General information on certain minerals whose utilization is growing or tending to grow

Abstract

Mining is one of the main bases of the economic development of Rwanda. It employs more-wage earners than any other industry and takes second place in exports after agriculture. Nevertheless, the mineral wealth of Rwanda comprises a fairly small number of substances. The minerals which have been worked since the origin of mining in Rwanda in about 1930 are cassiterite, wolfram, Colombo-tantalite, beryl, amblygonite, gold and bismuth. Monazite, although discovered quite early, has not yet been worked.