Mining exploration has heightened expectations in the Rwandan economy after samples of gold in the Northern Province were assessed to be of good quality.Last week, the Minister of Natural Resources, Stanislas Kamanzi, toured gold exploration sites in Miyove and Gicumbi and encouraged the management of the country’s largest gold explorer, Rogi Mining, to continue its steady search .Rwanda, which already has large deposits of  cassiterite, coltan and wolfram, is looking to diversify its mineral base. Speaking to The New Times, Kamanzi expressed satisfaction with the current exploration of the precious metal, citing the possibility of an economic take-off due to the expected exportation of high quality gold after noticeable presence of a good grade were found. Clear figures will be communicated once research is concluded, the minister said. "I am very much satisfied with the progress on the ground, we are optimistic about the gold potential in Rwanda. For instance, for the Miyove area, samples that were analysed showed a very satisfactory trend, both at the surface and in depth where drilling was effected up to more than 150 metres underground,” Kamanzi said.The grade is moreover consistent, which is an indication of the presence of a good grade of gold deposits even further underneath, especially in Gicumbi. Gold is among the potential resources being explored with targeted areas including Nyagatare, Kirehe, Muhanga and Musebeya.”In order to attract investment in the mining sector, the government signed a contract with BEAK Consultants, a German-based company, to carry out geological studies in the four aforementioned mineral potential areas in order to improve data on her mineral endowment.Through this, the government hopes that the sector will become more important in "supporting the economic development, employment generation and poverty eradication,”  according to a statement from the ministry.Other than exploitation of potential gold deposits, the government is also seeking to increase production of other minerals including tantalite, tin, tungsten, niobium and lithium.