Of Outcrops and Narrow Seams: Geology, Tribute Agreements and Cooperative Chromite Mining along Zimbabwe’s Great Dyke, 1985–2022

Abstract

This article argues that the development of cooperative chromite mining in postcolonial Zimbabwe was largely shaped by geological factors, particularly the geotechnical challenges of extracting the narrow (thin) and frequently faulted chromite seams in the northern section of the Great Dyke geological formation. It examines the geological knowledge and mining skills of miners in cooperatives. It also considers the roles of government departments, the Institute of Mining Research (IMR) at the University of Zimbabwe and chromite mining companies, and how all these supported miners in developing their mining operations and tackling geotechnical challenges. The article draws on oral interviews, contemporary newspaper reports and annual reports from the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation and the Secretary for Mines, as well as research reports produced by the IMR.