ROCKS AND MINERAL RESOURCES

• Top mineral exports of the Philippines

  • Copper
  • Gold
  • Nickel
• Other target minerals in the Philippines

  • Quartz
  • Mica
  • Iron
  • Gypsum
  • Feldspar
  • Chromite
  • Calcite
  • Sulphur
• Other target non-metallic minerals in the Philippines

  • Sand and gravel
  • Limestone
  • Marble
  • Clay
  • Other quarry materials
• The country has 44 mining companies of which 37 are operating mines, six gold mines, three copper mines and 28 nickel mines as well as 65 non-metallic mining companies
• Metallic minerals in the Philippines

  Gold, iron ore, lead, zinc, chromite, and copper are drawn from major deposits on the islands of Luzon and Mindanao. Smaller deposits of silver, nickel, mercury, molybdenum, cadmium, and manganese occur in several other locations
• Copper


  One of the first metals to be worked into implements and the first metal to be smelted from ores. Its excellent ductility and high conductivity assure it use in modern society
• Nickel


  A chemical element with the chemical symbol Ni and atomic number 28. It is a silvery-white lustrous metal with a slight golden tinge. Nickel belongs to the transition metals and is hard and ductile
• Gold


  One of the most popular and well-known minerals, known for its value and special properties since the earliest of time
• Limestone


  A sedimentary rock composed largely of the mineral calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal from of calcium carbonate
• Silver


  Used in jewelry, tableware, coins, scientific equipment and in photographic process
• Platinum


  Silver-white in color lustrous, ductile, and malleable. Platinum is more ductile than gold, silver and copper, thus being the most ductile of pure metals
• Chromium


  A trace mineral that is found in very small amount in the human body
• Lead


  A corrosion resistant dense metal that is easily molded and shaped. The chemical symbol for lead, Pb, is an abbreviation of the Latin word plumbum, meaning soft metal
• Manganese


  A mineral that is given little publicity and yet it is very important to our health
• Other minerals found in the Philippines

  • Quartz
  • Pyrite
  • Gypsum
  • Barite
  • Sphalerite
  • Galena
  • Epidote
  • Molybdenite
  • Actinolite
  • Magnetite
  • Hematite
  • Graphite
  • Cinnabar
  • Malachite
  • Coal
• The Philippines is rich in mineral resources, including gold, silver, copper, nickel, chromite, iron ore, manganese, zinc, lead, antimony, cobalt, arsenic, mercury, sulfur, salt, gypsum, limestone, marble, sandstone, shale, clay, gravel, peat, coal, petroleum, natural gas, timber, and non-metallic minerals.
• Metals are used as raw materials for various products such as tools, machines, buildings, vehicles, jewelry, coins, etc.