THABAZIMBI

iron ore mine and town, Northern province, South Africa, near the Botswana border. The name means mountain of iron. Thabazimbi is situated in remote, semiarid country, and its superior-grade hematite was first discovered in 1919 and mined in 1931. Owned by Iscor (the Iron and Steel Corporation of South Africa), its iron-ore deposits are estimated at 100,000,000 tons. The area surrounding Thabazimbi is also well known for cattle ranching. Thabazimbi is connected by rail to the steelworks at Pretoria. Pop. (1985) 7,527.