Canadian Miner Finds Deposit of 15 Rare Earth Minerals in Botswana

Canadian mineral exploration company Tsodilo Resources Ltd. has confirmed a sizable rare earth and critical minerals deposit in Botswana, giving Canada a key role in the intensifying rivalry between the U.S. and China to secure strategic supply chains, Olamilekan Okebiorun reported for Business Insider.

The find boosts Western efforts to diversify mineral supply chains away from China and highlights Botswana’s strategic mining role. (Photo: Tsodilo Resources)

Tsodilo Resources confirmed the discovery in northwest Botswana. The high-grade deposit, found at the Gcwihaba Metals Project, contains all 15 U.S.-listed rare earth elements, along with copper, cobalt, nickel, vanadium and silver.

The find boosts Western efforts to diversify mineral supply chains away from China and highlights Botswana’s strategic mining role.

Botswana has prioritized critical mineral exploration to diversify its economy beyond diamonds and attract foreign investment.

The discovery followed systematic exploration of the C26 and C27 targets and confirmed a high-grade polymetallic system located between 20 meters and 50 meters below the surface — a depth that could support commercial extraction if further studies prove viable.

Technical analysis confirms that the C26 and C27 skarns contain all 15 rare earth elements listed on the U.S. Geological Survey’s 2025 Critical Minerals List.

“The targets were originally identified as geophysical anomalies through ground magnetic and gravity surveys. Subsequent diamond core drilling has confirmed that these anomalies host skarn-type mineralization containing an extensive suite of minerals,” the company said.