South Africa is a vast country covering 1,223,000 square kilometres. It is equivalent in size to Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and the Netherlands combined.
| Alumino-silicates South Africa has huge mineral resources as follows : |
 80% of the world's reserves of manganese ore
56% of the world's reserves of platinum group minerals
35% of the world's reserves of gold and
68% of the world's reserves of chromium.
| South Africa ranked in top position in the majority of the world mineral reserves and production, in 1999 : |
| |
|
Reserves |
Production |
Gold |
1 |
1 |
Platinum Group Metals |
1 |
1 |
Chrome Ore |
1 |
1 |
Vanadium |
1 |
1 |
Alumino-silicates |
1 |
1 |
Manganese ore |
1 |
2 |
Vermiculite |
2 |
1 |
Uranium |
4 |
8 |
Coal |
5 |
4 |
Diamonds |
5 |
5 |
Nickel |
5 |
8 |
Iron ore |
9 |
8 |
Aluminium |
n/a |
8 |
|
| |
* Source : Department of Minerals and Energy, Minerals Bureau. |
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