Gold, iron ore found at Sandawana

The Government-owned conglomerate is exploring for other minerals at the mine, amid reports that emerald deposits are seriously depleted.
ZMDC board chairman Mr Godwills Masimirembwa said they were carrying out further multimillion-dollar explorations at the mine. He said discovered iron ore deposits stretched for 21km.
He maintained that emerald and tantalite operations would continue at Sandawana, dismissing reports that Government had closed the mine due to depleted deposits.
“We will continue with operations,” said Mr Masimirembwa. “Where there is tantalite, there are occurrences of emerald deposits.”
He said the mine was not closing and reports on limited deposits were “mere rumours”.
“We will not shut down the mine, but we will carry out further explorations for iron ore and tantalite to exploit those resources in Sandawana. That area is rich in other minerals.”
Government acquired Sandawana Mine in 2006, from a British Channel Islands company.
Sandawana Mine has been producing high quality emeralds for over 40 years.
Emeralds are in high demand in the Middle East, as well as India and Russia, where they are used extensively in jewellery.
The discovery of gold at Sandawana comes at a time when ZMDC is reviving its three gold mines.
Last year, it is understood that US$2,4 million was injected into Jena Mines, which was already producing 26kg of gold a month. Output at the mine is expected to reach 36kg by mid-year.
At Elvington Mine, ZMDC is still conducting feasibility studies to revive the mine, following eight years of inactivity. A local bank is expected to provide the start-up capital.
The mine collapsed in 2003 due to the nature of the faulted area. At the time, the mine was producing between 40 and 50kg of gold a month.
It estimated that the company requires between US$20 million and US$30 million to revive closed mines.
According to the Chamber of Mines, gold output is expected to rise to 50 000kg by 2015 if the sector, expected to grow by 33 percent this year, is adequately funded.
The mining sector requires US$5 billion in the next five years to fully capitalise.
It has continued to show strong potential to recover, with output increasing from 3 500kg in 2008 to 9 600kg in 2010, earning the country about US$380 million.