The number of mines within the Limpopo River basin exceeds 1 900 with an additional 1 700 abandoned mines (Ashton et al. 2001b). Only mines meeting certain minimum annual production limits are included herein (Ashton et al. 2001a). Closed or abandoned mines that did not proceed beyond initial prospecting have not been included, unless they have or are expected to have a significant impact on surface water resources and water quality.
The table below provides a summary of mines within each sub-catchment and their current status. A total of 318 mines are identified. All other sub-catchments not listed were noted as not having mining operations or it was unknown if mining operations existed (Ashton et al. 2001a).
Table: Mines in the Limpopo River basin.
SUB-CATCHMENT
Mines in the Limpopo River basin
Total
Prospecting
Operating
Closed
Unknown
Ngotwane/Bonwapitse
---
1
---
---
1
Lotsane
---
1
---
---
1
Motloutse
---
2
---
---
2
Shashe 1
---
6
7
---
13
Mzingwane 1
---
3
32
2
37
Dati 1
---
1
---
---
1
Bubye 2
---
---
1
---
1
Mwenezi
---
4
8
---
12
Lower Limpopo and Chagane 1
1
---
---
---
1
Marico
9
9
---
---
18
Crocodile 1
6
61
12
---
79
Matlabas-Mokolo
1
1
---
---
2
Laphalala 1
2
---
1
---
3
Theuniskloof 1
1
1
---
---
2
Mogalakwena
6
5
1
---
12
Setoka-Soutsloot 1
1
1
2
---
4
Sand
2
7
1
---
10
Nzhelele
1
---
1
---
2
Levuvhu
---
2
2
---
4
Wilge 1
---
7
1
---
8
Riet & Little Olifants 1
---
29
3
---
32
Middle Olifants
3
17
9
---
29
Steelpoort
4
12
2
---
18
Blyde 1
---
2
---
---
2
Selati 1
---
10
---
---
10
Middle Letaba and Great Letaba 1
4
6
---
---
10
Shingwedzi
1
1
2
---
4
TOTAL
42
189
85
2
318
Source: Ashton et al. 2001
1 Sub-catchment in Ashton et al. 2001
Sub-catchment noted herein
Shashe-Tuli
Shashe
Pazhi, Umzingwani
Mzingwane
Diti
Shashe
Lower Limpopo and Chagane
Lower Middle Limpopo, Lower Limpopo, Chagane
Crocodile-Elands-Pienaarsrivier
Crocodile
Laphalala
Lephalala
Theuniskloof
Lotsane
Setoka-Soutsloot
Shashe, Mzingwani
Levuvhu
Luvuvhu
Wilge
Middle Olifants
Riet & Little Olifants
Upper Olifants
Blyde
Lower Olifants
Selati
Lower Olifants
Middle Letaba and Great Letaba
Letaba
2 Diamond, gold, silver, PGEs, copper, and nickel exploration is noted, but the status, nor locations, are not available
The second and third maps provide enlargements of the South African and Zimbabwean portions of the basin.
