Botswana might be sitting on a huge mineral opportunity. A Canadian exploration company, Tsodilo Resources Limited, has reported promising results from its exploration work in the country, suggesting that Botswana could be home to 15 rare-earth minerals.
In an update released in late February 2026, the company said the minerals discovered match those listed on the 2025 Critical Minerals List published by the United States Geological Survey. Even more interesting is how close these minerals are to the surface, about 20 to 50 metres deep. That’s relatively shallow in mining terms, which could make them easier and cheaper to extract compared to deposits buried much deeper underground.
The discovery didn’t happen overnight. It comes after several years of exploration aimed at identifying valuable mineral deposits across Botswana. According to Tsodilo Resources, early results suggest the presence of high-grade rare-earth elements, which are extremely valuable because of how important they are to modern technology and clean energy systems. 
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What Are Rare-Earth Minerals?
Rare-earth minerals are elements that play a major role in the technology we use every day.
They are used in making most things we use in our everyday lives, like smartphones, electric vehicles, medical devices, and even defence technologies. Because of that, many countries consider them strategically important resources.
The 15 Rare-Earth Minerals Found in Botswana
The minerals discovered in Botswana are:
- Scandium (Sc)
- Yttrium (Y)
- Lanthanum (La)
- Cerium (Ce)
- Praseodymium (Pr)
- Neodymium (Nd)
- Promethium (Pm)
- Samarium (Sm)
- Europium (Eu)
- Gadolinium (Gd)
- Terbium (Tb)
- Dysprosium (Dy)
- Holmium (Ho)
- Erbium (Er)
- Thulium (Tm)
If the discovery is confirmed and developed, it could give Botswana’s mining sector a major boost. Finding these rare-earth minerals would help grow its mineral wealth coupled with their reputation for being a diamond hub.
The country could eventually become an important supplier of materials used in advanced technology.
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