METALLOGENY.
Mineral deposits tend to occur in groups, which reflect
the coincidence of factors favouring their formation. This tendency is the
underlying cause of the Elephant Country phenomenon if you want to
find elephants, look where elephants are known to occur. In this sense,
Tanzania is Elephant Country because most of the known mineral deposits
can be related to their causative factors and many are of impressive size.
Mineral deposits models are the idealized characterization
of closely related mineral deposits. For example, kimberlite diamond
deposits, while marine placers are a completely different, but equally
important type of diamond type of diamond deposit. Several publications
over the years have classified mineral deposits into formal models. Two
such widely used publications are by Eckstrand (1984) of the Geological
Survey of Canada, and by Cox and Singer (1986) of the U.S Geological
Survey. Reference is made here to these two complications where
appropriate to provide concise, standardized descriptions.
The grouping of mineral deposits is fairly obvious for
Tanzania's principal mineral products of gold,
Gemstones and diamonds.
Readily apparent grouping of deposits include:
Gold deposits hosted by the Achaean
Diamond bearing kimberlitic in the central
part of the Tanzania Craton.Tin and tungsten in the Karangwe
Ankolean.Supergroup of northwest Tanzania.
There are obviously many important deposits Or district
which do not fall into these Groupings; for example, the Mpanda base.Metal
and gold district, the Lupa goldfield and
Isolated carbonatites. However, even if some Of the
carbonatites occur singly, it is still Apparent that most if not all appear
near Cenozoic rift faults. This observation in itself Could aid in
exploring for new carbonatites, or
In evaluating known example. Both Eckstrand [1984, type 16,
carbonatite-hosted deposits] and Cox and Singer [1986, model 10 carbonatite
deposits] note that carbonatites frequently tend to occur along deep crustal
fractures. The Tanzanian examples conform to this observation.
Conversely,geological environment occur in Tanzania which
are known on a global basis Host certain mineral deposit types, but for
Which commercial example have yet to be Found here. Some of the most obvious
are the Various types of massive sulphide deposits Which may contain copper,
lead, zinc, silver,Etc. These occur in Canada Archaean Greenstone belt [Eckstrand,
1984, type9.1And possibly others] and in Precambrian Terrains elsewhere. Yet
there has been no Significant production from this type of deposit
In Tanzania. However,there is a possibility of
Discovering economic zinc deposits in the
Nzega greenstone belt Despite
the favourable metallogeny Comparable to that of well-developed mining
Industries, Tanzania mineral potential had Been seriously
under-explored, due to a dearth
Of risk capital for exploration during the past 30
Year from the mid 1960s. This dilemma was Recognized and an internationally competitive
.Investment environment for the mineral sector
Was put in place.Consequently, there was an Exploration boom, which led to the discovery of
Deposits and subsequent development of six
Large-scale gold mines two of which are world
Class[Fig.13].Ones purpose of this brochure is to bring to the
Attention
of the mining community more Opportunities for investment, such as the
ones Figure 13: Current Mines and Prospects around Lake Victoria Region
as of 2005 Described earlier. The Opportunities described in the various chapters of this Publication involve various degree of technical
Risk, but also have potential rewards as is well
Demonstrated by recent achievements.
