Minerals:
1. South America is rich in minerals. These mineral deposits are unevenly distributed.
2. South America has many valuable deposits of minerals particularly of iron ore, manganese, petroleum, copper and bauxite. There are some active mines producing silver and gold.
3. Northern Chile has the world’s only natural deposits of sodium nitrate an important ingredient of fertilizers.
Iron ore:
1. South America contains about one fifth of the world s iron ore reserves.
2. Brazil and Chile both have massive deposits of iron ore.
3. Brazil has the second largest iron ore deposits in the world after Russia, Brazil is estimated to have about 15% of the world export of iron ore.
Manganese:
1. Brazil also has large deposits of Manganese.
2. Manganese ore is mined at Lafaiete, Minas Gerais and in the Northern State of Amapa.
Petroleum:
1. Venezuela is rich in petroleum deposits.
2. Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Bolivia are the other valuable oilfields. Petroleum is the only mineral produced in substantial quantity.
Copper:
1. Chile is the third largest producer of copper in the world.
2. Copper provides over 40% of exports by value. Some of the biggest copper mines of the world are located in Peru.
3. It is found in the Atacama Desert.
Bauxite:
1. Brazil is the third largest bauxite producing country.
2. An important bauxite mining centre is located near the mouth of the Amazon River. Bauxite is used for aluminum production.