1. Mineral Resources
  2. Online Spatial Data
  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Mindola - Nkana

Producer in Copperbelt, Zambia with commodities Copper, Cobalt
Map
XML
JSON
KML
B
Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Materials information
  7. Mineral occurrence model information
  8. Host and associated rocks
  9. Nearby scientific data
  10. Ore body information
  11. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  12. Mining district
  13. Ownership information
  14. Production statistics
  15. Reserves and resources
  16. Workings at the site
  17. Links to other databases
  18. Bibliographic references
  19. General comments
  20. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10184301
MRDS ID W006892
MAS/MILS ID 7940050016
Record type Deposit
Current site name Mindola - Nkana
Alternate or previous names Nkana Copper-Cobalt Deposit Mine, Nkana Division, Rhokana Corporation, City of Kitwe, Nkana-Mindola

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Pit
Geographic coordinates: 28.1908, -12.8233 (WGS84)
Location accuracy 100(meters)
Relative position Nkana open pit, near Kitwe. From Google Earth and vanbrussel. Location modified slightly to match Central African Copperbelt SIR.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Copperbelt(province)

Zambia(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Zambia Copperbelt

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Cobalt Critical Primary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Chrysocolla Ore
Malachite Ore
Bravoite Ore
Carrollite Ore

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 202
USGS model code Unassigned
Deposit model name Sediment-hosted Cu, reduced-facies
Mark3 model number 96

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Clastic Sedimentary Rock > Argillite
    Rock unit name Roan Supergroup, Mines Group, Coppberbelt Orebody member
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Sedimentary Rock > Carbonate > Dolomite
    Rock unit name Roan Supergroup, Mines Group, Coppberbelt Orebody member

Nearby scientific data

Pit (1) 28.1908, -12.8233
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Strike N30W
    Dip 50W
    Thickness 10M
    Length 14764M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 3
    Type of Orebody #1 SEDIMENTARY
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Primary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Primary Ore Control LITHOLOGY
    Secondary Ore Control BEDDING
    Strike And Dip N30W:50W
    Date of Last Modification 830627
  • Area 200HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 200
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Comments on the geologic information

  • CO ORE MINERAL IS CARROLITE.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface-Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1914
Year of first production 1929
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Central African Copper Belt

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines, Ltd. (ZCCM)
    Home office Zambia
    Year 1992
  • Type Owner
    Owner Zambia Industrial And Mining Corp., Ltd. (Zimco)
    Interest 60.3
    Home office Zambia
    Year 1992
  • Type Owner
    Owner Zambian Copper Investments, Ltd. (ZCI)
    Interest 27.3
    Home office Bermuda
    Year 1992
  • Type Operator
    Owner Mopani Copper Mines PLC
    Interest 100
    Year 2009
    First year 2000

Comments on the ownership information

  • ZAMBIAN COPPER INV LTD IS A WHOLLY OWNED SUBSIDARY OF THE ANGLO-AMERICAN CORPORATION.
  • From: Update on Mopani Copper Mines PLC second quarter production statistics - Nkana & Mufulira mines. Canadian Corporate News. July 27, 2000

    First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (TSE Symbol "FM") is pleased to provide an update on Mopani Copper Mines Plc ("Mopani"), a company established to operate the Nkana Mine, Concentrator and Cobalt Plant; and the Mufulira Mine, Concentrator, Smelter and Copper Refinery in Zambia. Mopani is jointly held by Glencore International AG (46%), First Quantum Minerals Ltd. (44%) and Zambian Consolidated Copper Mines Limited (10%).

