The mining of non-metallic minerals in Gambia is currently characterized by a heavy reliance on artisanal extraction of river sands and clays. Due to the country's unique geography—dominated by the Gambia River—the availability of crystalline quartz sand is abundant but often lacks the industrial processing required for high-end glass or construction applications.
In the urban areas of Banjul and Serekunda, there is a growing demand for specialized materials like perlite board for thermal insulation in modern buildings to combat the tropical heat. However, the local supply chain is limited, leading to a high dependency on imports for specialized mineral-based building materials.
Furthermore, the burgeoning tourism sector has sparked an interest in luxury landscaping. This has transitioned the market from using raw local earth to importing artificial pebbles for garden and high-aesthetic minerals to enhance hotel resorts and private villas along the coast.
