This paper provides an extended analysis of the tensions that have surfaced between large-scale mine operators and artisanal miners in gold-rich areas of rural Tanzania. The literature on grievance is used to contextualise these disputes, the underlying cause of which is artisanal miners’ mounting frustration over not being able to secure viable concessions to work. Newly implemented legislation has, for the most part, empowered foreign large-scale mine operators, while simultaneously disempowering indigenous small-scale miners. In many cases, the former have addressed mounting security and community problems on their own. Until the country’s major mine operators extend assistance to marginalised small-scale mining groups, the likelihood of violent conflict unfolding between these parties will increase. This paper draws upon the grievance literature to contextualise the conficts that are brewing in gold-rich Geita District, Northern Tanzania. As is the case in many areas of rural sub-Saharan Africa where mining activities are now widespread, in the Victoria Goldfelds region in which Geita District is located, foreign large-scale operators and their indigenous small-scale counterparts have struggled to coexist. The paper provides perspective on the struggles of the latter, who claim they have been systematically marginalised by newly implemented laws, and the actions of the former, who have been empowered by reformed mineral policies. The paper is organised as follows. The frst section frames the analysis by providing an overview of the key debates in the grievance-confict literature. The second section draws upon the grievance literature to contextualise mining conficts in sub-Saharan Africa. The third section introduces the Tanzania case, drawing upon feedback from interviews recently carried out with mining stakeholders in Geita District and Dar es Salaam. Concluding remarks are then provided. Grievance-based conflict in the extractive industries: an overview In recent years, there has been signifcant discussion about the relationship between natural resources and civil violence in politically fragile environments (e.g. Collier, 2000; Le Billon, 2001; Holden and Jacobson, 2007). This literature, however, exhibits inconsistencies when it comes to explaining how natural resources infuence the onset IDPR, 31 (3) 2009 Johanna Carstens and Gavin Hilson Mining, grievance and conflict in rural Tanzania Johanna Carstens is a postgraduate researcher and Gavin Hilson is Lecturer in Environment and Development, both in the School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, University of Reading, Earley Gate, PO Box 237, Reading RG6 6AR, UK; email: j.carstens@web.de; g.m.hilson@reading.ac.uk. Paper submitted April 2009; revised paper received and accepted August 2009