Production statistics

  • Year 1972
    Material approx. grade ^0.04% Co, 2.71% Cu
    Accuracy Estimate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 3wt-pct
    Primary Co Cobalt Cobalt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Description 4850000 Mt Ore/Yr
  • Year 2001
    Period 2001
    Material 1.73% cu and 0.14% Co \n(First Quantum Minerals Ltd, 2001)
    Ore mined 3132511mt
    Accuracy Accurate
  • Year 2001
    Period 1931-2000
    Material @ 2.19% Cu \nFirst Quantum Minerals Ltd, 2001, Competent Person's Report, The assets of first Quantum Minerals Limited in Zambia and Zimbabwe, 203 p. Nkana-Mindola-Mufulira 43-101 of 2001. [May 31, 20
    Ore mined 256614905mt
    Accuracy Accurate
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Primary Copper Copper 2wt-pct

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Name Mindola/Nkana N-S, total endowment
    Estimate year 2010
    Total endowment 701787416mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper 2.16 wt-pct Copper Primary 2010
    Cobalt 0.061 wt-pct Cobalt Primary 2010
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1978
    Measured 26095000mt ore
    Demonstrated 26095000mt ore
    Total resources 26095000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.21 wt-pct Copper Major 1978
    Cobalt Co 0.09 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1978
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1981
    Indicated 100903000mt ore
    Demonstrated 100903000mt ore
    Total resources 100903000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.41 wt-pct Copper Major 1981
    Cobalt Co 0.09 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1981
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Demonstrated 95577000mt ore
    Total resources 95577000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.3 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
    Cobalt Co 0.14 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Demonstrated 118000000mt ore
    Total resources 118000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.4 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
    Cobalt Co 0.12 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Total resources 239577000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.34 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
    Cobalt Co 0.16 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Demonstrated 213577000mt ore
    Total resources 213577000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.36 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
    Cobalt Co 0.13 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Name Nkana West Limb (north), resource
    Estimate year 1988
    Total resources 61000000mt
    Remarks @ 1.98% Cu\nFreeman, 1988, p. 5, 62.
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper 1.98 wt-pct Copper Primary 1988
  • Type In-situ
    Name Nkana West Limb (south)
    Estimate year 1988
    Total resources 46000000mt
    Remarks @ 2.37% cu\nFreeman, 1988, p. 5, 62.
  • Type In-situ
    Name Nkana (N-S) and Mindola,
    Estimate year 2001
    Inferred 140000000mt
    Remarks @ 2.13% cu and 0.09% Co\nFirst Quantum 2001 AR, p. 19.
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper 2.13 wt-pct Copper Primary 2001
    Cobalt 0.09 wt-pct Cobalt Primary 2001
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 2001
    Indicated 125800000mt
    Remarks 2.15% Cu and 0.16% Co\n(First Quantum 2001 AR, p. 19)
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper 2.15 wt-pct Copper Primary 2001
    Cobalt 0.16 wt-pct Cobalt Primary 2001
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 2001
    Probable 69240000mt
    Remarks 2.24% cu and 0.14% Co\n(First Quantum 2001 AR, p. 19)
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper 2.24 wt-pct Copper Primary 2001
    Cobalt 0.14 wt-pct Cobalt Primary 2001

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • COBALT GRADE BASED ON UNDERGROUND ORE WHICH CONSTITUTES 87% OF RECOVERABLE ORE. M1C3=M9C4.
  • ZCCM, 1991 ANNUAL REPORT, P.42,44. ORE RESERVES: 97,448,000 MT @ 2.33% CU, .14% CO MINERAL RESOURCE: 118,000,000 MT @ 2.40% CU, .12% CO TOTAL DEMO RES.: 215,448,000 MT @ 2.36% CU, .13% CO

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Capacity 2111
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 12
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1981
  • Type of workings Underground
    Overall depth 900M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method SUBLEVEL 10-43
    Hardness of Rock SOFT NONPLASTIC FISSURED EXCESSIVE WATER
    Number of Shafts 4
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 12318
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Unit Production Cost 12.43
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 330
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1981

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Ownership

    Update on Mopani Copper Mines PLC second quarter production statistics - Nkana & Mufulira mines.
    Canadian Corporate News
    July 27, 2000

  • Reserve-Resource

    NCHANGA CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES, 1978, ANNUAL REPORT.

