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Mamatwan Mine, Joe Morolong Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africai
Regional Level Types
Mamatwan MineOpen-Cast Mine
Joe Morolong Local MunicipalityMunicipality
John Taolo Gaetsewe District MunicipalityDistrict Municipality
Northern CapeProvince
South AfricaCountry

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08119830017271979805176.jpg
Mamatwan open pit.

Mamatwan Mine, Joe Morolong Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
06300760017271979839471.jpg
Mamatwan mine, Kalahari manganese field

Mamatwan Mine, Joe Morolong Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
08119830017271979805176.jpg
Mamatwan open pit.

Mamatwan Mine, Joe Morolong Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
06300760017271979839471.jpg
Mamatwan mine, Kalahari manganese field

Mamatwan Mine, Joe Morolong Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
08119830017271979805176.jpg
Mamatwan open pit.

Mamatwan Mine, Joe Morolong Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
06300760017271979839471.jpg
Mamatwan mine, Kalahari manganese field

Mamatwan Mine, Joe Morolong Local Municipality, John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality, Northern Cape, South Africa
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
27° 23' 32'' South , 22° 59' 18'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-27.39225,22.98852
GRN:
S19E15
Type:
Open-Cast Mine
Köppen climate type:
BSh : Hot semi-arid (steppe) climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Kathu9,219 (2012)34.3km
Kuruman9,093 (2012)44.3km
Mindat Locality ID:
11063
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:11063:8
GUID (UUID V4):
0


An open pit manganese mine located in northern Cape Province.

Mine operations commenced in 1963-64 and operated by South32 (2024).

The open pit operation exploits low-grade manganese ore, compared to the northerly located Wessels and N'Chwaning mines that exploit high-grade manganese ore.

It is the latter that accounts for most of the secondary, collector minerals, as opposed to the low-grade mineralization, hence the Mamatwan mine produces few secondary, aesthetic species.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

33 valid minerals. 1 erroneous literature entry.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Ankerite
Formula: Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Habit: massive
Description: thumbnail specimens
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3A
ⓘ Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘ Baryte
Formula: BaSO4
ⓘ Bixbyite-(Mn)
Formula: Mn3+2O3
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ Braunite
Formula: Mn2+Mn3+6(SiO4)O8
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite
Formula: (Ca,Mn)CO3
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Chloritoid
Formula: Fe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
ⓘ Clinochlore
Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
ⓘ Cryptomelane
Formula: K(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Goethite
Formula: Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘ Graphite
Formula: C
ⓘ Hausmannite
Formula: Mn2+Mn3+2O4
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ Jacobsite
Formula: Mn2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Kutnohorite
Formula: CaMn2+(CO3)2
ⓘ Lithiophorite
Formula: (Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
ⓘ Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
ⓘ Manganite
Formula: Mn3+O(OH)
ⓘ 'Manganomelane'
ⓘ Manjiroite
Formula: Na(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16
ⓘ Marcasite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ 'Native Manganese'
Formula: Mn
ⓘ Nontronite
Formula: Na0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Pyrolusite
Formula: Mn4+O2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Quartz var. Chalcedony
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rhodochrosite
Formula: MnCO3
ⓘ Romanèchite
Formula: (Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10
ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ Todorokite
Formula: (Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
ⓘ Tridymite
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ 'Wad'

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ'Native Manganese' ?1.AE.30Mn
ⓘGraphite1.CB.05aC
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘMarcasite2.EB.10aFeS2
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘJacobsite4.BB.05Mn2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘHausmannite4.BB.10Mn2+Mn3+2O4
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘBixbyite-(Mn)4.CB.10Mn3+2O3
ⓘQuartz
var. Chalcedony		4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘ4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘTridymite4.DA.10SiO2
ⓘPyrolusite4.DB.05Mn4+O2
ⓘCryptomelane4.DK.05aK(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16
ⓘManjiroite4.DK.05aNa(Mn4+7Mn3+)O16
ⓘRomanèchite4.DK.10(Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10
ⓘTodorokite4.DK.10(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
ⓘGoethite4.FD.10Fe3+O(OH)
ⓘManganite4.FD.15Mn3+O(OH)
ⓘLithiophorite4.FE.25(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
ⓘvar. Manganese-bearing Calcite5.AB.05(Ca,Mn)CO3
ⓘRhodochrosite5.AB.05MnCO3
ⓘAnkerite5.AB.10Ca(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘKutnohorite5.AB.10CaMn2+(CO3)2
ⓘAzurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘMalachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘBaryte7.AD.35BaSO4
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘChloritoid9.AF.85Fe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
ⓘBraunite9.AG.05Mn2+Mn3+6(SiO4)O8
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘNontronite9.EC.40Na0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
ⓘClinochlore9.EC.55Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Unclassified
ⓘ'Wad'-
ⓘ'Manganomelane'-
ⓘ'Serpentine Subgroup'-D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3A

