Zimbabwe's coloured gemstone endowments - A regional geological overview

Zimbabwe hosts a varied array of coloured gemstones. With the exception of emerald deposits and several world-class pegmatites, few of the gemstone occurrences have received detailed attention from the scientific or mineral exploration communities. In the present contribution we summarize the status...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy 2024-01, Vol.124 (1), p.33-42
Main Authors: Mamuse, A., von der Heyden, B.P., Blenkinsop, T.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Gems
Geology
Mineral exploration
Orogeny
Pegmatite
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Zimbabwe hosts a varied array of coloured gemstones. With the exception of emerald deposits and several world-class pegmatites, few of the gemstone occurrences have received detailed attention from the scientific or mineral exploration communities. In the present contribution we summarize the status of knowledge of the gemstone deposits and occurrences in Zimbabwe, paying particular attention to the geological settings in which they were formed. Synthesis of this regional geological approach reveals that there may be significant exploration potential for further gemstone occurrences, particularly in the extensive pegmatite fields and in Al-enriched orogenic belts that have undergone greenschist to granulite facies metamorphism. Further socio-economic and developmental initiatives will aid in optimizing the value generation from this important sub-sector.
ISSN:2225-6253
0038-223X
2411-9717
DOI:10.17159/2411-9717/2600/2024