Minerals in Africa

Africa’s dire need to industrialize is universally acknowledged and it is evident that the continent’s vast mineral resources can catalyze that industrialization. This requires the promotion of local beneficiation and value addition of minerals to yield materials on which modern Africa’s industry and society can rely. This book is, therefore, about transforming Africa’s comparative advantages in minerals into the continent’s competitive edge regarding materials. Mineral beneficiation and value addition form the basis and provide opportunities for mineral-driven Africa’s industrialization. The scope of the book is three-fold with inter-connected relationships: Information, Technical, and Policy oriented. It will be a useful reference material for mining undergraduate students on beneficiation and value addition of each of the minerals found in Africa. The book, while presenting a broad overview of beneficiation and value addition of Africa’s minerals, provides crucial starting material for postgraduate research students and R&D institutions who wish to delve into more advanced methods of extraction and utilization of mineral-derived materials that are in Africa for the purpose of industrialization of the continent.

The book by Francis Gudyanga is a very comprehensive encyclopedia on minerals, with special stress on the vast mineral wealth of Africa. It covers all aspects of the subject, such as listing of the minerals, their composition, properties, mining and processing, application in industry and economics. Readers will realize after reading the book, that the present state of the mineral industry in Africa is far from perfect, if we consider its effect on the life of the natural owners of the mineral wealth – the people of Africa. Professor Gudyanga also explains the fact that not only Africans, but the whole world will benefit from the gradual change in the treatment of the mineral wealth. Employment opportunities in Africa will be much higher, which will remove social tensions, leading to many negative consequences, such as the smuggling of people, mainly unemployed youth to Europe. In addition, investors in industry in Africa will also benefit, costs of transport of products will be much lower the those for exporting raw materials and the costs of final products may also become lower, thus benefiting the final customers.Erik Navara,Professor emeritus, University of Zimbabwe, The book by Francis Gudyanga is a very comprehensive encyclopedia on minerals, with special stress on the vast mineral wealth of Africa. It covers all aspects of the subject, such as listing of the minerals, their composition, properties, mining and processing, application in industry and economics. Readers will realize after reading the book, that the present state of the mineral industry in Africa is far from perfect, if we consider its effect on the life of the natural owners of the mineral wealth – the people of Africa. Professor Gudyanga also explains the fact that not only Africans, but the whole world will benefit from the gradual change in the treatment of the mineral wealth. Employment opportunities in Africa will be much higher, which will remove social tensions, leading to many negative consequences, such as the smuggling of people, mainly unemployed youth to Europe. In addition, investors in industry in Africa will also benefit, costs of transport of products will be much lower the those for exporting raw materials and the costs of final products may also become lower, thus benefiting the final customers.Erik Navara,Professor emeritus, University of Zimbabwe

Professor Francis Gudyanga has a BSc (Hons) degree in Applied Chemistry from the University of Hertfordshire (UK), MSc in Analytical Chemistry from Chelsea College, University of London, MPhil in Metallurgy from Brunel University, Uxbridge (UK), a PhD in Mineral Technology from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, University of London, and a DIC in Electrochemical Engineering from Imperial College London. He is a metallurgist and applied chemist with over 30 years’ experience in the minerals industry covering plant operations, management, R&D at institutions in UK, South Africa and Zimbabwe, teaching university undergraduates and supervision of doctoral research students. His research interests are in extractive metallurgy, materials technology, and S&T policy. He has been serving on several national, regional and international Committees and Boards. He held senior positions in the Government of Zimbabwe for 10 years serving as Permanent Secretary in 3 ministries, namely: Science and Technology Development, Mines and Mining Development, and Higher and Tertiary Education Science & Technology Development. Professor Gudyanga is currently the President of the Zimbabwe Academy of Sciences.