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French Guiana

By National Minerals Information Center

Mineral commodities produced in French Guiana included cement, laterite ore, construction sand, and crushed stone

Pictured: gravel

Statistics and information on the mining industry in French Guiana.

Overview

In 2024, French Guiana was not a globally significant producer of mineral commodities. Production of mineral commodities represented only a minor part of the economy of French Guiana. Mineral commodities produced in the country included cement, laterite ore, construction sand, and crushed stone. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in French Guiana is provided by the Code Minier [Mining Code] adopted under Act No. 98–297 of 1998 and amended by Decree No. 2023-13 of 11 January 2023. The Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières [Bureau of Geological and Mining Research] oversees the mineral sector in French Guiana; it conducts geological surveys and maintains an inventory of mineral resources. Large-scale gold mining in the country was conducted by international companies from Canada and France, while artisanal miners mined alluvial deposits. 

 

2024 Report

Full data release with tables here.

In 2024, French Guiana was not a globally significant producer of mineral commodities. Production of mineral commodities represented only a minor part of the economy of French Guiana. Mineral commodities produced in the country included cement, laterite ore, construction sand, and crushed stone. The legislative framework for the mineral sector in French Guiana is provided by the Code Minier [Mining Code] adopted under Act No. 98–297 of 1998 and amended by Decree No. 2023-13 of 11 January 2023. The Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières [Bureau of Geological and Mining Research] oversees the mineral sector in French Guiana; it conducts geological surveys and maintains an inventory of mineral resources. Large-scale gold mining in the country was conducted by international companies from Canada and France, while artisanal miners mined alluvial deposits (Légifrance, 2023, p. 1; Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières, 2025; Institut d'Emission des Départements d'Outre-Mer, 2025, p. 36, 100). 

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 government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports—International—South America, which are available in the "Publications" section below. 

 

Production table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)

Table includes data available through July 31, 2025. All data are reported unless otherwise noted. Estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits. In addition to the commodities listed, clays may have been produced, but available information was inadequate to make reliable estimates of output.
Commodity 20202021202220232024
Cement, hydraulic90,000e100,000e100,000e110,000e120,000e
Gold, mine, Au content (kilograms)1,05811,225194621,16431,0634
Sand and gravel, construction, common sand364,644400,000e400,000e500,000e550,000e
Sand and gravel, construction, laterite ore160,490160,000e160,000e200,000e220,000e
Stone, crushed, unspecified695,062700,000e700,000e800,000e900,000e
e Estimated.
1 The data does not include artisanal production. According to the Institut d'Émission des Départements d'Outre-Mer, artisanal gold production is estimated to range between 5,000 and 20,000 kilograms per year.
2 The data does not include artisanal production. According to the Institut d'Émission des Départements d'Outre-Mer, artisanal gold production is estimated to range between 5,000 and 20,000 kilograms per year. Artisanal gold production was estimated at (to be) 5,000 kg in 2022.
3 The data does not include artisanal production. According to the Institut d'Émission des Départements d'Outre-Mer, artisanal gold production is estimated to range between 5,000 and 20,000 kilograms per year. Artisanal gold production was estimated at (to be) 7,000 kg in 2023.
4 The data does not include artisanal production. According to the Institut d'Émission des Départements d'Outre-Mer, artisanal gold production is estimated to range between 5,000 and 20,000 kilograms per year. Artisanal gold production was estimated at (to be) 10,000 kg in 2024.
 
 

References Cited 

  • Institut d’Emission des Départements d’Outre-Mer, 2025, Guyane rapport annuel économique 2024 [French Guiana annual report 2024]: Paris, France, Institut d’Emission des Départements d’Outre-Mer, June 30, 189 p. (Accessed August 5, 2025, https://www.iedom.fr/IMG/pdf/rapport_economique_2024_guyane_vf.pdf.) [In French.] 
  • Légifrance, 2023, Decree No. 2023-13 of January 11, 2023, relating to the environmental authorization of mining Works: Ministère de la transition écologique et de la cohésion des territoires [Ministry of Ecological Transition and Territorial Cohesión], January 12, 8 p. (Accessed August 10, 2025, at https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/download/pdf?id=hO5lhZKdnHIU3882U2Cy4igf….) [In French.] 

 

Publications

Reports: 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017-18 | 2019 

Tables: 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017-18 | 2019 | 2020-21 Tables-only release | 2022 Tables-only release

 

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