View source for Murowa diamond mine

{{update|date=March 2019}}
{{Infobox mine
| name = Murowa Diamond Mine
| image =
| width =
| caption =
| pushpin_map = Zimbabwe
| pushpin_label =
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Zimbabwe
| coordinates = {{coord|20|29|29|S|30|24|10|E|region:ZW|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| place =
| subdivision_type =
| state/province =
| country = {{ZIM}}
| owner = RZ Murowa Holdings Ltd (majority)
| official website =
| acquisition year =2015
| stock_exchange =
| stock_code =
| products = [[Diamond]]s
| financial year =
| amount =
| opening year = 2004
| closing year =
}}

The '''Murowa [[list of diamond mines|diamond mine]]''' is a [[diamond]] [[mining|mine]] located in Mazvihwa, south central [[Zimbabwe]], about 40 kilometres from the asbestos mining town of [[Zvishavane]] in the Midlands province. The mine is owned and operated by RZM Murowa (Private) Limited, a member of RioZim (a Zimbabwe listed company).<ref>{{cite web | url=https://murowadiamonds.com/contacts/ | title=Contacts Us – RZM Murowa }}</ref> The mine is a combination of [[open pit]] and underground construction. Current estimates put construction costs at $61 million [[USD]] and mine reserves are 19 million [[tonne]]s of [[ore]], with an [[ore grade]] of {{convert|0.9|carat|mg}} per tonne.

==Geology of the Deposit==
Murowa consists of three north-trending [[kimberlite]] pipes, intrusive into the Chivi suite [[granite]]s of the [[Zimbabwe craton|Zimbabwe Craton]]. The kimberlites have been dated at 500 Ma.<ref>{{cite journal|journal=Geological Society of Zimbabwe Newsletter|date=October 2009|pages=9–12|author=D Chatora|title=Report on the Geological Society Field Trip to Murowa Diamonds}}</ref>

==History==
The Murowa site's possibilities were first realized in 1997 when three diamond-bearing [[kimberlite]] [[volcanic pipe|pipes]] were discovered; over a period of three years of study, the two larger pipes have been determined to be economically feasible as mines. Construction of mine facilities was completed in late 2004. Preparation for mining included the forced relocation of 926 people living on the mine site to six farms purchased by a government relocation program. Limited mining operations began in Murowa in 2004, with full capacity expected to be reached sometime in 2005, although permitting problems slowed progress towards this milestone.

In 2018, 1,018,776 tonnes of diamonds were processed.<ref>{{Cite web |date= |title=Murowa Mine |url=https://miningdataonline.com/property/312/Murowa-Mine.aspx |access-date=13 August 2024 |website=MDO Mining Intelligence and News}}</ref>

In 2023, the previous owner of the mine, Harpal Randhawa, died alongside his son and 4 other passengers in a plane crash.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-10-03 |title=Indian mining tycoon Harpal Randhawa, son killed in plane crash in Zimbabwe |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/harpal-randhawa-son-killed-in-plane-crash-zimbabwe-8966012/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> 

==References==
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Diamond mines in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Underground mines in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Surface mines in Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Former Rio Tinto (corporation) subsidiaries]]
[[Category:Diatremes]]
[[Category:Volcanoes of Zimbabwe]]
[[Category:Pre-Holocene volcanoes]]
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Midlands Province]]
[[Category:Geography of Midlands Province]]

{{mining-stub}}
{{Zimbabwe-stub}}
{{gemology-stub}}