Norge Mining, a Norwegian mining company, unearthed 70-billion metric tons of phosphate rock 2.7 miles below the earth’s surface in 2021. The company now estimates the discovery will supply the world with phosphate for 50 years. Up to 70 billion tonnes are available of this non-renewable resource. This is just under the 71 billion tonnes of proven world reserves as calculated by the U.S. Geological Survey in 2021.
By far the largest phosphate rock deposits in the world – around 50 billion tonnes – are situated in the western Sahara region of Morocco. The next biggest is located in China (3.2 billion tonnes). Egypt (2.8 billion tonnes) follows with Algeria (2.2 billion tonnes) next according to U.S. estimates.
“Now, when you find something of that magnitude in Europe, which is larger than all the other
sources we know – it is significant,” said Michael Wurmser, founder of Norge Mining.
Source: www.norgemining.com July 6, 2023 report