Benin

Office Béninois des Recherches Géologiques et Minières (OBRGM)

Ministère des Recherches Pétrolières et Minières (MRPM)
01 B.P. 249, Cotonou
Phone:  +229-21310309       
Fax: +229-21314120 

Benin Mining Code  

CIA Factbook
Political rights and civil liberties (Freedom House)
French-English online dictionary
Travel and accommodation

The contribution of mining to total exports in 2010 amounted to 11.0%

Benin Mining News

Source: CIA Factbook

Legend

Legend and ore deposit name

Geology

The geology of Benin is composed of two sub-parallel domains – an extensive northern region comprising Proterozoic age crystalline rocks of the Dahomeyide Orogen divided into a series of NNE trending belts and a southern region of late Phanerozoic sedimentary rocks ranging from Cretaceous to Recent in age. Alluvial sediments of Neogene age cover the northeastern part of the country along the border with Niger.

Mining

Minerals do not play a significant role in Benin’s economy. Gold has been produced in small quantities by artisanal miners. The country also produces some industrial/construction materials and modest amounts of salt for which, amongst African countries, it is ranked equal 20th with Guinea. Benin is known to have relatively small undeveloped reserves of mineral-fossil fuels. At the beginning of 2009 proven reserves of crude petroleum and natural gas stood at 1.09 Mt and 1.133 billion m3 respectively.

Maps and images

• Benin Cities,Towns, Airports, Maps, Images
• Benin Image-1
• Benin Image-2
• Benin Minerals
• Benin Topography
• Available Geological Maps (18)

Gold in Benin

Gold Home

The government wished to see a gold industry developed around the Atacora province. In 1997, it issued 12 permits for gold exploration.

Oil and Natural Gas

Click HERE for an overview

• Oil proved reserves: 4.105 million bbl (1 January 2002)

• Natural gas proved reserves: 1.133 billion cu m (1 January 2005 est.)

• Kerr-McGee Corporation (acquired by Anadarko Petroleum Corporation in 2006) had exploration plans for Block 4, which include 3D seismic research and an anticipated drilling in late 2006. Kerr-McGee (operator) holds a 40 percent interest in the block and is joined with partners Kosmos Energy (40 percent) and Malaysia's Petronas (20 percent).

References

Economic geology of energy sources

• Petroleum Developments in Central and Southern Africa in 1972
• Petroleum Developments in Central and Southern Africa in 1972
• The lignites of Asaba division, Benin Province

Economic geology of nonmetal deposits

• Stratigraphic and structural controls of late Precambrian phosphate deposits of the northern Volta Basin in Upper Volta, Niger, and Benin, West Africa
• West African Infracambrian phosphorites; Proterozoic-Cambrian phosphorites

Economic geology of ore deposits

• Early proterozoic ore deposits and tectonics of the Birimian orogenic belt.
• Les minéralisations aurifères de l'Afrique de l'Ouest. Leur évolution lithostructurale au Protérozoïque inférieur. Notice et Carte à 1/2 000 000.
• Les mines de fer mondiales et la préparation des minerais - Afrique
• Prospection geochimique du Cr, Ni, Co, Zn, Pb, Cu, V et Mo dans le complexe basique de Mbetekoukou (Sud-Dahomey). Geochemical prospecting for chromium, nickel, cobalt, zinc, lead, copper, vanadium and molybdenum in the Mbetekoukou basic complex, southern Benin
• Ressources Minières du Bénin

Economic geology, general

• Benin
• Nerostne bohatstvi Beninske lidove republiky. The mineral wealth of the People's Republic of Benin
• The mineral industry of other African areas
• The Mineral Industry of Other African Areas
• The mineral industry of other areas of Africa

Economic geology, general, deposits

• La Geologie au service du developpement economique; projet majeur regional sur la geologie appliquee au developpement economique. Geology serving economical development; major regional project on applied geology to economical development

Economic geology, general, economics

• Financing African mining developments; Mining activity survey
• Les mines de fer mondiales et la préparation des minerais - Afrique

Economic geology, geology of energy sources

• Utilisation combinee de l'eau pour la consommation et l'energie dans les cas de debits non perennes. The combined use of water for drinking and for energy in the case of intermittent discharge; Utilisation rationnelle de l'eau des petits bassins versants en zone aride. Rational use of water from small drainage basins in an arid region

Economic geology, geology of ore deposits

• Gold resources of Africa