National Directorate of Geology, Mozambique

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Welcome to the web site of the National Directorate of Geology, Mozambique. DNG strives to provide excellent scientific services to the Mozambique government, local companies and individuals. [ View DNG structure... ]

Regional Geology of Mozambique

About two-thirds of Mozambique is covered by igneous and metamorphic rocks of Archaean to Neoproterozoic age, occurring mostly in the north and northwest, while Phanerozoic terrains are found south of the Zambeze valley and along the coastal belt in the northeast.

Archaean and Paleoproterozoic terrains are an extension of the Zimbabwe Craton and its supracrustals, but also include granitoids, gneisses and migmatites of the Barue Complex. Two main orogenies are recognized, the Irumide Belt (18001350 Ma) in the northwest and the ubiquitous Mozambique Belt (1100-850 Ma), with evidence of extensive migmatisation and granitisation, as well as various granitoids and supracrustals; together these terrains constitute about 90% of the Precambrian rocks of Mozambique. The Neoproterozoic Cycle (800-410 Ma) is marked by the formation of small platform basins, as well as the influence of the PanAfrican (Katangan) orogeny in the northwest, and by the emplacement of monzonites, syenites, granites and pegmatites. Carboniferous to Upper Jurassic rifting associated with sedimentation and widespread igneous activity led to numerous intracratonic Karoo basins, followed by Post-Karoo continental deposits and volcanics, as well as MesaCenozoic continental and marine deposits, and a thick Pliocene to Quaternary cover.

The economic mineral potential is largely untapped. Gold has been produced from the Archaean Manica Greenstone belt and various alluvial occurrences; large BIF deposits are also known in this terrain. Numerous pegmatite fields host important deposits of tantalum-niobium, rare earths, and semi-precious stones. In addition, heavy mineral sands, graphite, fluorite, apatite, bauxite, dimension stone, various clays, sands, refractory minerals, limestone, coal and natural gas form the bulk mineral endowment.