  • Deposit

    MENDELSOHN, F. (ED.), THE GEOLOGY OF THE NORTHERN RHODESIAN COPPERBELT. MACDONALD AND CO., LONDON, 1961, 523 PP.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ZAMBIA CONS. COPPER MINES LTD., 1991 ANNUAL REPORT, P.42, 44.

  • Deposit

    TER BRUGGEN, J. W., INTRODUCTION INTO MINING AND METALLURGY ON THE ZAMBIAN COPPERBELT. GEOLOGIE EN MIJNBOUW, V.51, 1972, P. 361-370.

  • Deposit

    DE KUN, N.,THE MINERAL RESOURCES OF AFRICA. ELSEVIER, AMSTERDAM, 1965, P130-136,350-356,365-369.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ZAMBIA CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES LTD., 1992 ANNUAL REPORT, P.51, 53.

  • Deposit

    PELLETIER, R. A., MINERAL RESOUCES OF SOUTH-CENTERAL AFRICA. OXFORD UNIV. PRESS, CAPETOWN, 1964, P. 365-369.

  • Deposit

    NCHANGA CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES, 1976, ANNUAL REPORT

  • Workings

    RAISIN, J. P. TRACKLESS DRAWPOINT LOADING AT NCHANGA CONSOLIDATE COPPER MINES LTD, ROKANA DIVISON, JOURNA OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF MINING AND METALLURGY, AUGUST, 1973, P 44-49.

  • Deposit

    ANONYMOUS, 1972, "A GEOLOGICAL GUIDE TO NKANA MINING AREA", NCHANGA CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES LIMITED.

  • Deposit

    NCHANGA CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES LIMITED.

  • Deposit

    ANONYMOUS 1979, "NCHANGA CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES", ENGINEERING/MINING JOURNAL, NOVEMBER, PP. 150-165.

  • Deposit

    ENG. MINING JOUR., 1973, 1972 E/MJ INTERNATIONAL DIRECTORY OF MINING AND MINERAL PROCESSING OPERATIONS: NEW YORK, MCGRAW-HILL, INC., P. 218. Copied from deleted record 10069388= W006892]

  • Deposit

    MCMAHON, A.D., 1965, COPPER, A MATERIALS SURVEY: U.S. BUREAU OF MINES IC 8225, P. 71. Copied from deleted record 10069388= W006892]

  • Deposit

    ANDREWS, R.W., 1962, COBALT: OVERSEAS GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS, MINERAL RESOURCES DIVISION, LONDON, HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, P. 66-. Copied from deleted record 10069388= W006892]

  • Deposit

    Reeve, W.H., 1963, The geology and mineral resources of Northern Rhodesia: N. Rhodesia Geological Survey Bull. 3, vol. 1.

  • Deposit

    Freeman, P.V., 1988, Description of mineral deposits on the Copperbelt (and Kabwe, Nampundwe): Lukasa, Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines Ltd. [ZCCM] unpublished company report, 88 p.

  • Deposit

    Fleischer, V.D., Garlick, W.D., and Haldane, R., 1976, Geology of the Zambian Copperbelt, in Wolf, K.H., ed., Handbook of Strata-bound and Stratiform Ore Deposits, v. 6, Chapter 6, p. 223-352.

  • Deposit

    Kirkham, R.V, Carriere, J.J., Laramee, R.M., and Garson, D.F., 1994, Global distribution of sediment-hosted stratiform copper deposits and occurrences: Geological Survey of Canada Open File 2915b, 256 p.

  • Deposit

    Selley and others, 2005, A new look at the geology of the Zambian Copperbelt: Economic Geology 100th Anniversary Volume, p. 965-1000.

  • Deposit

    Infomine [http://www.infomine.com/index/properties/NKANA.html] [http://www.infomine.com/companies-properties/infodbweb/ChargePropertyProduction.asp?SearchID=15295]

  • Deposit

    First Quantum Minerals Ltd, 2001, Competent Person's Report, The assets of first Quantum Minerals Limited in Zambia and Zimbabwe, 203 p. Nkana-Mindola-Mufulira 43-101 of 2001. [May 31, 2001 Mining Reports downloaded from Sedar.com, last accessed 5/26/10.]

