About Mining in Liberia Liberia has been plagued by civil war
for several years, and, as a result, foreign investment has all
but ceased. Liberia?s main mineral products are gold and
diamonds, although iron ore used to be a major product.
Artisinal workings account for 98% of gold and diamonds
produced. Liberia officially produced 155 000 carats of diamonds
in 2001, with this number expected to be several orders of
magnitude higher, due to extensive smuggling with bordering
Sierre Leone, Guinea and Cote de Ivoire. There are thought to be
between 20 and 30 000 artisinal miners in Liberia. Liberia is
currently drafting a new Mineral Development Policy and Mining
Code aimed at attracting foreign investment.