18°17′16″S 29°24′26″E / 18.28775°S 29.40722°E
Mabura Guano Cave is a mine containing an accumulation of bat guano. It is located in Zhombe Mabura Ward 6 in the Midlands Province of Zimbabwe.[1][2] It is one of the eight major reserves of organic fertilizers in Zimbabwe, that are still to be fully exploited.[3]
It is listed as a Geographical place in Zimbabwe,[4] and it is a natural monument,[5] according to the Zimbabwean law.[6]
It is located 2.5km south of the Munyati River and Ngondoma River confluence.[7] It is 6 and half kilometres west of SAMAMBWA Primary School[8] and 19 km north of Empress Mine.[citation needed]
According to the University of Guelph, (Canada) there is over two million tonnes of guano at Mabura Caves.[1]
The cave is believed to stretch for more than 60 km to as far as Copper Queen in Gokwe passing underneath Ngondoma River.[2]
Farmers in Zhombe East, Chief Samambwa's area particularly plot holders at Ngondoma Irrigation Scheme are the current immediate beneficiaries as guano is a highly effective fertilizer. It has very high content of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium, the nutrients essential for growth in plants.[9][10]
References edit
- ^ a b Mark Mhukayesango (11 November 2015) Compound D Substitute Discovered In Zhombe Radio VOP. National News. Retrieved 7 November 2015.
- ^ a b Tinomuda Chakanyuka. (May 2015) Zhombe pins hope on bat poop The Sunday News. Opinion & Analysis. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- ^ New ZIANA. Paragraph 3. 16 April 2013 Fertiliser plant spreads wings to Bindura....Mabura Caves in the Zhombe area of the Midlands Province. The Herald. Business. Retrieved 16 December 2015
- ^ Cartographic.info Line 565 List of places in Midlands, Zimbabwe Retrieved 7 December 2015
- ^ Zimbabwe: National Museums and Monuments Act.pdf | Part 1, PRELIMINARY | Interpretation 2b. Zimbabwe: National Museums and Monuments Act. Zimbabwe Act of Parliament | Title 25. (Chapter 25:11).
- ^ Chrispen Chauke. Paragraph 3.2 "Mabura Caves & Chinhoyi Caves" According to the National Mesiums and Monuments Act, Chapter 25/11, the cave is a monument..... Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine African Immovable Cultural Heritage - Zimbabwe.pdf | Paragraph 3. Geological/Natural Monuments. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ All About Countries Guano Cave Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ All-about-countries Places Around Guano Cave_ Samambwa School (6.49km) Archived 2015-12-22 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 16 December 2015
- ^ Barber B 1991 for crops/56zimbabwe.PDF | Rocks for Crops[permanent dead link] Phosphate resources of Zimbabwe. Fert. Res. 30:247-278
- ^ Rocks for Crops pp323_