Akjoujt

Akjoujt is a location in Mauritania known for its copper deposits. These deposits were extensively exploited starting in 1969 by Somima, a company that was later nationalized. Operations were suspended in 1978, but there have been efforts to reactivate the mine, particularly for extracting gold from tailings.1

Mauritania itself is characterized by a vast plateau, with the Akjoujt rock series forming a peneplain studded with inselbergs in the northern and northwestern regions. The country's economy traditionally relies on subsistence activities like livestock raising and agriculture, but a modern export economy is developing, driven by iron ore, copper, and fishing. The exploitation of mineral resources, including copper near Akjoujt, has contributed to the transformation of settlement patterns in Mauritania.2134