The earliest organized prospecting land mining
In Tanzania took place during the German colonial period, beginning with
gold discoveries In the Lake Victoria region around 1894 (Nilsen, 1980).
Mining began at Ngasamo and Sequence Mines in 1909.After 1930, gold
Production was substantial and increased Steadily until World War 11
(Fig.14). By 1967,In gold industry had declined to insignificance, only to
revive after 1974-1975 when the world gold price increased greatly. Until
1998, production was mostly from artisanal mining and state Mining
Corporation (STAMICO) but production has increased after the construction
of six mechanized large scale mines. Diamond mining, which has been
relatively minor prior to 1940, receive a major boost with the discovery
of the Mwadui Kimberlite pipe in 1940.Production has been mainly from the
Mwadui Mine.
Besides gold and diamonds, which have long
been the mainstays of mineral production, mining of other commodities has
been relatively modest. Various mines of copper, lead, phosphate and
gemstones are mentioned in appropriate places in the text and in the Table
2. In the past few years, significant mines of coal, kaolin and phosphate
have been developed. Mining currently contributes only about 1.2% of
Tanzania�s gross domestic product and employs around 1% of wage earners.
Tin production was an important industry in the northwest corner of the
country up to the early 1970s. There after production declined due to low
prices. However, in recent years exploration activities have resumed due
to favourable market conditions.
Private Investment
Since independence, the Government has taken
several steps to develop the mineral sector. After 1967, the Government
adopted state - directed development strategies and thus there were
limited private owned investments directed to the mining industry. With
the changes in macro - economic policy of the country to adopt free market
economic policies in early 1990s, many foreign and local investors have
returned to the mining scene. In 1992 there were only 10 Prospecting
Licenses and 9 Mining licenses. Today there are over 3000 Prospecting
licenses and over 190 Mining licenses.
Artisanal Miners.
Artisinal mining activities have always
existed in Tanzania. I the late 1980s, the Government organized a series
of miners' associations to transform and upgrade artisinal mining into
organized and modernized mining, principally in gold and gemstones. This
move coincided with a major increase in artisanal mining activity, which
is estimated to employ over 500,000 people (Tan Discovery, 1995). The
enactment of the Mining Act, 1998, and its subsequent Regulations, 1999,
which ensure transparency and fairness in licensing procedures, has
minimized the number of illegal mining and trading of minerals in the
country.
Technical Terms Peculiar to Tanzania
These are words peculiar to Tanzania and
surrounding areas, which may be found in technical reports.
Anyolite
A green rock which is the host for ruby (red
gem corundum) at several places in Tanzania, including the Longido Mine
north of Arusha.Anyolite takes its name from 'anyoli' the Maasai word of
'green'. Technically, anyolite is composed of green chrominium - rich
zoisite, tschermakitic amphibole (an aluminium - rich hornblende), plus
anorthite feldspar, with or without corundum. Due to its striking green
colour, anyolite has some use as an ornamental.
Kikungu
Red silty soil, typical of weathered gravels
of stream terraces.
Lamb
A sluggish, intermittent watercourse.
Malaya
Trade name of orange to reddish - orange
garnet (of the pyralspite family), first mined in the 1970s in north east
Tanzania and adjacent kenya. From the Swahili word for 'trash' or 'whore',
because it was originally discarded when recovering other gems. Synonymous
with umbalite.