A majority of the population of Mauritania depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though most of the nomads and many subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s.
Zouérat is the largest town in northern Mauritania and the capital of Tiris Zemmour region, with an approximate population of 44,649 (2013). It lies at the eastern end of the Mauritania Railway to Nouadhibou.
The Mauritania Railway is the national railway of Mauritania. Opened in 1963, it consists of a single, 704-kilometre (437 mi) railway line linking the iron mining centre of Zouerate with the port of Nouadhibou, via Fderik and Choum. The state agency Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière controls the railway line.
Bukit Besi is a small mining town in Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia, famous for its high quality iron ore.
Iron ore production in Africa is dominated by South Africa, Mauritania and Algeria; Zimbabwe and Morocco produce ore for use within the country. Many countries possess iron ore deposits that are as yet untapped/unmined. Countries and companies currently involved in production are listed here; measurements are in tpy, or tonnes per year.
Mauritania's mineral sector was dominated by iron ore mining and beneficiation. Other mineral commodities produced in the country included cement, copper, gold, gypsum, petroleum, salt, and steel. The Ministère des Mines et de l’Industrie was the Government agency responsible for enacting the Mining Code and for the coordination of all activities in the mining sector. The Direction des Mines et de la Géologie was the entity responsible for promoting the mineral sector and for providing geologic and mining information to potential investors; the Direction des Hydrocarbures was in charge of the development of the petroleum sector; and the Office Mauritanien des Recherches Géologiques was the Government entity responsible for evaluating areas of mineral potential for exploration. Société Nationale Industrielle et Minière (SNIM) was responsible for iron ore production and benefciation.
The Muncelu Mic mine was a large open pit mine in the western of Romania in Hunedoara County, 16 km southeast of Simeria and 387 km north-west of the capital, Bucharest. Muncelu Mic represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 6.5 million tonnes of ore. When it was operational it produced around 200,000 tonnes of iron ore/year. The mine also has a gold and silver reserves of around 5.4 million tonnes grading 1g/t gold and 8g/t silver resulting 173,000 oz of gold and 1.38 million oz of silver.
The Ghelari mine was a large open pit, also an underground iron ore mine in the western of Romania in Hunedoara County, 20 km south-west of Hunedoara and 411 km north-west of the capital, Bucharest. Ghelari represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 14 million tonnes of ore. The mine produced around 200,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Teliuc mine is a large open pit mine in the western of Romania in Hunedoara County, 15 km west of Hunedoara and 406 km north-west of the capital, Bucharest. Teliuc represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 3 million tonnes of ore. The mine produces around 100,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Ocna de Fier mine is a large open pit mine in the western of Romania in Caraş-Severin County, 25 km west of Reşiţa and 511 km north-west of the capital, Bucharest. Ocna de Fier represents the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 200 million tonnes of ore grading 25% iron metal. The mine produces around 10,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Băișoara mine is a large open pit mine in the north-western of Romania in Cluj County, 60 km south of Cluj-Napoca and 466 km north-west of the capital, Bucharest. Băișoara represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 6 million tonnes of ore. The mine produces around 50,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Dognecea mine is a large open pit mine in the western of Romania in Caraş-Severin County, 23 km west of Reşiţa and 509 km north-west of the capital, Bucharest. Dognecea represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 9 million tonnes of ore. The mine produces around 10,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Lueta mine is a large open pit mine in central Romania in Harghita County, 36 km west of Miercurea Ciuc and 299 km north of the capital, Bucharest. Lueta represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 6 million tonnes of ore. The mine produces around 10,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Gârliște mine is a large open pit mine in the western part of Romania in Goruia, Caraş-Severin County. Gârliște represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 3.6 million tonnes of ore.
The Kaouat mine is a large iron mine located in central Mauritania in the Adrar Region. Kaouat represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Mauritania and in the world having estimated reserves of 1.2 billion tonnes of ore grading 44% iron metal.
The Cacova Ierii mine is a large open pit mine in the north-western of Romania in Cluj County. Cacova Ierii represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 16.6 million tonnes of ore grading 42% iron metal. The mine has the capability to produce around 415,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The Rudăria-Bănia mine is a large open pit mine in the south-western Romania in Caraș-Severin County. Rudăria-Bănia represents one of the largest iron ore reserves in Romania having estimated reserves of 70 million tonnes of ore grading 45% iron metal and 20% manganese metal. The mine has the capability to produce around 500,000 tonnes of iron ore/year.
The A238 mine is a large open pit mine located in the western part of Mauritania. A238 represents one of the largest uranium reserves in Mauritania having estimated reserves of 45 million tonnes of ore grading 0.02% uranium.
The Firawa mine is a large open pit mine located in the western part of Mauritania. Firawa represents one of the largest uranium reserves in Mauritania having estimated reserves of 30 million tonnes of ore grading 0.025% uranium.
