SEAMIC Newsletter Vol. 10

SEAMIC Newsletter
Volume 10 No. 1
January 2008
SEAMIC Newsletter is a biannual
publication of the
Southern and Eastern African
Mineral Centre (SEAMIC)
publishing scientific, policy,
information and reports about
the mineral resources development
related activities in
Africa.
Though maximum possible
check is done on the contents
of articles published in
SEAMIC Newsletter, any of
the information published in
this Newsletter reflects only
the opinion of the Author, and
SEAMIC shall take no responsibility
about the contents of
the articles.
Dear Readers, this issue of SEAMIC Newsletter is again
EDITORIAL
NOTE
dedicated to publishing the mineral resources potential of
SEAMIC member States continuing from the last issue.
In this Newsletter the other three members of the Centre namely: Angola, Tanzania
and Uganda are included in an effort to introduce and promote their mineral wealth.
In light of the above the mineral potentials of the three member States may be
summarized as follows.
Uganda has a mining history that goes back to 1920’s which include both metalic and
industrial minerals. However, the mineral resources remain largely under exploited.
Gold has been produced in different areas from different vein type and alluvial
sources, proterozoic formations of Karagwe-Ankolean system and other series. Other
metalic minerals mined or known to occur include: lead, zinc, nickel, beryl,
columbite-tantalite, bismuth and manganese. The non-metallic industrial mineral
occurrences in Uganda include carbonate rocks, phosphates, feldspars, kaolin, salt,
gypsum, silica sand, construction materials and vermiculite. The sustainable
management of mineral resources project is an ongoing program of the Ugandan
government with the aim of enhancing the mining sector to be attractive for
investment.
Editor: Mesfin W. Gebremichael
Editorial committee:
Godfrey R. L. Nkini
Elibariki C. Kimaro
Lilian Moshi
Design: Geo-information
Department, SEAMIC
Printer: DeskTop Publications
Limited
PO Box 20936
Dar es Salaam
Tanzania
Tanzania is known to have conducive geological environment which is very rich in
hosting different mineral resources including gold, diamond, basemetals, and various
industrial minerals. The majority of gold output in the country is hosted in the
Archean Tanzanian craton greenstone belt around Lake Victoria area. The Ubendian
Proterozoic rocks of south-west and central Tanzania are also known to have gold
deposits. The Archean and Proterozoic rocks are also known to have other metalic
minerals including copper, cobalt, nickel and platinum. The industrial minerals
potential of Tanzania is huge covering the whole country.
Angola’s rich mineral resources is yet to be fully exploited and is attracting investment
from allover the world. Diamond takes the lion’s share to be developed next to
petroleum that occurs in the kimberlite and placer sources. Other minerals to be
exploited include gold, platinum, iron, manganese, copper, vanadium, uranium, coal,
phosphorite, kaolin and ornamental stones. Industrial minerals like limestone, sand,
gravel and clay are also in abundance.
For more details the reader is invited to the articles presented in this Newsletter on
the geology and mineral potential of Angola, Tanzania and Uganda.