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River Ranch Mine, Beitbridge District, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwei
Regional Level Types
River Ranch MineMine
Beitbridge DistrictDistrict
Matabeleland SouthProvince
ZimbabweCountry

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PhotosMapsSearch
02341570017272085856238.jpg
River Ranch Open Pit

River Ranch Mine, Beitbridge District, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe
02341570017272085856238.jpg
River Ranch Open Pit

River Ranch Mine, Beitbridge District, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe
05991730017272060998255.jpg
River Ranch Open Pit

River Ranch Mine, Beitbridge District, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
22° 10' 6'' South , 29° 53' 0'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-22.16861,29.88361
GRN:
S15E20
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
BWh : Hot deserts climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Beitbridge26,459 (2013)13.1km
Mindat Locality ID:
61043
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:61043:9
GUID (UUID V4):
0


A diamond mine in a kimberlite pipe, owned by Auridiam Zimbabwe Pty Ltd. It was discovered by De Beers in 1974 during an exploration programme in Zimbabwe. In 1991, the property was acquired by Auridiam. Production started in 1992, and operations were gradually scaled up, but the mine was closed in 1998 due to low diamond prices. Located 12.5 km NW of Beitbridge.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


16 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ 'Chevkinite Group'
ⓘ 'Chrome-Spinel (of Dana)'
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'
ⓘ Diamond
Formula: C
ⓘ Enstatite
Formula: Mg2Si2O6
ⓘ Forsterite
Formula: Mg2SiO4
ⓘ Graphite
Formula: C
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Loparite
Formula: (Na,REE)2Ti2O6
ⓘ Pentlandite
Formula: (NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘ Periclase
Formula: MgO
ⓘ Periclase var. Ferropericlase
Formula: (Mg,Fe)O
ⓘ Perovskite
Formula: CaTiO3
ⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)
Formula: (Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
Colour: khaki
Description: Listed as "Cr-chevkinite as inclusions up to 50 x 80 mm in diamond."
ⓘ Pyrope
Formula: Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ Rhönite
Formula: Ca4[Mg8Fe3+2Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
ⓘ Spinel
Formula: MgAl2O4
ⓘ Tausonite
Formula: SrTiO3
Habit: elongate grains that are irregular in outline and 50 x 50 µm
Colour: light brown
Description: Listed as "K-Cr bearing loparite" inclusions in diamond.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘGraphite1.CB.05aC
ⓘDiamond1.CB.10aC
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘPentlandite2.BB.15(NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘPericlase4.AB.25MgO
ⓘvar. Ferropericlase4.AB.25(Mg,Fe)O
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘSpinel4.BB.05MgAl2O4
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘPerovskite4.CC.30CaTiO3
ⓘLoparite4.CC.35(Na,REE)2Ti2O6
ⓘTausonite4.CC.35SrTiO3
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘForsterite9.AC.05Mg2SiO4
ⓘPyrope9.AD.25Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘPolyakovite-(Ce)9.BE.70(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
ⓘEnstatite9.DA.05Mg2Si2O6
ⓘRhönite9.DH.40Ca4[Mg8Fe3+2Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Unclassified
ⓘ'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'-
ⓘ'Chrome-Spinel (of Dana)'-
ⓘ'Chevkinite Group'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

CCarbon
Cⓘ DiamondC
Cⓘ GraphiteC
OOxygen
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Oⓘ ForsteriteMg2SiO4
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ Loparite(Na,REE)2Ti2O6
Oⓘ PericlaseMgO
Oⓘ PerovskiteCaTiO3
Oⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Oⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Oⓘ TausoniteSrTiO3
Oⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
Oⓘ Periclase var. Ferropericlase(Mg,Fe)O
NaSodium
Naⓘ Loparite(Na,REE)2Ti2O6
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Mgⓘ ForsteriteMg2SiO4
Mgⓘ PericlaseMgO
Mgⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Mgⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Mgⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Mgⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
Mgⓘ Periclase var. Ferropericlase(Mg,Fe)O
AlAluminium
Alⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Alⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Alⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
SiSilicon
Siⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Siⓘ ForsteriteMg2SiO4
Siⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Siⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
SSulfur
Sⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
CaCalcium
Caⓘ PerovskiteCaTiO3
Caⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Caⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Tiⓘ Loparite(Na,REE)2Ti2O6
Tiⓘ PerovskiteCaTiO3
Tiⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Tiⓘ TausoniteSrTiO3
Tiⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Crⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
FeIron
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Feⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
Feⓘ Periclase var. Ferropericlase(Mg,Fe)O
NiNickel
Niⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
SrStrontium
Srⓘ TausoniteSrTiO3
NbNiobium
Nbⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
CeCerium
Ceⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Kopylova, Maya G., Gurney, John J., Daniels, Leon R. M. (1997) Mineral inclusions in diamonds from the River Ranch kimberlite, Zimbabwe. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 129 (4) 366-384 doi:10.1007/s004100050343
Kopylova, M.G., Rickard, R.S., Kleyenstueber, A., Taylor, W.R., Gurney, J.J., Daniels, L.R.M. (1997) First occurrence of strontian K-Cr loparite and Cr-chevkinite in diamonds. Russian Geol. Geophys., 38, 405–420 (English translation from Geol. Geofiz.).
Cairncross, Bruce (2004) Field Guide to Rocks & Minerals of Southern Africa. 288pp.
Field, Matthew; Stiefenhofer, Johann; Robey, Jock; Kurszlaukis, Stephan (2008) Kimberlite-hosted diamond deposits of southern Africa: A review. Ore Geology Reviews, 34 (1). doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2007.11.002
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