Workers dig at a gold mine in Chudja, near Bunia, north eastern Congo. The conflict in the Congo has often been linked to a struggle for control over its minerals resources. The Congo is rich in mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, tin, and cobalt.
The face of conflict minerals
Globe and Mail Update
Published
Last updated
-
An unidentified artisan miner searches for minerals with his hands on October 3, 2006 in Nyabibwa, about 100 kilometers outside Goma, DRC. Minerals such as coltan are used in computers and mobile phones and the DRC has one of the highest deposits in the world of certain minerals.
Tantalum/Coltan
Used for circuits in cellphones, digital cameras, laptops, video cameras and gaming systems. Australia and Brazil are biggest producers, but resources in the Congo are vast. About 80% of the world’s known coltan supply is in the Congo. There is about 2 oz of coltan in each cellphone.
-- Denise Balkissoon
-
Artisinal miners in Luntukulu, DRC dig for tungsten ore. Their mine,which is under the control of the Congolese army, abuts one in thehands of Rwandan rebels - Congo's vast mineral wealth is fueling thecountry's long-simmering war.
Cassiterite/Tin ore
Used in 44% of all electronic solders in the world. Most important in terms of quantity and price. Eastern Congo produces 4 to 5% of global total. World’s biggest producers are China and Indonesia, then Bolivia, Peru and Brazil. In 2002, a hunter discovered chunks of tin ore lying on the slopes of a mountain deep in the jungle in eastern Congo. Almost overnight, hordes of miners arrived. Congo’s tin ore represents a relatively small slice of the world market, but in recent years supplies have been so tight that efforts to stop mining at Bisie location have caused price spikes.
-
Artisinal miners in Luntukulu, DRC dig for tungsten ore. Congo's vast mineral wealth is fueling thecountry's long-simmering war.
Tungsten/Wolframite
Used in incandescent lightbulbs and the vibrate function of mobile phones. Congo is a minor producer. Biggest are China, Russia, Canada and Austria.
-
A Congolese man lifts a bucket filled with mud as he searches for gold nuggets in a pit at Pkata gold mine, near Bunia in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, October 30, 2006. — REUTERS/James Akena
Gold
Almost all gold mined in the Congo is smuggled out, perhaps as much as 90%. No reliable statistics. There is just under one troy oz of gold in every 1,000 cellphones.
