Economic potential of industrial minerals in Zambia - A review

Abstract

Zambia's base metal mining of copper and cobalt has been ongoing since the 1920s. The copper and cobalt mining industry contributes about 12% towards GDP, and provides direct and indirect employment to local residents. To reduce the over-dependency on copper and cobalt mining, industrial minerals such as fluorite, phosphates, talc, barite, graphite, and dimension stones to mention but a few could be major substitutes. This study focuses on industrial minerals as potential economic minerals to sustain Zambia's economy and provide meaningful jobs for local people since unemployment levels have risen to 18.4% as at 2019. It is also a review of the inadequate data on industrial minerals at the Geological Survey Department (GSD), the hub of geological information. Findings of this paper are that the Industrial Mineral Sector has been neglected by relevant stakeholders and needs sufficient funding and intensive research towards economic-geological mapping of industrial minerals in order to thrive. The study is important for socio-economic development of the country.