Karas has the richest deposits of alluvial gem diamonds in the world, probably some 90 million years old.
 
 
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Karas has the richest deposits of alluvial gem diamonds in the world, probably some 90 million years old
Diamonds account for 30 % of total Namibian exports
Scorpion Zinc was the single biggest investment in Namibia after independence
A ‘world-first’ extraction process makes Scorpion a high quality/ low cost zinc leader
Largely untapped deposits of copper, lead, silver, tin, marble and gemstones exist in the Karas region
 
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The development of the Karas region, both historically and economically is closely tied to its rich mineral deposits that already provide 27,5% of employment opportunities and some 12,5% of GDP. These include diamonds, zinc copper, tin, lead silver, marble and gemstones.

Diamonds
The indigenous Nama people traded with diamonds in the 1800s but organised exploration started when a diamond picked up by railway worker Zacharias Lewala in 1908 began the famous Diamond Rush near Lüderitz, that would see the so-called Sperrgebiet (Restricted Area) proclaimed and, by 1928, the discovery of the first alluvial gems in the bedrock of ancient marine terraces at the mouth of the Orange River.

Centred on Oranjemund is an impressive, highly sophisticated diamond mining operation, Namdeb - a partnership between the Namibian government and global diamond mining leaders, De Beers, which today mines an average of some 400 kg of gem diamonds a year , while further north, in the coastal seas near Lüderitz, Namibia’s leading marine diamond company, Namco operates a cutting-edge offshore diamond mining operation.

Both of these technologically unique operations tap into what are recognised as the some of the richest deposits of high quality gem diamonds in the world. Why diamonds are found in such abundance only along this coast and not immediately inland still remains something of a mystery.

Thanks to a consistent rise in carats mined (1, 632 million carats, export value: N$ 2 921 552 304 in 1999) and low, steady prices, this natural bounty remain one of the region’s showpiece economic drivers.

Zinc
First discovered by legendary prospector, Moses Eli Kahan in the 1960’s, while searching for copper, Zinc is fast becoming a powerful contributor to the region’s economic growth and prosperity, thanks to the substantial investment of some N$500 million by mining giant, Anglo plc.

Scorpion Zinc, situated near Rosh Pinah, yearly delivers some 15 000 tonnes of crushed and milled ore to a state-of-the art refinery that produces Special High Grade (SHG) 99,995 % pure Zinc for export to world markets, through its shipping facility at Lüderitz. Presently contributing some 4-5 % of Namibian GDP, Scorpion Zinc has a workforce that are notably, 90% industry trained and mentored Namibian nationals.

Another prominent contributor to mining in the region is Anglo affiliate Kumba Resource, who extract both lead and zinc in an underground mining operation also situated at Rosh Pinah.

Copper, marble & other minerals
The region has many mineral riches besides diamonds and zinc yet to be effectively exploited – from large copper deposits at Haib near Noordoewer, to lead, silver and tin at Rosh Pinah, marble at Aus and gemstones located variously throughout the region. Raw materials for the production of cement, and sand ideal for high grade glass manufacture, are also present in the region.

Direct foreign investment is still needed to take raw materials like these to competitive world markets. Perhaps more important, is the need for value-adding industries that utilise these riches within the region, rather than seeing them exported, in so doing, providing impetus for the development of a vibrant and diverse trade and industry sector. With persuasive incentives from government, activities of this sort are being actively encouraged.