OVERVIEW OF THE IMPACT OF MINING ON THE ... - IIED pubs

Soils in the sub-catchment are generally very shallow to moderately shallow sandy loams, formed from gneisses
(DRSS, 1979).
The sub-catchment is entirely in Natural Region V, with poor soils rainfall under 600mm and in places under
450mm (ZSG, 1997). Land use is mainly Communal Lands, with subsistence agriculture: mainly livestock
production.
4.8.1.4 Surface water users
There is limited extraction of water for rural domestic use and for subsistence agriculture. Beitbridge extracts
water from the Limpopo River, mainly for domestic use.
4.8.1.5 Water management systems
The sub-catchment falls under the Mzingwane Catchment Council of ZINWA.
4.8.1.6 Human impacts of water resources (excluding mining)
The following could be expected to have an impact on water resources:
• Landfills, Beitbridge;
• Disposal of liquid effluent, Beitbridge;
• Urban run off, urban areas of Beitbridge;
• Non-point domestic effluent;
• Minor non-point impact from non-intensive commercial or subsistence agriculture; and
• Runoff from Beitbridge airport.
4.8.2 Mining and mineral processing operations
The catchment falls mainly under the Masvingo Mining District (ZGS, 1995). Historically, magnesite and
corundum have been produced, but no commodities are currently in production.
Table 4.10: Mining operations in the Diti Sub-catchment.
Name Commodity Status
ccxxxvi
Total
produced /t
Pande Magnesite Closed 1984 836308 Medium
See ZGS (1988a) for locations.
Potential Impact