KAWA MULTIMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Iron ore mining in Liberia
Liberia ranks among the world exporters of iron ore. Liberia has very large reserves of commercial value. Before the discovery of iron ore in Wologosi mountains near Voinjama, Liberia’s reserves were estimated to be over one billion tones. What was discovered in this area added more.
Mining has been in the following areas: Bomi hills, Bong hills, Mt. Nimba near Mano river etc.
Mining is by opencast method which has been which has been about 10-15 metres high, cut into the mountain face. Ore is then drilled out and loaded by a huge crane into massive tracks. This transports to the crushing mill where it is mixed with water, the waste separated from concrete. From the mill, the concentrate is sent along an 80 km railway to Monrovia. It is then loaded into vessels.
The Mt. Nimba deposits are directly connected to port Buchanan. The Liberian government has some shares in mining and rest of the share are held by the foreign investors.
The mining companies are the Liberian Mining Company-which operates the Bomi hill reserves owned by Americans. The Liberian American Swedish Company which operates on Mt. Nimba’s ore reserves. The German Liberian Company-owned by four Germans. The Italian Company-which operates Bong mountains. National Iron Ore Company owned by the government which started operating in 1969 responsible for the Mano river deposits.
Sketch map of Liberia showing Iron mining areas, towns and railway line.
Mining has been in the following areas: Bomi hills, Bong hills, Mt. Nimba near Mano river etc.
Mining is by opencast method which has been which has been about 10-15 metres high, cut into the mountain face. Ore is then drilled out and loaded by a huge crane into massive tracks. This transports to the crushing mill where it is mixed with water, the waste separated from concrete. From the mill, the concentrate is sent along an 80 km railway to Monrovia. It is then loaded into vessels.
The Mt. Nimba deposits are directly connected to port Buchanan. The Liberian government has some shares in mining and rest of the share are held by the foreign investors.
The mining companies are the Liberian Mining Company-which operates the Bomi hill reserves owned by Americans. The Liberian American Swedish Company which operates on Mt. Nimba’s ore reserves. The German Liberian Company-owned by four Germans. The Italian Company-which operates Bong mountains. National Iron Ore Company owned by the government which started operating in 1969 responsible for the Mano river deposits.
Sketch map of Liberia showing Iron mining areas, towns and railway line.
Activity
QUESTION FIFTY SIX
(a) For either Liberia or Mauritania:
(i) Draw a sketch map to show where iron ore is mined.
(ii) The main towns.
(iii) The railway line.
(b)(i) Describe how iron ore is mined and processed.
(ii) Name the companies dealing with iron ore mining in the country mentioned.
(c) State the problems facing iron ore mining.
(d) Outline the benefits of iron ore mining to the economy of that country.
(b) (i) Open cast method is used.
• Benches 10-15m high are cut into the mountain and the ore is drilled out.
• The ore is loaded huge crab crane into dumper trucks which transfer the ore to the crushing mill. When processing at the crushing mills:
• The ore is mixed with water.
• The waste is separated from the concentrate.
• The concentrate is sent by railway to Monrovia port.
• At the port it is stock piled till loaded into ore vessels ready for export.
(ii) The Companies are:
-Liberia Mining Company (LMC)
-Liberia American Swedish Minerals Company (DELIMCO)
(a) For either Liberia or Mauritania:
(i) Draw a sketch map to show where iron ore is mined.
(ii) The main towns.
(iii) The railway line.
(b)(i) Describe how iron ore is mined and processed.
(ii) Name the companies dealing with iron ore mining in the country mentioned.
(c) State the problems facing iron ore mining.
(d) Outline the benefits of iron ore mining to the economy of that country.
(b) (i) Open cast method is used.
• Benches 10-15m high are cut into the mountain and the ore is drilled out.
• The ore is loaded huge crab crane into dumper trucks which transfer the ore to the crushing mill. When processing at the crushing mills:
• The ore is mixed with water.
• The waste is separated from the concentrate.
• The concentrate is sent by railway to Monrovia port.
• At the port it is stock piled till loaded into ore vessels ready for export.
(ii) The Companies are:
-Liberia Mining Company (LMC)
-Liberia American Swedish Minerals Company (DELIMCO)