MINERAL RESOURCES

The richness of the Philippines in terms of mineral resources is being attributed to its location at the western fringes of the so-called Pacific Ring of Fire – a ground found to be super loaded with mineral deposits.   Globally, Philippines are ranked 5th as most mineralized country in the world. 

The Philippines is situated along the Circum-Pacific Rim of Fire, where the processes of volcanism and plate convergence caused the deposition of minerals, both metallic and non-metallic.  In fact, the large reserves of various kinds of minerals beneath our ground has put the country in the world mineral map as 5th mineral country in the world, 3rd in gold reserves, 4th in copper, and 5th in nickel.

Around 9 million hectares, or 30% of the country’s total land area of 30 million hectares, are believed to contain important metallic mineral deposits; while 5 million hectares are also known to be potential sites for non-metallic mineral reserves.

The country’s offshore areas, which cover around 2.2 million square kilometers, also contain placer minerals, including gold, magnetite and chromite-bearing sands, aggregate resources like sand and gravel, decorative stones, and polymetallic sulfide deposits.

In all, the country’s estimated mineral reserves are placed at about 14.5 billion metric tons of metallic minerals and about 67.66 billion metric tons of non-metallic minerals.

The most prolific copper and gold producers in the Philippines are found in the Baguio and Mankayan districts, province of Benguet; although the Surigao-Davao districts are also contributing much to Philippine gold production. Major producers of nickel are in Palawan and Surigao.

For more info about Philippine mineral resorces:  click  http://www.mgb.gov.ph