Morocco Strikes High-Grade Gold in Guelmim, Set to Boost Africa Mining Profile
Morocco is taking a decisive step toward joining Africa’s leading gold producers after confirming the discovery of high-grade gold deposits in its southern Guelmim region. The find has energized the country’s mining sector and raised Morocco’s profile on the continent’s resource stage.
Mining company OLAH Palace Trading reported significant gold deposits within quartz veins at its Guelmim project, according to African Mining Market. Fieldwork by qualified mining professionals has identified 34 quartz veins with exceptionally high gold content across the permit area.
Specialist platform Discovery Alert described the find as “exceptional,” highlighting assay results from trench and shaft sampling that showed gold concentrations ranging from 6 grams per tonne (g/t) to 30 g/t. Globally, grades above 10 g/t are considered high-grade deposits, indicating the world-class potential of this site.
A Game-Changer for Morocco’s Mining Sector
The Guelmim discovery is now regarded as one of North Africa’s most promising gold finds in recent years, creating opportunities for Morocco to expand its mining industry, attract investment, and strengthen its role in the regional resource economy.
Currently, Morocco is not among Africa’s top 10 gold producers but has maintained a presence as a notable exporter. OECD data shows that in 2023, Morocco exported $27.7 million worth of gold, ranking 120th globally. Key buyers included Turkey ($16.8M), Switzerland ($6.56M), Italy ($3.38M), the UAE ($1.04M), and Germany ($13.6K).
If further exploration confirms the scale of the deposit, Morocco could see a dramatic rise in gold output and exports. Preliminary estimates suggest the Guelmim project could hold 3–5 million ounces of gold, vastly surpassing Morocco’s current annual production of just over 100 kilograms from the Tiouit mine in Tinghir province.
According to Morocco World News, the gold-bearing quartz veins are classic hydrothermal deposits, featuring banded quartz, brecciation, and alteration halos. Gold occurs both as free particles and combined with sulfide minerals, a structure that may allow for more efficient recovery.
“These discoveries validate what we’ve long believed about Morocco’s untapped resources,” said Odai Nabut, Head of Business Development at OLAH Palace Trading. The company emphasized a long-term strategy focused on responsible development practices and strategic partnerships.
The Guelmim discovery positions Morocco to potentially rise among Africa’s leading gold producers, attract foreign investment, and reinforce its reputation as a significant player in the continent’s mining industry.
