The town developed from its importance to
iron ore mining. It is surrounded by the
hematite mines of
Fderîck,
Tazadit and Rouessa. The town houses the regional administration and military for Tiris Zemmour. Most of the town's population are employed directly and indirectly in the mining industry. A sizeable number of foreign workers from other African countries live in the town. Amenities include a medical clinic, social club, pool, school and shop. Since 2006, a
shanty town has grown around the town. In response authorities have begun construction of a wall, nicknamed locally as the "
mur de la honte" (wall of shame), to separate the two areas.
Mining Mining at the mountain was first recorded from the
Kediet ej Jill in the 11th century, but it was not until 1952 that iron ore deposits were first commercially extracted on an industrial scale. Beginning in 1958, the first concessions on iron ore extraction were given to Miferma, Société des mines de fer de Mauritanie. At the time it was majority-controlled by European-based mining interests, however, in 1974 Miferma was nationalized by the
Mauritanian government. In 1981 a new iron ore deposit was discovered at Guelb el Rhein, north of Zouérat. Almost a decade later, another was found in 1990 at Guelb Mhadaouat about from Zouérat. Other companies exploring for iron ore in the region include
Xstrata and
Arcelor Mittal. The reserves at the
SNIM's Tazadit mine are estimated to be 200 million
tonnes of
hematite. ==Transport==