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 The deposit was discovered during the 1950's, by a government geologist, and was brought to the attention of Mr R J May - Managing Director of Nyasaland Base Mineral Company ("NBMC"), by the Commissioner of Mines in Zomba
Mindale was mined by NBMC, and British Central Africa Company Ltd during the 1950’s.
The Nyasaland Times reported: (‘Rich Iron Ore Find Opens Up A New Industry’, 27 May 1958) 100 locals blasting and cutting away the hill to export lump iron oxide that was then transported and stockpiled at Beira port. At this time, output was expected to grow to 10,000 tons per month by the end of 1959.
Historical Timeline
August 2010 Britannia Mining Completes Mapping and Geological Study over 20 sq km
January 2010 Britannia Mining Commences Geological Study over 20 sq km
November 2009 Britannia Mining Acquires EPL Over Additional 630sq km
September 2009 Britannia Mining Conduct Initial Geological Studies Over Mindale
July 2009 Britannia Mining Acquire Land Rights for 99 years over Mindale
July 2009 Britannia Mining Acquire Exclusive Prospecting Licence ("EPL") Over 20 sq km
1966 Onwards Indiginous People Mine Ore at Mindale
1965 Geological Survey Department Malawi Estimate Tonnage over 1 sq km
In the absence of trench or drill hole sections a preliminary estimate of available tonnage gave a figure of 7,000,000 tons to a depth of 100 feet. This sample was taken from one of the Mindale Hills over an area of 1 sq km.
Circa 1957 Testwork Conducted By Nyasaland Base Metals
The results of an analysis from a bulk sample sent to the Mineral Resources Division of Overseas Geological Surveys cited a grade of 68% Fe.
1956 Trenching and Mining Activity by British Central Africa Company Ltd
From the trial mining it was observed that iron ore occurred as parallel bands which were steeply dipping to the west and they had variable phosphorus content. Enough magnetite was extracted to make up a trial shipment of some 6, 500 tones through Beira.
1956 Reconnaissance Survey Undertaken by M.S. Garson
Garson discovered iron ore at Mindale Hill during a reconnaissance survey undertaken in the year and he was of the opinion that the ore occurred in the apical core of a pitching anticline.
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