Minerals Commonly Mined by Namibian Small-Scale Miners
Gemstones
• Tourmaline (including green, pink, and watermelon varieties)
• Garnet
• Aquamarine
• Topaz
• Amethyst
• Quartz (clear, rose, smoky)
• Fluorite
Industrial Minerals
• Marble
• Granite
• Kaolin
• Salt
• Gypsum
Critical and Strategic Minerals
• Tantalite (used in electronics and batteries)
• Wolframite (source of tungsten)
• Columbite (niobium-rich mineral)
• Lithium-bearing pegmatites (in early-stage exploration)
These minerals are often extracted from pegmatite belts, alluvial deposits, and small surface workings, using basic tools and techniques. Despite the modest scale, the sector supports over 5,000 livelihoods and plays a vital role in poverty reduction, women’s empowerment, and local economic development