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Hⓘ ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Hⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Hⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Hⓘ Lithiophorite(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
Hⓘ ManganiteMn3+O(OH)
Hⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Hⓘ NontroniteNa0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Hⓘ Romanèchite(Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
Hⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
LiLithium
Liⓘ Lithiophorite(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Cⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ GraphiteC
Cⓘ KutnohoriteCaMn2+(CO3)2
Cⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite(Ca,Mn)CO3
Cⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Cⓘ RhodochrositeMnCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Oⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Oⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Oⓘ Bixbyite-(Mn)Mn23+O3
Oⓘ BrauniteMn2+Mn63+(SiO4)O8
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ Quartz var. ChalcedonySiO2
Oⓘ ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Oⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Oⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Oⓘ HausmanniteMn2+Mn23+O4
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ JacobsiteMn2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ KutnohoriteCaMn2+(CO3)2
Oⓘ Lithiophorite(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
Oⓘ ManganiteMn3+O(OH)
Oⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite(Ca,Mn)CO3
Oⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Oⓘ ManjiroiteNa(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Oⓘ NontroniteNa0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Oⓘ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RhodochrositeMnCO3
Oⓘ Romanèchite(Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
Oⓘ TridymiteSiO2
Oⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
NaSodium
Naⓘ ManjiroiteNa(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Naⓘ NontroniteNa0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Naⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Mgⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Mgⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
AlAluminium
Alⓘ ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Alⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Alⓘ Lithiophorite(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
Alⓘ NontroniteNa0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Alⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
SiSilicon
Siⓘ BrauniteMn2+Mn63+(SiO4)O8
Siⓘ Quartz var. ChalcedonySiO2
Siⓘ ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Siⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Siⓘ NontroniteNa0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ TridymiteSiO2
Siⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
SSulfur
Sⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
KPotassium
Kⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Kⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ KutnohoriteCaMn2+(CO3)2
Caⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite(Ca,Mn)CO3
Caⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
MnManganese
Mnⓘ Bixbyite-(Mn)Mn23+O3
Mnⓘ BrauniteMn2+Mn63+(SiO4)O8
Mnⓘ CryptomelaneK(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Mnⓘ HausmanniteMn2+Mn23+O4
Mnⓘ JacobsiteMn2+Fe23+O4
Mnⓘ KutnohoriteCaMn2+(CO3)2
Mnⓘ Lithiophorite(Al,Li)MnO2(OH)2
Mnⓘ ManganiteMn3+O(OH)
Mnⓘ Calcite var. Manganese-bearing Calcite(Ca,Mn)CO3
Mnⓘ ManjiroiteNa(Mn74+Mn3+)O16
Mnⓘ PyrolusiteMn4+O2
Mnⓘ RhodochrositeMnCO3
Mnⓘ Romanèchite(Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10
Mnⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
Mnⓘ Native ManganeseMn
FeIron
Feⓘ AnkeriteCa(Fe2+,Mg)(CO3)2
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ ChloritoidFe2+Al2O(SiO4)(OH)2
Feⓘ GoethiteFe3+O(OH)
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ JacobsiteMn2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ MarcasiteFeS2
Feⓘ NontroniteNa0.3Fe2((Si,Al)4O10)(OH)2 · nH2O
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
CuCopper
Cuⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
SrStrontium
Srⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O
BaBarium
Baⓘ BaryteBaSO4
Baⓘ Romanèchite(Ba,H2O)2(Mn4+,Mn3+)5O10
Baⓘ Todorokite(Na,Ca,K,Ba,Sr)1-x(Mn,Mg,Al)6O12 · 3-4H2O

Localities in this Region

South Africa
  • Northern Cape
    • John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality
      • Joe Morolong Local Municipality

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate
South Africa

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

De Villiers, J.P.R. (1977) A mineralogical investigation of Mamatwan and Wessels manganese ores. Report 1920. National Institute of Metallurgy (now Mintek), Randburg, 10 pages.
Kleyenstüber, A.S.E. (1979) ’n Mineralogiese ondersoek van hoë-temperatuur-reduksieprodukte van mangaanerts vanuit die Mamatwanmyn, Kalaharimangaanveld. M.Sc. dissertation (unpublished), Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, 125 pages.
Nel, C.J. (1984) Die mineralogie en geochemie van die Mamatwanertsliggaam, Kalaharimangaanveld, Transvaal-Supergroep. M.Sc. dissertation (unpublished), Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, 119 pages.
Mining Annual review (1985) 90.
Nel, C.J., Beukes, N.J. De Villiers, J.P.R. (1986) The Mamatwan manganese mine of the Kalahari manganese field. In: Anhaeusser, C.R., Maske, S. (editors) Mineral Deposits of Southern Africa. Geological Society of South Africa, Johannesburg: 963-978.
Cairncross, B., Dixon, R. (1995) Minerals of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa. p.1-290.
Cairncross, B.; Beukes, Nicolas J.; Gutzmer, Jens (1997) The Manganese Adventure. Associated Ore & Metal Corp.
Gutzmer, J., Beukes, N.J., Yeh, H-W. (1997) Metasomatic and supergene fault-controlled alteration of Early Proterozoic sedimentary manganese ore at Mamatwan Mine, Kalahari manganese field, South Africa. South African Journal of Geology: 100: 53-71.
Ramos Preston, P.C.C. (2001) Physical and chemical characterisation of the manganese ore bed at Mamatwan mine, Kalahari Manganese Field. M.Sc. dissertation (unpublished), Rand Afrikaans University, Johannesburg, 140 pages.
www.turnstone.ca (n.d.) http://www.turnstone.ca/rom157mn.htm
Harawa, E.T. (2016) Mineralogy and geochemistry of structurally-controlled metasomatic alteration of carbonate-rich manganese ore at Mamatwan Mine, Kalahari Manganese Field. Master’s thesis, Department of Geology, Rhodes University. ( http://vital.seals.ac.za:8080/vital/access/manager/PdfViewer/vital:20715/SOURCE1?viewPdfInternal=1 )
www.south32.net (n.d.) https://www.south32.net/what-we-do/places-we-work/south-africa-manganese
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