Zimbabwe’s geology is a mosaic of ancient belts and younger deposits that have supported both large mines and artisanal workings for generations. The country’s mineral variety influences local communities, industry and export patterns across provinces from the Zambezi to the Limpopo.
There are 24 Minerals in Zimbabwe, ranging from Beryl (aquamarine/other) to Zircon. For each entry, data is organized as Category,Main locations,Production status so you can quickly see what type of mineral it is, where it occurs, and whether it’s actively produced, historically recorded, or mainly artisanal — you’ll find below.
How current is this list and where does the information come from?
The list compiles published geological surveys, mining reports and publicly available mineral databases; production status reflects the most recent public records but can change with new discoveries or mine reopenings, so check national survey updates or company reports for the latest operational details.
How do I tell which minerals are commercially significant versus occasional occurrences?
Use the Production status column first—entries marked active or commercial indicate current economic output, while historical or prospect tags point to past or limited occurrences; combine that with the Category and Main locations to assess scale and follow up with export or production data for confirmation.
Minerals in Zimbabwe
| Mineral | Category | Main locations | Production status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | Metallic | Mazowe, Shamva, Kadoma, Gwanda, Zvishavane | Active and artisanal |
| Diamond | Gemstone | Marange (Manicaland), Murowa, alluvial fields | Active |
| Platinum group metals (PGMs) | Strategic | Great Dyke (Ngezi, Unki, Selous) central belt | Active |
| Chromite | Metallic | Great Dyke (Selukwe, Darwendale), central strip | Active |
| Copper | Metallic | Gwanda district, Kadoma area, historic Nkayi prospects | Small‑scale to historical |
| Nickel | Metallic | Great Dyke margins, scattered prospects | Prospective/small‑scale |
| Cobalt | Strategic | Associated with copper‑nickel prospects, small occurrences | Small‑scale/prospective |
| Iron (hematite/magnetite) | Industrial/Metallic | Sanyati, Gokwe, scattered ironstone prospects | Small‑scale/prospective |
| Lithium minerals (spodumene, petalite, lepidolite) | Strategic | Bikita (Masvingo), Arcadia prospective, various pegmatites | Active and prospective |
| Columbite‑tantalite (tantalite/coltan) | Strategic | Dete‑Kamativi, Bikita pegmatites, pegmatite fields | Small‑scale/historical |
| Cassiterite (tin) | Metallic | Dete‑Kamativi, Chimanimani area, historic workings | Historical/small‑scale |
| Scheelite (tungsten) | Metallic | Eastern Highlands (Chimanimani, Mutare) occurrences | Historical/small‑scale |
| Chrysotile (asbestos) | Industrial | Historically in Mashonaland and Midlands districts | Historical |
| Graphite | Industrial | Scattered deposits in Midlands and eastern districts | Small‑scale/prospective |
| Emerald (beryl) | Gemstone | Sandawana, Chimanimani (Eastern Highlands) | Small‑scale/active |
| Tourmaline | Gemstone | Chimanimani, pegmatite fields, gem zones | Small‑scale |
| Garnet | Gemstone/Industrial | Chimanimani, pegmatite and metamorphic terrains | Small‑scale |
| Topaz | Gemstone | Chimanimani, pegmatites and alpine‑type veins | Small‑scale |
| Zircon | Industrial/Gemstone | Alluvial heavy mineral occurrences, pegmatites | Small‑scale/prospective |
| Rutile | Industrial | Heavy‑mineral occurrences and alluvials | Small‑scale/prospective |
| Ilmenite | Industrial | Alluvial heavy minerals and placers | Small‑scale/prospective |
| Diamondiferous kimberlite | Gemstone | Murowa, various kimberlite fields | Active/small‑scale |
| Beryl (aquamarine/other) | Gemstone | Chimanimani, pegmatite localities | Small‑scale |
| Pyrite (iron sulfide) | Industrial/metallic | Associated with gold and sulfide deposits | Small‑scale/historical |
Images and Descriptions
Gold
Native gold is Zimbabwe’s longest‑running export, found in greenstone belts and alluvial placers. Mined by large and artisanal operators, it’s used for jewelry and reserves and remains a key foreign‑exchange earner and source of rural livelihoods.
Diamond
Diamond occurrences include large Marange deposits and smaller alluvial/kimberlite sources. Gem and industrial diamonds are recovered; Marange has reshaped Zimbabwe’s diamond sector and attracted both investment and controversy over resource governance.
Platinum group metals (PGMs)
PGMs like platinum and palladium occur in layered ultramafic rocks of the Great Dyke. They’re critical for autocatalysts and industry; Zimbabwe hosts some of Africa’s largest PGM resources and active modern mining.
