Theory question 114
Geography of Africa(a) On an outline map of Africa, locate and name, outside Nigeria, (i) two areas important for the mining of gold (ii) two areas important for the mining of petroleum; (iii) two areas important for the mining of copper (iv) one town important for the mining of each of the minerals (b) State any four contributions of minerals to the econony of African countries (c) Identify any three problems associated with mining in Africa
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(a) Gold: Witwatersrand, South Africa (Johannesburg); Obuasi/Tarkwa, Ghana. Petroleum: Hassi Messaoud, Algeria; Libya (Zelten/Brega); Gabon/Angola (Cabinda). Copper: Zambian Copperbelt (Kitwe, Ndola); Katanga/Shaba, DR Congo (Lubumbashi, Kolwezi).
(b) Foreign exchange; government revenue; raw materials for industry; employment; development of towns, railways and roads; power supply.
(c) Lack of capital and skilled labour; poor transport from interior mines; fluctuating world prices; environmental damage and pollution; foreign control of companies; exhaustion of deposits; accidents.
Do not use Nigerian examples in part (a).