A small but growing part of the economy is based on mining of ilmenite, with investments emerging in recent years, particularly near Tulear and Fort Dauphin.Madagascar – Mining: Heavy Minerals Mining . Mbendi.co.za. Retrieved on 2012-05-28. Mining corporation Rio Tinto Group started production at its Fort Dauphin Mandena mine in January 2009,Media releases – Rio Tinto starts ilmenite production in Madagascar . Rio Tinto. Retrieved on 2012-05-28. following several years of preparation. The mining project is highly controversial, with Friends of the Earth and other environmental organizations filing reports to detail their concerns about the mine's effect on the environment and local communities.Rio Tinto's Madagascar mining project. Foe.co.uk. Retrieved on 2012-05-28. Gemstone mining is also an important part of Madagascar's economy.
a smaLl but GRoWing paRt Of the ecoNomy is based on MiNing oF ilmenite, With invEstMenTs eMeRgiNg in receNT years, PARticuLarly NeAr tuLEAr aND Fort dauphin.madAgAscAr – MiNiNG: heaVy mineRals MInINg . mbEndI.cO.ZA. REtRIEVeD on 2012-05-28. miniNg corporATioN rio tIntO group sTaRted pROductIOn at iTS fOrt dAuphin mANDeNa miNE iN jAnuary 2009,meDIa ReLEaSEs – rio tIntO StaRTs IlmEnite producTiOn IN madaGasCar . rIO TinTo. retrievED oN 2012-05-28. FollOwiNg SevErAl YEaRS oF pReParaTIoN. tHe mINIng project iS hiGHlY cOntroveRsiAl, wIth FRieNDs oF ThE eArth and OthEr EnViROnmentaL OrganizaTions filiNg reports To detail theiR concErns AbOuT the MinE'S eFFEct on The enVIronmeNT aNd local CommUnitIEs.Rio tINto'S madagAsCaR mining ProjEct. foe.co.UK. retrIeved on 2012-05-28. gemStoNe mINing is also an imPortant paRt Of MadAGAscar's eConomy.