (Algeria, Tunisia, Nigeria)
2	Diamonds	South Africa (Zimbabwe, South Africa)
3	Gold	Ghana, Mali, Republic of the Congo
4	Coal	South Africa
5	bauxites	Ghana, Guinea
6	Phosphorites	North coast of the continent
7	Iron ores	Northern part of the mainland
8	manganese ores	Northern part of the mainland
9	Nickel ores	Southern part of the mainland
10	copper ores	Southern part of the mainland

Now we can clearly see how the main minerals of Africa are located. The table gives a clear idea of ​​the features of the territorial distribution of their deposits.

Oil production in Africa

12 percent - this is how much world oil is produced on the African continent. Many European and American companies are trying to gain access to the largest oil and gas fields on the mainland. They are very willing to allocate investments for the development of new deposits and geological surveys.

According to recent studies, the bowels of Africa contain about 25% of the total oil reserves in the world. The most attractive countries in this regard are Libya, Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Egypt, and Sudan. In all these states, there has been an increase in oil production in recent years.

The most active in the African oil market are Chinese, Norwegian, Brazilian and Malaysian companies.

Finally...

As we can see, Africa is quite rich in various minerals. The mineral resources of Africa are primarily oil, diamonds, gold, non-ferrous metal ores, bauxites and phosphorites. However, very often rich deposits are concentrated in economically backward states (which are the majority on the mainland), so their development, as a rule, is carried out at the expense of foreign capital and investment. And this has its own, both bad and good sides.