Forget Oil: 15 Countries Sitting On A Fortune Of Metals And Minerals

south africa iron ore
northam.co.za
The most resource-rich country in the world is... probably Saudi Arabia.
But oil isn't the only valuable resource. A Citi report lists the richest countries in terms of metals and ore.
Investors should look for countries where production is relatively low and the resource lifetime is long.

Guinea -- $222 billion in metal & ore reserves

bauxite guinea
Bauxite mine 
Reserves composition (value):
100% Bauxite
Years of production: 444

Indonesia -- $227 billion in metal & ore reserves

indonesia copper
Port facilities at Indonesia's Benete Bay copper mine 
mining-technology.com
Reserves composition (value):
48% Copper
33% Gold
19% Nickel
Years of production: 27

Mexico -- $240 billion in metal & ore reserves

mexico copper mine
Mexico's huge Cananea copper mine 
Reserves composition (value):
56% Copper
15% Gold
10% Iron ore
10% Zinc
Years of production: 62

Kazakhstan -- $292 billion in metal & ore reserves

kazakhstan iron mine
Kostanay region open-cast iron ore mine 
Reserves composition (value):
64% Iron ore
22% Copper
10% Zinc
4% Bauxite
Years of production: 117

India -- $296 billion in metal & ore reserves

india iron ore
The Hindu
Reserves composition (value):
86% Iron ore
8% Bauxite
6% Zinc
Years of production: 164
Photo: The Hindu

Peru -- $328 billion in metal & ore reserves

peru copper
Southern Peru Copper Corporation 
Reserves composition (value):
68% Copper
11% Gold
10% Zinc
Years of production: 23

Ukraine -- $516 billion in metal & ore reserves

ukraine iron ore
Gleyevatskiy iron ore mine 
Reserves composition (value):
99% Iron Ore
1% Potash
Years of production: 161

USA -- $613 billion in metal & ore reserves

bingham canyon copper usa
Bingham Canyon Open Pit Copper Mine in Utah 
Reserves composition (value):
20% Copper
19% Iron Ore
12% Gold
5% Platinum (PGM)
4% Zinc
3% Potash
Years of production: 44

Chile -- $661 billion in metal & ore reserves

chile copper mine
Chilean copper mine 
duquesneminesupply.com
Reserves composition (value):
85% Copper
8% Gold
Years of production: 31

China -- $717 billion in metal & ore reserves

rio tinto china
Chinese execs of Australia's Rio Tinto 
Reserves composition (value):
57% Iron ore
15% Copper
8% Zinc
7% Gold
Years of production: 17

Brazil -- $726 billion in metal & ore reserves

brazil iron ore mine
Samarco Alegria Iron Ore Mine, Brazil 
mining-technology.com
Reserves composition (value):
70% Iron ore
8% Bauxite
8% Nickel
7% Gold
7% Potash
Years of production: 31 

Canada -- $1,000 billion in metal & ore reserves

canada potash
Potash feldspar in Canada 
Reserves composition (value):
79% Potash
6% Iron ore
5% Nickel
3% Gold
3% Copper
1% Zinc
1% Platinum (PGM)
Years of production: 56

Australia -- $1,588 billion in metal & ore reserves

australia iron ore
Western Australia iron ore mine
leighton.com.au
Reserves composition (value):
46% Iron ore
22% Nickel
12% Bauxite
9% Gold
5% Copper
1% Zinc
Years of production: 43

Russia -- $1,636 billion in metal & ore reserves

russia iron ore
France 24
Reserves composition (value):
49% Iron ore
20% Potash
14% Platinum (PGM)
8% Gold
5% Nickel
4% Copper
Years of production: 99
Photo: France 24

South Africa -- $2,494 billion in metal & ore reserves

south africa iron ore
northam.co.za
Reserves composition (value):
91% Platinum (PGM)
6% Gold
2% Nickel
1% Iron ore
Years of production: 184
Get the latest Gold price here.
More: Features Commodities Gold