::SNIM, soiété nationale industrielle et minière

Diversification

SNIM takes advantage of its wide expertise in mining exploration in order to study various diversification projects, which would then be additional contributions to the country's economic development. It has started prospecting for diamonds, gold, base metals and dimension stones. The last project has already led to the start of industrial mining by GMM, a SNIM subsidiary.

Gold

Starting from 1998, SNIM obtained exploration permits in three areas: the Central Mauritanids, Amsaga and Tiris.
Currently, these permits cover an area of 31,000 km².

The first phase has made it possible :

To train geologists and prospectors in gold search techniques.

To acquire the necessary equipment.

To sign a services agreement with a foreign laboratory for geochemical analyses.

Currently most permits have given rise to a region-wide exploration which will make it possible in the near future to reduce their number and area to the most promising sites.

The most promising results were found in the South Amsaga: presence of signs of copper and gold and of geological and chemical anomalies in the soil.

Interesting signs of platinum and palladium have been identified in the same region.

Diamonds

In 1998, SNIM obtained two research permits in the Tiris and Amsaga regions.

After an initial stage which consisted in establishing the equipment and exploration methods to be used, as well as the training of the Mauritanian personnel, SNIM has launched regional soil surveys within the two licensed areas. A total of several thousand samples have been taken and processed in the laboratories.

This soil survey has led to several hundred indicator minerals, as well as some microdiamonds, being localised. This stage has now been completed. It was followed by a detailed soil survey of the areas in question, which is still in progress.