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

River Ranch Mine, Beitbridge District, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwei
Regional Level Types
River Ranch MineMine
Beitbridge DistrictDistrict
Matabeleland SouthProvince
ZimbabweCountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
02341570017272085856238.jpg
River Ranch Open Pit

River Ranch Mine, Beitbridge District, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe
02341570017272085856238.jpg
River Ranch Open Pit

River Ranch Mine, Beitbridge District, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe
05991730017272060998255.jpg
River Ranch Open Pit

River Ranch Mine, Beitbridge District, Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
22° 10' 6'' South , 29° 53' 0'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-22.16861,29.88361
GRN:
S15E20
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
BWh : Hot deserts climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Beitbridge26,459 (2013)13.1km
Mindat Locality ID:
61043
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:61043:9
GUID (UUID V4):
0


A diamond mine in a kimberlite pipe, owned by Auridiam Zimbabwe Pty Ltd. It was discovered by De Beers in 1974 during an exploration programme in Zimbabwe. In 1991, the property was acquired by Auridiam. Production started in 1992, and operations were gradually scaled up, but the mine was closed in 1998 due to low diamond prices. Located 12.5 km NW of Beitbridge.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


16 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:

ⓘ 'Chevkinite Group'
ⓘ 'Chrome-Spinel (of Dana)'
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ 'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'
ⓘ Diamond
Formula: C
ⓘ Enstatite
Formula: Mg2Si2O6
ⓘ Forsterite
Formula: Mg2SiO4
ⓘ Graphite
Formula: C
ⓘ Ilmenite
Formula: Fe2+TiO3
ⓘ Loparite
Formula: (Na,REE)2Ti2O6
ⓘ Pentlandite
Formula: (NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘ Periclase
Formula: MgO
ⓘ Periclase var. Ferropericlase
Formula: (Mg,Fe)O
ⓘ Perovskite
Formula: CaTiO3
ⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)
Formula: (Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
Colour: khaki
Description: Listed as "Cr-chevkinite as inclusions up to 50 x 80 mm in diamond."
ⓘ Pyrope
Formula: Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ Rhönite
Formula: Ca4[Mg8Fe3+2Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
ⓘ Spinel
Formula: MgAl2O4
ⓘ Tausonite
Formula: SrTiO3
Habit: elongate grains that are irregular in outline and 50 x 50 µm
Colour: light brown
Description: Listed as "K-Cr bearing loparite" inclusions in diamond.

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘGraphite1.CB.05aC
ⓘDiamond1.CB.10aC
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘPentlandite2.BB.15(NixFey)Σ9S8
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘPericlase4.AB.25MgO
ⓘvar. Ferropericlase4.AB.25(Mg,Fe)O
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘSpinel4.BB.05MgAl2O4
ⓘIlmenite4.CB.05Fe2+TiO3
ⓘPerovskite4.CC.30CaTiO3
ⓘLoparite4.CC.35(Na,REE)2Ti2O6
ⓘTausonite4.CC.35SrTiO3
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘForsterite9.AC.05Mg2SiO4
ⓘPyrope9.AD.25Mg3Al2(SiO4)3
ⓘPolyakovite-(Ce)9.BE.70(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
ⓘEnstatite9.DA.05Mg2Si2O6
ⓘRhönite9.DH.40Ca4[Mg8Fe3+2Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Unclassified
ⓘ'Clinopyroxene Subgroup'-
ⓘ'Chrome-Spinel (of Dana)'-
ⓘ'Chevkinite Group'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

CCarbon
Cⓘ DiamondC
Cⓘ GraphiteC
OOxygen
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Oⓘ ForsteriteMg2SiO4
Oⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Oⓘ Loparite(Na,REE)2Ti2O6
Oⓘ PericlaseMgO
Oⓘ PerovskiteCaTiO3
Oⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Oⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Oⓘ TausoniteSrTiO3
Oⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
Oⓘ Periclase var. Ferropericlase(Mg,Fe)O
NaSodium
Naⓘ Loparite(Na,REE)2Ti2O6
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Mgⓘ ForsteriteMg2SiO4
Mgⓘ PericlaseMgO
Mgⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Mgⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Mgⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
Mgⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
Mgⓘ Periclase var. Ferropericlase(Mg,Fe)O
AlAluminium
Alⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Alⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Alⓘ SpinelMgAl2O4
SiSilicon
Siⓘ EnstatiteMg2Si2O6
Siⓘ ForsteriteMg2SiO4
Siⓘ PyropeMg3Al2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Siⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
SSulfur
Sⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
CaCalcium
Caⓘ PerovskiteCaTiO3
Caⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Caⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Tiⓘ Loparite(Na,REE)2Ti2O6
Tiⓘ PerovskiteCaTiO3
Tiⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Tiⓘ TausoniteSrTiO3
Tiⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Crⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
FeIron
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ IlmeniteFe2+TiO3
Feⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ RhöniteCa4[Mg8Fe23+Ti2]O4[Si6Al6O36]
Feⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
Feⓘ Periclase var. Ferropericlase(Mg,Fe)O
NiNickel
Niⓘ Pentlandite(NixFey)Σ9S8
SrStrontium
Srⓘ TausoniteSrTiO3
NbNiobium
Nbⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8
CeCerium
Ceⓘ Polyakovite-(Ce)(Ce,Ca)4(Mg,Fe2+)(Cr3+,Fe3+)2(Ti,Nb)2(Si2O7)2O8

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African 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

Kopylova, Maya G., Gurney, John J., Daniels, Leon R. M. (1997) Mineral inclusions in diamonds from the River Ranch kimberlite, Zimbabwe. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 129 (4) 366-384 doi:10.1007/s004100050343
Kopylova, M.G., Rickard, R.S., Kleyenstueber, A., Taylor, W.R., Gurney, J.J., Daniels, L.R.M. (1997) First occurrence of strontian K-Cr loparite and Cr-chevkinite in diamonds. Russian Geol. Geophys., 38, 405–420 (English translation from Geol. Geofiz.).
Cairncross, Bruce (2004) Field Guide to Rocks & Minerals of Southern Africa. 288pp.
Field, Matthew; Stiefenhofer, Johann; Robey, Jock; Kurszlaukis, Stephan (2008) Kimberlite-hosted diamond deposits of southern Africa: A review. Ore Geology Reviews, 34 (1). doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2007.11.002
Quick NavTopMineral ListRock TypesOther RegionsReferences
 
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 20:53:18 Page updated: September 10, 2025 17:48:09
Go to top of page