Morocco’s mining sector proves busy with titanium and antimony developments
Morocco’s mining sector is seeing major updates recently, highlighted by the approval of a core mining licence and pilot plant infrastructure work for the TitanBeach Titanium Project.
TitanBeach covers a 192km2 area, and preliminary exploration shows that the titanium dioxide content can reach up to 14.9%, as reported.
Shanghai Metals Market (SMM) reports that the project will be advanced in stages, with the construction of a pilot mineral processing plant first, followed by the planning of commercial facilities.
The development of TitanBeach is expected to strengthen Morocco’s titanium supply chain for its aviation manufacturing industry, while enhancing the country’s critical mineral supply capabilities.
Steadright Critical Minerals (CSE:SCM) owns 76.5% of NSM Capital, which holds a 32% free-carried interest in the TitanBeach Project through Shan Tang Mining. NSM Capital has also signed a framework of cooperation agreement with a state-owned enterprise.
Titanium dioxide is classified as a critical and strategic mineral in several nations, including the US, Canada, and Europe. With only a few of the world’s suppliers dominating the market, titanium dioxide is in strong demand.
According to the European Commission, global titanium demand is driven primarily by aerospace manufacturing, defence programs, and industrial pigment needs, with the metal market projected to reach US$2.9–3.7 billion ($4.06–5.18 billion) by 2030.
Contributing to the antimony market
Morocco’s mining sector is a key pillar of the nation’s economy, accounting for 10% of the nation’s gross domestic product and around 30% of the total exports. The sector employs nearly 40,000 people and generates investments of $1.7–3.4 billion annually.
The Morocco Mining Plan 2021-2030 is a comprehensive strategy aimed at increasing the sector’s contribution to the national economy. The strategy aims to boost investment, enhance value-added production, and foster innovation.
According to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, the mining plan addresses challenges such as discovering new deposits, increasing the added value of extracted materials, and ensuring the sector’s sustainable development.
Alongside Steadright Critical Minerals and NSM Capital, Zeus Resources (ASX:ZEU) is contributing to Morocco’s mining sector through its Casablanca Antimony Project.
Zeus‘s Casablanca Project, covering 79km2, is located in central Morocco and features multiple historical and recent artisanal workings. Rock-chip samples have returned grades of up to 46.52% antimony.
Previously speaking to Mining.com.au, Zeus Executive Director Hugh Pilgrim says the deposit’s surface grades are “exceptional by any global standard”.
“Most antimony deposits operate in the range of 1–3%, with economic cut-offs often below 1%,” he told this news service.
“Our results confirm that we’re dealing with semi-massive to massive stibnite mineralisation at surface, which is rarely seen and highly significant. It gives us early confidence in the potential scale and grade continuity of the system.”
In 2024, China banned exports of antimony to the US, which sent the metal’s price up 2,600% at that point, as previously reported. China controls about 80% of production and more than 50% of global reserves.
Since then, the emphasis for the West has been to find and develop antimony supply outside of China — and Morocco is emerging as a strategic hub to deliver the next antimony discoveries and mines.
Global antimony production has dropped from 187,000 tonnes in 2011 to 110,000 tonnes in 2023, pointing to a tightening in supply.
Antimony plays a crucial role across electronics, defence, energy storage, and renewable technologies. The metal is used to harden lead in bullets and armour-piercing rounds and is also a key component of laser-guided missiles, military electronics, battery technology, flame retardants, night vision, and roofing.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Zeus Resources
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