Regional Production:
As far as the Great Lakes Region is concerned, gold is the most significant of all “conflict minerals”, both in terms of value, local employment, and actual DRC conflict risks. Currently (2014), 4 out of 5 artisanal miners in the eastern DRC are engaged in gold mining, and more than half of the associated mines are militarized. Artisanal gold rushes and the associated community problems arising from unregulated migration are common in the DRC and elsewhere.

In nature, gold commonly occurs as native metal (Au) or forms alloys with other metals, especially with silver (electrum). Unlike the 3T minerals (which are usually concentrated by gravity processing only), gold is concentrated by artisanal miners and traders through both gravity and chemical processing (e.g., amalgamation or cyanide leaching) creating significantly elevated health and environmental risks.

Local prices offered by gold traders are either quoted per gram or per tola (1 tola = 11.4 grams). Diggers typically receive ca. 1/3 and up to 1/2 of that price. Supply chain networks are significantly more complex than those of 3T minerals and often involve pre-financing arrangements among several tiers.

Gold dust or doré bars exported from the Great Lakes Region typically have a purity of 90-95% Au. Although gold prices have declined significantly since their peak in 2011, one kilogram of gold exported from the region is still worth US$ 30-35,000.

Global Market Environment:
Internationally, gold is traded on several international exchange platforms, e.g. the Shanghai Gold Exchange or the London Metal Exchange and a public price is quoted in US$ per ounce (1 ounce = 31.1 grams).

Africa is richly endowed with gold resources and significant production derives from West Africa (e.g., Burkina Faso, Ghana), South Africa, and Central-East Africa (e.g., Sudan, Tanzania, DRC). Gold production from the region – both industrial and artisanal – corresponds to ca. 4% of global mine supply. At a collective value of several billion US$ gold forms one of the most important export products of the region, even though the region’s output is small in comparison to the global top producers of gold (China, Australia, Russia and the US).

While industrial gold supply chains are usually well-controlled, artisanal gold from the Great Lakes Region is mostly smuggled between different countries and then out of the region altogether. BGR recently commissioned a research study estimating that annual ASM gold production in the Great Lakes Region alone is already worth more than US$ 1 billion. Most of this is smuggled out of the region and into the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), with associated collective revenue losses of more than US$ 20 million p.a. for the region as a whole.

Today gold is principally used as a monetary metal (investment) and in jewelry (with half of global end user demand coming from India and China). Minor industrial applications for gold are in the electronics sector (even though quantities are small, the value of gold contained in a mobile phone may in some cases exceed the value of tantalum) and dentistry.

Regional Production:
In the Great Lakes Region, tantalum is most commonly found in association with niobium in minerals of the columbite-tantalite group [(Fe,Mn)(Nb,Ta)2O6]; “coltan” has been established as a trade name for such tantalum-bearing ore concentrates in Africa. Coltan mining is common in Rwanda, the DRC and, to a lesser degree, in Burundi.

On a per-unit base, tantalum represents the most valuable metal among the 3Ts. Typical grades for coltan concentrates exported from the Great Lakes Region are 25% Ta2O5, one kilogram of export-grade concentrate is worth ca. 40-50 US$ (2013-2015 price level); prices are highly volatile.
Coltan mineralization is often found together with cassiterite (tin ore) and artisanal miners produce “mixed” coltan-cassiterite concentrates. For legitimate supply chains, prices obtained by artisanal miners for such material may range from US$ 5-20 per kilogram, depending on the variable metal proportions. The different economic components (cassiterite and coltan) are separated at a local processing stage prior to export.

Global Market Environment:
Tantalum market structures are somewhat opaque, relying on supply and trade contracts for mineral concentrates without a publicly quoted price reference. The global tantalum market is relatively small; therefore, relative production shares vary significantly. Eastern-central Africa, that is, Dodd-Frank affected countries of the ICGLR region, currently (2013-2014) contributes more than 50% of global mine production, most of it coming from Rwanda and the DRC. This is due to a combination of increased supply from the region and reduced supply from major producers elsewhere (e.g., Australia). For comparison, the region’s global tantalum production share amounted to <20% in 2010.

Tin slags from eastern-central Africa often contain economically relevant tantalum as a by-product. Aside from mine production, recycling (scrap) forms another important source for global tantalum supply. Tantalum processors sourcing from the region are currently mainly located in China and Kazakhstan.

The most important application of tantalum products is in ultra-miniaturized, high performance capacitors used by the modern microelectronics industry for mobile phones, laptops and flat screens.

Regional Production:
The most important ore mineral for tin is cassiterite (SnO2). Cassiterite is the most significant 3T mineral by volume in both the DRC and Rwanda where it has been mined for several decades.
Cassiterite export concentrates have typical grades of ca. 60-65% Sn, corresponding to an export value of ca. US$ 12 per kilogram. Where legitimate supply chains are involved, miners receive ca. US$ 3-4.5/kg for cassiterite concentrate (more if they are selling mixed coltan-cassiterite concentrate).

In the past, tin smelting (conversion of cassiterite into tin) temporarily took place in selected facilities located in the DRC and Rwanda. Plans are currently underway to re-activate and modernize some of these old smelting facilities. Some cassiterite concentrates from the region are known for their high tantalum contents and tantalum may be obtained as an economically important by-product from tin slags.

Global Market Environment:
Tin is traded on the London Metal Exchange (LME) where prices are publicly quoted. The Great Lakes region contributes ca. 3% to global tin production with the DRC and Rwanda representing the region’s dominant producers. The center of global tin production and smelting is in Asia, mostly China and Indonesia. In recent years (2011-2014), cassiterite exports from the Great Lakes Region have been practically exclusively destined for Malaysia. Before, Thailand was an important destination as well.

Major uses for tin are in the electronics industry as solder (found on many circuit boards in electronic products such as mobile phones), as tin plate for food and beverage cans, in the production of bronze, and in chemicals.

Regional Production:
The major source for tungsten ore in eastern-central Africa is represented by wolframite [(Fe,Mn)WO4]. Significant mine contributions originate from Rwanda, Burundi and the DRC.

On a per-unit base, wolframite and cassiterite concentrates have broadly similar value and export grades (wolframite concentrates typically have ca. 60% WO3 with export prices slightly above cassiterite). At the mine site, artisanal miners receive approximately the same amount for wolframite as for cassiterite concentrates.

Global Market Environment:
As with tantalum, tungsten globally represents a relatively small market and the metal is not traded on the stock market; supply chain price structures are somewhat opaque. Production from the Great Lakes Region represents ca. 2% of global mine supply. The majority of tungsten mine supply and processing facilities are located in China. Wolframite from the region is mainly exported to China, Austria, and Vietnam.

Tungsten has unique properties and is used, as tungsten carbide, in cutting tools and for arms manufacturing, for the production of high-speed steel as alloying component, and for light bulbs as filament.