  • Deposit

    First Quantum Minerals Ltd, 2001, Annual Report, Mufulira and Nkana, p. 19. [2001 Annual report downloaded from sedar.com May 17, 2002, Annual Report - English, last accessed 5/26/10, not available on FirstQuantum's website].

  • Deposit

    First Quantum Minerals Ltd, 2006, Annual Report, 76 p. [http://www.first-quantum.com/i/pdf/2006AR.pdf accessed 5/26/10]

  • Deposit

    FLEISCHER, V. D., GARLICK, W. G., AND HALDANE, R., 1976, "GEOLOGY OF THE ZAMBIAN COPPERBELT", HANDBOOK OF STRATA-BOUND AND STRATIFORM ORE DEPOSITS, CHAPTER 6.

  • Deposit

    GUINEY, DR. M., BELL, A.R., 1979, "VENTILATION AND REFRIGERATION PRACTICES TOGETHER WITH ENVIRONMENTAL THERMAL PROBLEMS AT THE MINDOLA MINE, ZAMBIA", CIM BULLETIN, JANUARY, PP. 63-69.

  • Deposit

    JEREMIC, M. L., 1978, "STRESS MECHANISM AT THE MINDOLA MINE, ZAMBIA, AFRICA", CIM BULLETIN, NOVEMBER, PP. 77-79.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 5/24/91, P.394.

  • Deposit

    MINING ACTIVITY DIGEST, 6/93, P.3.

  • Deposit

    METAL BULLETIN MONTHLY, 8/92, P.53.

  • Deposit

    METALS WEEK, 10/3/94, P.7.

  • Deposit

    ZAMBIA CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES LTD., NKANA DIVISION, MINING AND METALLURGY, 1990.

  • Deposit

    infomine.com website
    [http://www.portergeo.com.au/database/mineinfo.asp?mineid=mn010 last accessed 7/1/10]

  • Deposit

    ACP Mining Data Bank [Secretariat of the African and Caribbean and Pacific Group of States Group], undated, http://mines.acp.int/html/mine_ZMB-00132_en.html and http://mines.acp.int/html/mine_ZMB-00123_en.html

  • Deposit

    CSMA Consultants Ltd, ACA How International Ltd, and SGS Ghana Ltd, 2001, Competent Person's Report, The assets of First Quantum Minerals Limited in Zambia and Zimbabwe (dated May 2001): Report prepared by CSMA Consultants Ltd, ACA How International Ltd, and SGS Ghana Ltd., for First Quantum Minerals, 203 p. (Available for download at www.sedar.com [First Quantum Minerals, Mining Reports, filed May 31, 2001]).

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit THE LOWER ROAN GROUP IS MINERALIZED CONTINUOUSLY ALONG THE EAST EDGE OF THE NKANA SYNCLINE. HOWEVER, THE MINERALIZATION IS VERY LOW IN AREAS. THESE ARE CALLED "BARREN GAPS" AND SEPARATE THE THREE OREBODIES NKANA NORTH, SOUTH AND MINDOLA, WITH TWO SMALL OPEN PITS(SEE NAMES). THE THERMAL GRADIENT AT THE MINE IS HIGH-1 DEG.C/55M.THIS PRODUCES A TEMPERATURE OF 45 DEG.C IN THE DEEPER PARTS OF THE MINE,THUS REQUIRING REFRIGERATION.
General NCHANGA CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES LTD. OPERATES MINE, CONCENTRATOR, SMELTER, REFINERY, AND COBALT PLANT. REFINERY 1972 OUTPUT WAS 393,759 M.T. COPPER. [Copied from deleted record 10069388= W006892]

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 10-MAR-97 Eastern Field Operations Center (EFOC) U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-JUN-75 Shaffer, Glen L. U.S. Geological Survey
Editor 28-SEP-09 Wilson, Anna B. U.S. Geological Survey Merged data from duplicate record and deleted record 1006388 (W006892). Revised 2-jun-2010.

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

Maps centered on this site