Background
Mining started over 100 years ago but Bikita Minerals was incorporated in 1952 and is privately owned company. The mine has changed ownership over the last 50 years and in 2022 Sinomine Resource Group of China acquired Bikita Minerals from AMMS for USD180 million
Sinomine acquired the mine when it was going towards the end of an ore body
Sinomine has invested over USD300 million towards exploration work and expansion of production capacity.
Bikita Minerals is into exploration, extraction, processing, distribution of lithium, cessium, and tantalum bearing products.
Exploration
Exploration for Bikita pegmatites was first recorded in 1911.
Drilling being done by ox-wagon type drills.
The pegmatites are emplaced in partly greenstone and metasediments.
Bikita deposit is known as lithium-ceasium-tantalite (LCT) bearing type.
Current exploration has been at Ledingham Hill SQI6 as well East of the main pegmatite which include the Bikita Pit, Al Hayat Pit and McMurdon area.
Exploration holes were also drilled further north at Dam site and Mauve Kop.