Canary Islands, Spaini

Regional Level Types
Canary Islands	Group of Autonomous Communities
Spain	Country

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The Canary Islands (Islas Canarias) are an autonomous community of Spain located in the eastern Atlantic Ocean, approximately 100 km west of the coast of north-western Africa. The archipelago covers a total land area of about 7,450 km² and consists of seven main islands—Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, La Palma, La Gomera, and El Hierro—together with several smaller islands and islets. The capitals are Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Despite their political affiliation with Europe, the islands are geographically part of Macaronesia.

Geographically, the Canary Islands are entirely volcanic, with landscapes ranging from arid lava fields and sand dunes to high volcanic cones and deeply eroded valleys. Tenerife hosts Mount Teide (3,715 m), the highest peak in Spain and the tallest volcanic edifice in the Atlantic. The eastern islands (Lanzarote and Fuerteventura) are older, lower, and more eroded, with arid climates, while the western islands (La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera) are younger, steeper, and more rugged. Climatic conditions vary markedly with elevation and exposure, producing strong ecological zonation.

Geologically, the Canary Islands represent a classic intraplate ocean-island volcanic province, formed above a long-lived mantle plume (hotspot) beneath the African Plate. Volcanism began in the east around 20–23 Ma and progressed westward, with El Hierro and La Palma being the youngest islands. The islands are composed predominantly of alkaline basaltic lava flows, with subordinate phonolites, trachytes, pyroclastic deposits, and intrusive complexes. Large caldera collapses, rift zones, and giant gravitational flank failures are key features. Volcanism remains active, with recent eruptions including La Palma (2021) and El Hierro (2011–2012 submarine eruption).

The mineral and extractive resources of the Canary Islands are limited and largely restricted to construction materials, such as basalt, scoria, pumice, and volcanic aggregates. Historically, natural dyes, pozzolanic materials, and limited obsidian-like volcanic glass were used locally, but there is no significant metallic mining. The islands are, however, internationally important for volcanology, petrology, and geomorphology, and are notable for zeolites, olivine, and other volcanic minerals in lava cavities.

Historically, the Canary Islands were inhabited by indigenous Guanche and related peoples before being incorporated into the Crown of Castile in the 15th century. Their strategic Atlantic position made them an important stopover in transatlantic navigation and trade. Today, the islands have a high degree of autonomy within Spain and a strong regional identity.

Administratively, the Canary Islands are divided into two provinces and multiple island councils (cabildos). Their combination of active hotspot volcanism, well-preserved volcanic landforms, and long eruptive history makes the Canary Islands one of the most important regions in the world for studying ocean-island volcanism, mantle processes, and volcanic hazards in a populated setting.

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

195 valid minerals. 1 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals. 198 erroneous literature entries.

Rock Types Recorded

Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities