Morocco is emerging as a potential heavyweight in Africa’s gold industry following the discovery of significant high-grade deposits in the southern Guelmim region.
According to Business Insider Africa, the find could transform the country’s mining sector and strengthen its role in the continent’s resource economy.
Mining company OLAH Palace Trading confirmed the discovery, with field studies revealing 34 quartz veins containing exceptionally rich gold concentrations.
Independent reports from African Mining Market note that assays returned grades as high as 30 grams per tonne (g/t)—well above the 10 g/t benchmark that defines world-class deposits.
Specialist platform Discovery Alert described the results as “exceptional,” with samples ranging from 6 g/t to 30 g/t.
Preliminary estimates suggest that Morocco could be sitting on between 3 and 5 million ounces of gold, a potential leap from its modest current annual output of just over 100 kilograms produced at the Tiouit mine in Tinghir province.
The geology of the deposit, described as hydrothermal with classic features of epithermal to mesothermal systems, could also make recovery more efficient.
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Although Morocco has not yet broken into Africa’s top 10 gold producers, it has already built a small but notable export profile.
OECD trade data show that in 2023, the country exported $27.7 million worth of gold, with major buyers including Turkey ($16.8M), Switzerland ($6.56M), and Italy ($3.38M).
If further exploration confirms the scale of the Guelmim deposit, Morocco could rapidly climb the ranks of Africa’s gold producers, attracting new investment and boosting its export revenues.
“These discoveries validate what we’ve long believed about Morocco’s untapped resources,” said Odai Nabut, Head of Business Development at OLAH Palace Trading, emphasizing the company’s commitment to long-term, responsible development.
The find is being hailed as one of the most promising gold discoveries in North Africa in recent years—an event that could mark the beginning of Morocco’s rise as a major player in Africa’s mining industry.
Image Credit: Business Insider Africa
