Zimbabwe has extensive mineral deposits of gold , platinum, copper, nickel, chrome, tantalite, tin, asbestos, emeralds , diamonds,

aquamarine, etc Full Scale Production on several mineral deposits may have been hindered for a variety of reasons including difficult access to the deposit, lack of electricity power, lack of adequate finance, prevailing market forces, the availability of essential items like lubricants, spare parts, zinc shavings, chemicals like cyanide, wage disputes, etc

Zimbabwe has excellent infrastructure including ; Roads Rail Roads Electricity Telecommunications Access to internet ; etc

However , for obvious reasons , it should be noted that most mineral deposits are in underdeveloped areas in remote areas !

Mining makes vital contribution to Zimbabwes economy by producing a wide variety of minerals for export and for raw material inputs to the manufacturing and agricultural sectors. It is a significant employer of workers who, with their dependents, are mainly housed around the mines themselves and are supplied with social and medical facilities. http://www.zimtrade.co.zw/site/site.asp?sect ion=2&page=4

A few large mining groups comprising well knownmultinationals, complemented by locally owned enterprises produce the bulk of the mineral output. There are quite a number of operating mines (mainly gold), worked by small companies, syndicates and individuals. Gold contributes about half the value of mineral production. The most significant mineral/mineral related exports are gold, platinum, ferro-chrome alloys, nickel and asbestos. Other exports include coke, dimension stone (black granite), diamonds, graphite, lithium minerals and emeralds. Most of the coal production is used locally, as are chromite and iron ore. http://www.zimtrade.co.zw/site/site.asp?section=2& page=4

The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (COMZ) is a private sector voluntary organization established in 1939 by an Act of Parliament. The members include mining companies, suppliers of machinery, spare parts, and chemicals, service providers including banks, insurance companies, consulting engineers, and various mining related professional bodies and individuals. The mining company memb ers of the COMZ produce about 90 percent of Zimbabwes total mineral output. http://www.chamberofminesofzimbabwe.com/

The activities of the COMZ are guided by its constitution and strategic plan. The primary objectives are to advocate and lobby in order to promote, encourage and protect the interests of the mining industry in Zimbabwe. In so doing, activities of the COMZ are concentrated in the fields of economic policy, mining sector policy, investment promotion, labour and industrial relations management, research on legal matters related to mining, representation of the views of the industry to Government and other stakeholders, and the provision of a variety of services aimed at promoting health and safety, manpower training, environmental protection, and the support of mining associations. http://www.chamberofminesofzimbabwe.com/

The Chambers activities mainly focus on: Advocacy and Representation Mineral Economics and Policy Research Mining data management Mining sector public relations Creating networking opportunities for stakeholders Labour relations management Provision of a variety of services aimed at promoting safety, health, and environmental management/protection in the mining sector and surrounding communities Training Co-ordination of activities of mining associations http://www.chamberofminesofzimbabwe.com/

The Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe (CMZ) wants the government to consider the merits of promoting large mines that enjoy economies of scale and greater access to capital and markets, as opposed to numerous small projects exposed to stifling costs of production. The association of miners, for now, is offering just 15% equity to local investors wishing to buy into mining operations instead of the 51% demanded by the government in a indigenisation law until the country builds its own capital.

http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2010-06-08-chamberof-mines-zimbabwe-cmz-calls-for-larger

The policy shift effectively supplants indigenisation with empowerment through a system of equity-equivalent credits, which dilutes the minimum equity demand and removes the ceiling initially imposed on foreign ownership. The law, passed roughly two years before, primarily seeks to warehouse at least 51% of large mines and other firms for local investors as an instrument of economic empowerment. Foreign-owned entities, including those listed on the local bourse, have up to five years to phase in the equity changes and until end of June to disclose their shareholding to the Ministry of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment.

http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2010-06-08-chamber-ofmines-zimbabwe-cmz-calls-for-larger

The empowerment credits comprise community investments such as infrastructure spending, social investments, assistance to small-scale miners, local procurement, creation of companies and factories or training and skills development. The direct equity would be sold rather than ceded through commercial disposals and acquisitions of shares, employee ownership schemes and initial public offerings on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE). A source familiar with the consultations says the government has climbed down from its earlier stance of equity-based indigenisation and empowerment after realising radical structural changes to the industry may hamper its recovery following a meltdown, which triggered closures and a commodity slump that hit its profitability.

http://www.newsday.co.zw/article/2010-06-08-chamber-ofmines-zimbabwe-cmz-calls-for-larger

Zimbabwe is a gold country. The Archaean terrain of Zimbabwe is, in terms of gold yield per square kilometre, the most productive of its kind in the world. It has been estimated that 700 tonnes of gold, which represents about a third of the country's historical production, were mined crudely from the seventh century to the start of modern mining activity at the turn of the 20th century. The quest for gold beyond the Limpopo river brought early explorers into the country. Production of gold peaked in 1906 at about 30 tonnes a feat that was nearly achieved in 1999 at 27 tonnes. Since 1999 very little grass roots exploration for gold has been undertaken. Although the country has a long mining history there are many areas that have not been scientifically investigated. In addition, modern exploration techniques that have yielded significant findings elsewhere in the world are still to find their application in Zimbabwe. This provides for exciting opportunities for those willing to take the calculated risk and invest in the exploration of gold. http://www.chamberofminesofzimbabwe.com/component/content/arti cle/38-minerals/90-gold.html

To aid mineral exploration the Geological Survey of Zimbabwe has vast archives of geo-scientific information in various themes that can be accessed by investors interested in mining. Information is in the form of bulletins, short reports, maps, reports by companies on exploration work, thesis on work done on Zimbabwe and reports by mining companies. Data is available in both digital and analogue format. Gold production stood at 4.2 tonnes in 2009. Given the peak of 27 tonnes in 1999, opportunities exist for expansion of production capacity at existing mines. A number of projects have been shelved in the past 10 years due to the adverse operating environment experienced. http://www.chamberofminesofzimbabwe.com/component/cont ent/article/38-minerals/90-gold.html