South Africa finds its abundant mineral resources in a core of provinces located in the country's north-central interior: Gauteng, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Free State. The gold, platinum, diamonds and coal mined out of this greater Gauteng region generates the money South Africa uses to underwrite financial, agricultural, industrial and manufacturing activity in other parts of the country's economy. While South Africa’s natural resources are not necessarily unique, their geographic concentration, ease of accessibility to international markets and location in an area with a moderate and hospitable climate all contribute to making the country sub-Saharan Africa's largest economy.
