From Shore to Fortune: The Economic Potential of Black Sand

Egypt is among the richest countries in black sand—a valuable natural resource with significant economic and industrial importance due to its high concentration of heavy minerals. The estimated reserves in Egypt are about 1.3 billion cubic meters (bcm), according to the Cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC).

“Confirmed reserves of black sand in Egypt are expected to last for centuries,” said Hami Mira, Head of the Nuclear Materials Authority, during the inauguration of the Kafr El-Sheikh complex for black sand.

Strategic Mineral Wealth in Egypt

Black sands in Egypt are formed as the Nile River carries heavy mineral-rich sediments from eastern and central Africa to the Nile Delta, where they settle near the Mediterranean coast. These dense minerals are then moved by wind and water currents, becoming concentrated in deposits that are dark in color.

According to Hassan Bakhit, Chairman of the Arab Advisory Council for Mining and Natural Resources, black sand is also formed near the Nile River and the Mediterranean Sea, as well as in valleys along the Red Sea.

The mineral was first discovered in Egypt in the late 1930s by Greek individuals who used basic methods of extraction, as reported by the Strategic Forum for Public Policy and Development Studies “Draya.” Despite this early discovery, black sand remained largely underutilized for decades until the late 1980s and early 1990s, when a feasibility study on black sand exploitation was launched by the Australian International Office.

An aerial survey conducted by the Nuclear Materials Authority revealed 11 black sand sites along Egypt’s northern coast, from Rashid to Rafah, spanning over 400 km. The largest reserves are in Rashid (600 million cubic meters), followed by Damietta (300 mmcm), and the Arish-Rafah region (200 mmcm), according to the State Information Service.

Egypt’s black sands include around 41 mineral elements, such as ilmenite, zircon, magnetite, rutile, garnet, and monazite, along with other rare elements.

These minerals are used in more than 49 strategic industries, including medicine, steel, ceramics, paint coating, nuclear reactors, car motors, and pharmaceuticals. Investing in these minerals could secure millions of dollars for the Egyptian economy. A feasibility study conducted by Australia’s Roche Mining Company showed that the economic return from just one of the 11 sites is valued at a bit over LE 255 million annually.

“Zircon drove Egypt to become one of the leading countries in the ceramic industry,” said Dr. Abbas Sharaky, Geology and Water Resources Professor at Cairo University, speaking to Egypt Oil and Gas. He added, “Monazite is also one of the very important minerals found in Egyptian black sands and is used in the manufacturing of electronics.”

Hassan Bakhit, Chairman of the Arab Mining Advisory Council, told EOG that exporting these minerals in their raw form represents a loss for the economy. He emphasized that transforming them into production inputs can save millions in imports and generate greater value.