Mineral resources

Mineral resources

Mining activities in the Dominican Republic are grouped in two sectors: metallic mining and non-metallic mining.

Mining, metallic as well as non-metallic, has an important position in contributing to the economy. An example is the ferro-nickel deposit extracted in Bonao, Monseñor Novel Province. In 2004, the country exported a value of US$389.9 million of this mineral.

In metallic mining, the minerals of greatest economic interest are those with massive sulfide deposits, the ore of hydrothermal replacements and laterite concentrations. The massive sulfide deposits are located in the Formación Maimón and in the Los Ranchos, Duarte, Tireo and Peralvillo formations. In the Formación Maimón, there are various prospects for massive sulfide deposits such as: Cerro Maimón, Barbuito and Loma Pesada.

Epithermal mineralizations are found, for the most part, in the Los Ranchos and Tireo formation, where the sulfide deposit of Pueblo Viejo (Cotuí) (Au, Ag, Zn) is classified a world-class deposit with more than 20 million ounces of gold in resources, the Deposit of Managuá (Au, Ag) and the Centenario (Au) and Candelones (Au) deposits.

The most important laterite deposits in the country are the ferro-nickel mineralizations found in ultramafic (peridotite) rocks, located in the Bonao and La Vega areas, exploited by Falconbridge Dominicana. Other important laterite deposits are those of bauxite, located in Pedernales in the Plaisance formation, from the mid-Eocene period.

Regarding non-metallic mining, sufficient potential non-metallic and industrial mineral reserves exist, including salt, gypsum, marbles and saltpeter of different varieties, sands for glass, feldspar, kaolin, industrial clay and other ornamental rocks. These deposits could hold a value of over US$5 billion.

The Barahona Salt and Gypsum mines are located in the southern portion of the Valle de Neyba. The ridge of salt and gypsum, with interspersed packets of soft clay slate. These sequences formed through evaporation processes beginning with the brine contained in the closed off or restricted shallow waters.