Costa Rica

In 2024, Costa Rica was not a globally significant producer of mineral commodities. Production of mineral commodities represented only a minor part of the economy. Mineral commodities produced in Costa Rica included cement, diatomite, gold, sand and gravel (construction), and stone. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Costa Rica is provided by the Mining Code Law No. 6797 of 1982 and amended by subsequent environmental laws. The Ministry of Environment and Energy oversees the mineral sector and provides administrative and regulatory services. Most mineral commodities were produced by private companies. 

In 2024, Costa Rica was not a globally significant producer of mineral commodities. Production of mineral commodities represented only a minor part of the economy. Mineral commodities produced in Costa Rica included cement, diatomite, gold, sand and gravel (construction), and stone. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in Costa Rica is provided by the Mining Code Law No. 6797 of 1982 and amended by subsequent environmental laws. The Ministry of Environment and Energy oversees the mineral sector and provides administrative and regulatory services. Most mineral commodities were produced by private companies (Direccion de Geología y Minas, 2026). 

Data on mineral production are in the Production table (formerly table 1). The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities. More-extensive coverage of the mineral industry of Ecuador can be found in previous editions of the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports—International—Latin America and Canada, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/nmic/south-america.  

Reference Cited 

• Dirección de Geología y Minas, 2026, Codigo minero—LEY N°6797 [Mining code—Law N°6797] 2017: San José, Costa Rica, Dirección de Geología y Minas, 34 p. (Accessed February 28, 2026, at https://www.geologia.go.cr/quienes_somos/normativa/Codigo%20Minero.pdf.) [In Spanish.]