Canadian Firm Discovers Rare Mineral in Kenyan Coast

A Canadian firm, Pacific Wildcat Resources Corps (Paw), has discovered large amounts of niobium, a rare mineral in Kwale in Kenya’s coast province.

Niobium is a metal used in the production of steel, rocket turbines, magnets, car parts, television set elements, lamp filaments and jewellery.

Only few countries in the world among them Brazil, Canada, Australia, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Burundi and Mozambique produce the metal.

In Kwale, government officials and prospectors say the deposits could be mined for up to 20 years and bring in as much as Sh270 billion.

Kwale geologist Wafula Baraza is quoted telling a Kenyan daily that that the deposits are large and the investor is putting a lot of money into prospecting it.

Cortec chief executive David Anderson said the deposits could last up to 20 years and would make Kenya one of the world’s top producers of the mineral.

Prof Ken Collerson, a consultant hired by Paw, surveyed Kwale last November and concluded that in addition to Mrima, there were deposits of niobium and other rare earth minerals around Kiruku, Dzombo, Nguluku and Dzirihini hills.

During the survey, Paw collected 34 rock chips in Kwale.

Africa Science News