Mineral industry of Africa Mineral industry of Africa The mineral industry of Africa is the largest mineral industries in the world. Africa is the second largest continent, with 30 million km² of land, which implies large quantities of resources. For many African countries, mineral exploration and production constitute significant parts of their economies and remain keys to economic growth. Africa is richly endowed with mineral reserves and ranks first or second in quantity of world reserves of bauxite, cobalt, industrial diamond, phosphate rock, platinum-group metals (PGM), vermiculite, and zirconium. Gold mining is Africa's main mining resource. The Central African Mining and Exploration Company (CAMEC),
USS Harry S. Truman relieving on 20 November in the Persian Gulf. "Harry S. Truman" and Carrier Air Wing 3 launched 2,577 sorties, totaling nearly 13,000 flight hours, flying combat missions over Iraq and maritime security operations before being relieved by Carrier Strike Group in the Persian Gulf on 19 March 2005. Despite plans to cross the equator and visit South Africa, diplomatic issues caused her instead to transit the Suez Canal, stopping in Portsmouth, England, prior to returning home on 18 April 2005. On 1 September 2005, in response to the disaster of Hurricane Katrina, "Harry S. Truman" set sail for the devastated