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Mbesa prospect, Tunduru District, Ruvuma Region, Tanzaniai
Regional Level Types
Mbesa prospectDeposit
Tunduru DistrictDistrict
Ruvuma RegionRegion
TanzaniaCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
11° 21' 42'' South , 37° 3' 17'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-11.36191,37.05485
GRN:
S08E26
Type:
Deposit
Köppen climate type:
Aw : Tropical savanna, wet
Mindat Locality ID:
442040
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:442040:1
GUID (UUID V4):
0


The geology of the area comprises paragneisses of the Usagaran system that forms part of the Mozambique belt. The mineralized rock units are exposed in the artisanal mines located in pits 1, 2, and. The bulk of the sulfide mineralization is hosted by the plagioclase amphibolite. The mineralization is expressed as massive and net-textured chalcopyrite ores. Features include high Cu grades (up to 3.07 wt %) and Cu/Ni ratios (over 100) from the disseminated and massive ores in the plagioclase amphibolite.


Coordinates are for Pit 1
-11.366028988813165, 37.04186808079364 for Pit 2
-11.33006747578932, 37.034828028294484 for Pit 3

The Archean basement granitoids of the Tanzania craton underlie most parts of northern and central Tanzania. The mineralized rock units are exposed in the artisanal mines located in pits 1, 2, and 3. The bulk of the sulfide mineralization is hosted by the plagioclase amphibolite. The mineralization is expressed as massive and net-textured chalcopyrite ores. Locally, the chalcopyrite ores exhibit brittle deformation textures. The plagioclase amphibolite locally contains quartz veins associated with a bornite-rich sulfide assemblage. These bornite-rich sulfide ores are crosscut by a series of covellite and chalcocite veinlets in contrast with the chalcopyrite-rich counterpart. In the hornblende gneiss, the mineralization is present as disseminated ores.

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


27 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Aegirine-augite
Formula: (NaaCabFe2+cMgd)(Fe3+eAlfFe2+gMgh)Si2O6
ⓘ Altaite
Formula: PbTe
ⓘ 'Amphibole Supergroup'
Formula: AB2C5(T8O22)W2
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3A
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ Brochantite
Formula: Cu4(SO4)(OH)6
ⓘ Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
ⓘ 'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup'
Formula: AnCa2(C2+5-mC3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))W2
ⓘ 'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. Hornblende'
Formula: AnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ Covellite
Formula: CuS
ⓘ Diopside
Formula: CaMgSi2O6
ⓘ 'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ Hessite
Formula: Ag2Te
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ 'Imgreite'
Formula: NiTe (?)
ⓘ Kaersutite
Formula: NaCa2(Mg3AlTi4+)(Si6Al2)O22O2
ⓘ Lizardite
Formula: Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Michenerite
Formula: PdBiTe
ⓘ Millerite
Formula: NiS
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
ⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum
Formula: (Au,Ag)
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Siegenite
Formula: CoNi2S4
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ Sudburyite
Formula: PdSb
ⓘ Titanite
Formula: CaTiO(SiO4)
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Gold
var. Electrum		1.AA.05(Au,Ag)
ⓘ1.AA.05Au
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘHessite2.BA.60Ag2Te
ⓘCovellite2.CA.05aCuS
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘSudburyite2.CC.05PdSb
ⓘMillerite2.CC.20NiS
ⓘ'Imgreite'2.CC.50NiTe (?)
ⓘAltaite2.CD.10PbTe
ⓘSiegenite2.DA.05CoNi2S4
ⓘMichenerite2.EB.25PdBiTe
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘCalcite5.AB.05CaCO3
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘBrochantite7.BB.25Cu4(SO4)(OH)6
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘZircon9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘTitanite9.AG.15CaTiO(SiO4)
ⓘDiopside9.DA.15CaMgSi2O6
ⓘAegirine-augite9.DA.20(NaaCabFe2+cMgd)(Fe3+eAlfFe2+gMgh)Si2O6
ⓘKaersutite9.DE.15NaCa2(Mg3AlTi4+)(Si6Al2)O22O2
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘLizardite9.ED.15Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Unclassified
ⓘ'Amphibole Supergroup'-AB2C5(T8O22)W2
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup
var. Hornblende'		-AnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ'Garnet Group'-X3Z2(SiO4)3
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3A
ⓘ'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup'-AnCa2(C2+5-mC3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))W2

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
Hⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Hⓘ LizarditeMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ CalciteCaCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Oⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5(T8O22)W2
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
Oⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ KaersutiteNaCa2(Mg3AlTi4+)(Si6Al2)O22O2
Oⓘ LizarditeMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
FFluorine
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Fⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
NaSodium
Naⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Naⓘ KaersutiteNaCa2(Mg3AlTi4+)(Si6Al2)O22O2
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Mgⓘ KaersutiteNaCa2(Mg3AlTi4+)(Si6Al2)O22O2
Mgⓘ LizarditeMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
AlAluminium
Alⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Alⓘ KaersutiteNaCa2(Mg3AlTi4+)(Si6Al2)O22O2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Alⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(C2+5-mCm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))W2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Siⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Siⓘ KaersutiteNaCa2(Mg3AlTi4+)(Si6Al2)O22O2
Siⓘ LizarditeMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Siⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(C2+5-mCm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))W2
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
SSulfur
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ CovelliteCuS
Sⓘ MilleriteNiS
Sⓘ SiegeniteCoNi2S4
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
ClChlorine
Clⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Caⓘ CalciteCaCO3
Caⓘ DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
Caⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Caⓘ KaersutiteNaCa2(Mg3AlTi4+)(Si6Al2)O22O2
Caⓘ TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3A
Caⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(C2+5-mCm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))W2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Tiⓘ KaersutiteNaCa2(Mg3AlTi4+)(Si6Al2)O22O2
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
Tiⓘ TitaniteCaTiO(SiO4)
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
FeIron
Feⓘ Aegirine-augite(NaaCabFec2+Mgd)(Fee3+AlfFeg2+Mgh)Si2O6
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
CoCobalt
Coⓘ SiegeniteCoNi2S4
NiNickel
Niⓘ ImgreiteNiTe (?)
Niⓘ MilleriteNiS
Niⓘ SiegeniteCoNi2S4
CuCopper
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ BrochantiteCu4(SO4)(OH)6
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuⓘ CovelliteCuS
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
PdPalladium
Pdⓘ MicheneritePdBiTe
Pdⓘ SudburyitePdSb
AgSilver
Agⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum(Au,Ag)
Agⓘ HessiteAg2Te
SbAntimony
Sbⓘ SudburyitePdSb
TeTellurium
Teⓘ AltaitePbTe
Teⓘ HessiteAg2Te
Teⓘ ImgreiteNiTe (?)
Teⓘ MicheneritePdBiTe
AuGold
Auⓘ Native Gold var. Electrum(Au,Ag)
Auⓘ Native GoldAu
PbLead
Pbⓘ AltaitePbTe
BiBismuth
Biⓘ MicheneritePdBiTe

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.

References

[1]Hassan, Hidaya, Kaavera, Jacob, Imai, Akira, Yonezu, Kotaro, Tindell, Thomas, Sanematsu, Kenzo, Watanabe, Koichiro (2024) Cu-Au-Platinum Group Element Mineralization in the Mbesa Prospect, Southern Tanzania: Unconventional Magmatic Sulfides. Economic Geology, 119 (3) 643-664 doi:10.5382/econgeo.5068
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