The number of mines within the Limpopo River basin exceeds 1 900 with an additional 1 700 abandoned mines (Ashton et al. 2001b). Only mines meeting certain minimum annual production limits are included herein (Ashton et al. 2001a). Closed or abandoned mines that did not proceed beyond initial prospecting have not been included, unless they have or are expected to have a significant impact on surface water resources and water quality.
The table below provides a summary of mines within each sub-catchment and their current status. A total of 318 mines are identified. All other sub-catchments not listed were noted as not having mining operations or it was unknown if mining operations existed (Ashton et al. 2001a).
Table: Mines in the Limpopo River basin.
|
SUB-CATCHMENT
|
Mines in the Limpopo River basin
|
Total
|
|
Prospecting
|
Operating
|
Closed
|
Unknown
|
|
Ngotwane/Bonwapitse
|
---
|
1
|
---
|
---
|
1
|
|
Lotsane
|
---
|
1
|
---
|
---
|
1
|
|
Motloutse
|
---
|
2
|
---
|
---
|
2
|
|
Shashe 1
|
---
|
6
|
7
|
---
|
13
|
|
Mzingwane 1
|
---
|
3
|
32
|
2
|
37
|
|
Dati 1
|
---
|
1
|
---
|
---
|
1
|
|
Bubye 2
|
---
|
---
|
1
|
---
|
1
|
|
Mwenezi
|
---
|
4
|
8
|
---
|
12
|
|
Lower Limpopo and Chagane 1
|
1
|
---
|
---
|
---
|
1
|
|
Marico
|
9
|
9
|
---
|
---
|
18
|
|
Crocodile 1
|
6
|
61
|
12
|
---
|
79
|
|
Matlabas-Mokolo
|
1
|
1
|
---
|
---
|
2
|
|
Laphalala 1
|
2
|
---
|
1
|
---
|
3
|
|
Theuniskloof 1
|
1
|
1
|
---
|
---
|
2
|
|
Mogalakwena
|
6
|
5
|
1
|
---
|
12
|
|
Setoka-Soutsloot 1
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
---
|
4
|
|
Sand
|
2
|
7
|
1
|
---
|
10
|
|
Nzhelele
|
1
|
---
|
1
|
---
|
2
|
|
Levuvhu
|
---
|
2
|
2
|
---
|
4
|
|
Wilge 1
|
---
|
7
|
1
|
---
|
8
|
|
Riet & Little Olifants 1
|
---
|
29
|
3
|
---
|
32
|
|
Middle Olifants
|
3
|
17
|
9
|
---
|
29
|
|
Steelpoort
|
4
|
12
|
2
|
---
|
18
|
|
Blyde 1
|
---
|
2
|
---
|
---
|
2
|
|
Selati 1
|
---
|
10
|
---
|
---
|
10
|
|
Middle Letaba and Great Letaba 1
|
4
|
6
|
---
|
---
|
10
|
|
Shingwedzi
|
1
|
1
|
2
|
---
|
4
|
|
TOTAL
|
42
|
189
|
85
|
2
|
318
|
Source: Ashton et al. 2001
|
1 Sub-catchment in Ashton et al. 2001
|
Sub-catchment noted herein
|
|
Shashe-Tuli
|
Shashe
|
|
Pazhi, Umzingwani
|
Mzingwane
|
|
Diti
|
Shashe
|
|
Lower Limpopo and Chagane
|
Lower Middle Limpopo, Lower Limpopo, Chagane
|
|
Crocodile-Elands-Pienaarsrivier
|
Crocodile
|
|
Laphalala
|
Lephalala
|
|
Theuniskloof
|
Lotsane
|
|
Setoka-Soutsloot
|
Shashe, Mzingwani
|
|
Levuvhu
|
Luvuvhu
|
|
Wilge
|
Middle Olifants
|
|
Riet & Little Olifants
|
Upper Olifants
|
|
Blyde
|
Lower Olifants
|
|
Selati
|
Lower Olifants
|
|
Middle Letaba and Great Letaba
|
Letaba
|
2 Diamond, gold, silver, PGEs, copper, and nickel exploration is noted, but the status, nor locations, are not available
The second and third maps provide enlargements of the South African and Zimbabwean portions of the basin.
Mines in the Limpopo River basin.
Source: Ashton et al. 2001a
( click to enlarge )
Mines in South African portion of the Limpopo River basin.
Source: Ashton et al. 2001a
( click to enlarge )
Mines in Zimbabwean portion of the Limpopo River basin.
Source: Ashton et al. 2001a
( click to enlarge )