Chromite
Chromite (chrome ore) is a major export from chromitite layers of the Great Dyke. Used in stainless steel and ferrochrome production, Zimbabwe is a meaningful global chrome supplier with both large and small producers.
Copper
Copper occurs in a range of deposits; historic small mines around Gwanda yielded copper sulfides. It’s used in electrical industries, and some prospects remain for exploration and small‑scale recovery.
Nickel
Nickel is reported in ultramafic and hydrothermal systems; Zimbabwe has known occurrences though large commercial nickel production is limited. Nickel is important for batteries and alloys and is a target for further exploration.
Cobalt
Cobalt appears with copper and nickel mineralization in a few localities. Globally strategic for rechargeable batteries, Zimbabwe’s cobalt is mostly low‑volume but of growing interest to explorers.
Iron (hematite/magnetite)
Iron oxides occur in several zones and provide local raw material for construction and potential steel feed. Commercial iron mining has been limited; deposits are of interest for beneficiation and local industry development.
Lithium minerals (spodumene, petalite, lepidolite)
Hard‑rock lithium pegmatites at Bikita are a major recent success, producing spodumene and petalite for batteries and ceramics. Lithium is now a high‑value export and strategic mineral for the global energy transition.
Columbite‑tantalite (tantalite/coltan)
Columbite‑tantalite occurs in pegmatites and has been mined historically and artisanally for tantalum, used in electronics capacitors. Zimbabwe’s pegmatite fields host notable tantalite occurrences for high‑tech supply chains.
Cassiterite (tin)
Cassiterite is the primary tin ore historically exploited at Dete‑Kamativi and other zones. Tin was important in earlier Zimbabwean mining and persists in small operations and artisanal production for solder and alloys.
Scheelite (tungsten)
Scheelite is a tungsten ore found in veins in the Eastern Highlands. Tungsten is used for hard alloys and tools. Zimbabwe hosted past tungsten activity; some small prospects and artisanal operations continue.
Chrysotile (asbestos)
Chrysotile asbestos was widely mined historically for fireproofing and industrial uses. Due to health bans and global decline, mining mostly ceased; its legacy remains important for environmental and health remediation.
Graphite
Graphite occurs in metamorphic terrains and has been worked at small scale. With demand for battery and refractories, Zimbabwean graphite is attracting renewed exploration for potential industrial and battery‑grade material.
Emerald (beryl)
Emeralds from Sandawana and the Chimanimani area are classic, gem‑quality beryls prized by collectors and jewelers. These high‑value gems are mined on small scales and are a notable part of Zimbabwe’s gem heritage.
Tourmaline
Tourmaline occurs in pegmatites and gem pockets in the Eastern Highlands. Colorful stones fetch gem markets and provide important income from small‑scale and artisan mining in localized hard‑rock pockets.
Garnet
Garnet occurs both as gem material and industrial abrasive in metamorphic rocks around Chimanimani. Small gem operations sell to niche markets; industrial garnet use is limited but recognized locally.
Topaz
Topaz crystals appear in eastern pegmatites and provide collectible gemstones and local artisanal mining opportunities. Colorless to soda and rare varieties attract gem buyers and tourists to gem‑hunting areas.
Zircon
Zircon is found in alluvial heavy mineral concentrates and pegmatites, used in ceramics and zirconium metal. Zimbabwe records heavy‑mineral occurrences; zircon forms part of mixed sand concentrates and gem collections.
Rutile
Rutile (titanium oxide) appears in river and alluvial heavy‑mineral deposits. It’s a source of titanium dioxide for pigments and titanium metal; Zimbabwe has scattered rutile in heavy‑mineral assemblages.
Ilmenite
Ilmenite occurs with other heavy minerals in placers and is a titanium ore used for pigments and metal. Zimbabwean heavy‑mineral suites include ilmenite in modest concentrations, attracting local exploration interest.
Diamondiferous kimberlite
Kimberlite pipes host primary diamonds; Murowa and other fields provide primary and alluvial gem and industrial diamonds. Kimberlites are focal points for exploration and periodic commercial diamond mining.
Beryl (aquamarine/other)
Beryl family minerals include aquamarine and other gem varieties found in pegmatites around the Eastern Highlands. Small gem producers and collectors value clear, blue‑green stones for jewelry and specialty markets.
Pyrite (iron sulfide)
Pyrite commonly accompanies gold and base‑metal sulfide mineralization. While not a major commodity itself, pyrite is a key indicator mineral in exploration and appears in many historic Zimbabwean ore bodies.
