KAMATIVI TIN MINE

The old Kamativi Tin Mines mineral processing plant Located in western Zimbabwe, Matabeleland North Province, Kamativi Tin Mines Limited (KTM) was formed in 1953 and up until 1968, about 65 percent of the mill tonnage was drawn from surface open cast mining. In 1970, the state, through Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) took a majority share, later transferred to ZMDC in 1986. Kamativi Tin Mines Limited was therefore responsible for all tin production in the area. For the 58 years the mine was in operation, Kamativi Mine was one of the largest tin mines in Zimbabwe with projected reserves amounting to 100 million tonnes of tin ore. The mine closed due to depressed tin prices on the global market. Besides tin, Kamativi Mine used to produce small amounts of tantalite (Ta), spodumene (Li) and beryllium (Be). Economic reserves of Niobium (Nb) and tungsten (W) have also been discovered at the mine. The ore at Kamativi has been determined to contain a significant and valuable amount of spodumene, and a massive project has been launched to extract and beneficiate lithium from open cast mining and the mine's tailings, leading to the formation of Kamativi Mining Company (KMC).