Metals

Extraction of construction materials constitutes the principal mining activity in Belize, amounting altogether to less than 1% of the gross domestic product (GDP).

Mining activities were regulated by the Mines and Minerals Act of 1988 which did not include petroleum. Although clays, limestone, marble, and sand and gravel for construction and civil works are the mainstays of Belize's mineral production, a very small amount of gold has been produced yearly by stream panning.

Prior to 1988, the nation's mineral production was largely by private companies on contract to the Government's Department of Public Works. Since 1988, the Government's Geology and Petroleum Office has administered mineral permits, licenses, and concessions. Prospecting licenses for base metals, clays, and limestone were held by fewer than five foreign companies in the early 1990's.

Belize
Key Sectors
Mining/Metals: Production

Commodity	Units	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Bauxite	MT 1000s	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Copper	MT	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Diamonds	Carats 1000s	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Gold	KG	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Iron Ore	MT 1000s	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Iron Ore	MT Millions	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Lead	MT	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Nickel	MT	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Phosphates	MT 1000s	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Platinum	KG	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Silver	MT	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Tin	MT	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a
Zinc	MT	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a	n/a

Sources:

US Geological Survey