VOA标准英语2010年-Sierra Leone Hopes to Become Africa's

Sierra Leone hopes to become Africa's biggest exporter of iron ore with the opening of a new mine in the central Tonkolili district. 

Geologists¹ say the new mine holds more then five billion tons of iron ore. Before mining can begin at Tonkolili, geologists are logging magnetite and hematite core samples for testing to determine the richness of iron levels in the deposit.

The site still needs a road and railway link to transport the ore to Sierra Leone's deep-water port at Tagrin Point.

African Minerals chairman Frank Timis says this mine will not only be Africa's biggest, but will also be one of its lowest-cost producers.

"This project, over the next three to four years and two or three stages of development will become the third largest iron ore deposit exporter," said Frank Timis.

Sierra Leone is still emerging from the ravages² of a long civil war.  Because of this, the country's President Ernest Bai Koroma says the mine will be an important source of revenue in Sierra Leone's recovery.

"That will bring a turn-around in this country, and that will give people hope," said Preident Koroma.

The project will employ about 10,000 people over the next few years. It plans to start exporting more than five million tons of ore by November with hopes to produce 40 million tons annually³ by 2013.

 

1 geologists   

地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
• Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。

2 ravages   

劫掠后的残迹，破坏的结果，毁坏后的残迹

参考例句：

• the ravages of war 战争造成的灾难
• It is hard for anyone to escape from the ravages of time. 任何人都很难逃避时间的摧残。

3 annually   

adv.一年一次，每年

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• They celebrate their wedding anniversary annually.他们每年庆祝一番结婚纪念日。