Log InRegister
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreOur ScienceMindat Newsletter [Free Download]Contact Us
Donate to MindatSponsor a PageCorporate SponsorshipSponsored Pages
Learning CenterWhat Is a Mineral?The Most Common Minerals on EarthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesMindat Newsletter [Free Download]The ElementsThe Mineral Quiz
Search FormMinerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDMinerals by CountryAlphabetical Mineral IndexAlphabetical Locality SearchMineral Association SearchList of CountriesLocalities Near MePhoto SearchSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMore Search Options
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
MineralsPetrologyFossilsMeteoritesGeologic Time
Mining CompaniesStatisticsMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsDevice SettingsTime Machine
Read DiscussionsIdentification Request
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColourPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Kao Mine, Butha-Buthe District, Lesothoi
Regional Level Types
Kao MinePipe (Active)
Butha-Buthe DistrictDistrict
LesothoCountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
29° 1' 29'' South , 28° 37' 43'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-29.02480,28.62883
GRN:
S20E18
Type:
Pipe (Active) - last checked 2021
Köppen climate type:
Cwb : Subtropical highland climate or temperate oceanic climate with dry winters
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Butha-Buthe16,330 (2012)46.8km
Mokhotlong8,809 (2010)51.7km
Thaba-Tseka5,423 (2012)55.3km
Mindat Locality ID:
18998
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:18998:4
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Kao kimberlite pipe


Kao main pipe, which is an irregular oval, is the largest in the country at 19.8ha and situated at an altitude of 2500m in the north approximately 200 kilometres from Maseru.

Its satellite is 3.2ha and lies 400m to the west of the main pipe.

Kao Diamond Mine (Pty) Ltd started production in November 2007.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


12 valid minerals. 1 (TL) - type locality of valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Diamond
Formula: C
ⓘ Diopside
Formula: CaMgSi2O6
ⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing Diopside
Formula: Ca(Mg,Cr)Si2O6
ⓘ Enstatite
Formula: Mg2Si2O6
ⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite
Formula: (Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
ⓘ 'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Knorringite (TL)
Formula: Mg3Cr2(SiO4)3
Type Locality:
ⓘ Omphacite
Formula: (NaaCabFe2+cMgd)(AleFe3+fFe2+gMgh)Si2O6
ⓘ Perovskite
Formula: CaTiO3
ⓘ Pyrope
Formula: Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Sanidine
Formula: K(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ 'Serpentine Subgroup'
Formula: D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ Spinel
Formula: MgAl2O4
ⓘ 'UM1975-10-O:CaFeMgTi'
Formula: ~Ca2Ti2(Fe,Mg)2O9
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘDiamond1.CB.10aC
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘSpinel4.BB.05MgAl2O4
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘPerovskite4.CC.30CaTiO3
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘKnorringite (TL)9.AD.25Mg3Cr2(SiO4)3
ⓘPyrope9.AD.25Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘZircon9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘEnstatite9.DA.05Mg2Si2O6
ⓘvar. Bronzite9.DA.05(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
ⓘDiopside
var. Chromium-bearing Diopside		9.DA.15Ca(Mg,Cr)Si2O6
ⓘ9.DA.15CaMgSi2O6
ⓘOmphacite9.DA.20(NaaCabFe2+cMgd)(AleFe3+fFe2+gMgh)Si2O6
ⓘSanidine9.FA.30K(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Fayalite-Forsterite Series'-
ⓘ'Serpentine Subgroup'-D3[Si2O5](OH)4
ⓘ'UM1975-10-O:CaFeMgTi'-~Ca2Ti2(Fe,Mg)2O9

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
CCarbon
Cⓘ DiamondC
OOxygen
Oⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing DiopsideCa(Mg,Cr)Si2O6
Oⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Oⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ KnorringiteMg3Cr2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Oⓘ PerovskiteCaTiO3
Oⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ SanidineK(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Oⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Oⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
Oⓘ UM1975-10-O:CaFeMgTi~Ca2Ti2(Fe,Mg)2O9
NaSodium
Naⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing DiopsideCa(Mg,Cr)Si2O6
Mgⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Mgⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Mgⓘ KnorringiteMg3Cr2(SiO4)3
Mgⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Mgⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Mgⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Mgⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Mgⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Mgⓘ UM1975-10-O:CaFeMgTi~Ca2Ti2(Fe,Mg)2O9
AlAluminium
Alⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Alⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Alⓘ SanidineK(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing DiopsideCa(Mg,Cr)Si2O6
Siⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Siⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Siⓘ KnorringiteMg3Cr2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Siⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ SanidineK(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Siⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Siⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Siⓘ Serpentine SubgroupD3[Si2O5](OH)4
KPotassium
Kⓘ SanidineK(AlSi3O8)
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing DiopsideCa(Mg,Cr)Si2O6
Caⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Caⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Caⓘ PerovskiteCaTiO3
Caⓘ UM1975-10-O:CaFeMgTi~Ca2Ti2(Fe,Mg)2O9
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Tiⓘ PerovskiteCaTiO3
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
Tiⓘ UM1975-10-O:CaFeMgTi~Ca2Ti2(Fe,Mg)2O9
CrChromium
Crⓘ Diopside var. Chromium-bearing DiopsideCa(Mg,Cr)Si2O6
Crⓘ KnorringiteMg3Cr2(SiO4)3
FeIron
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ Omphacite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(AleFef3+Feg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Feⓘ Enstatite var. Bronzite(Mg,Fe2+)2[SiO3]2
Feⓘ Fayalite-Forsterite Series
Feⓘ UM1975-10-O:CaFeMgTi~Ca2Ti2(Fe,Mg)2O9
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African Plate
Somali PlateTectonic Plate

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.
Quick NavTopCommoditiesMineral ListRock TypesOther Regions
 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: October 19, 2026 18:58:14 Page updated: November 7, 2025 17:25:21
Go to top of page