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Kipushi

Producer in Katanga, Congo (Kinshasa) with commodities Copper, Zinc, Silver, Cadmium, Germanium, Cobalt, Gallium, Molybdenum, Rhenium
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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. Nearby scientific data
  9. Ore body information
  10. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  11. Mining district
  12. Mineral rights holdings
  13. Ownership information
  14. Production statistics
  15. Workings at the site
  16. Links to other databases
  17. Bibliographic references
  18. General comments
  19. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10134596
MRDS ID W029742
MAS/MILS ID 7660400006
Record type Site
Current site name Kipushi
Alternate or previous names Prince Leopold Mine (until 1962)

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: 27.23464, -11.76416 (WGS84)
Location accuracy 1000(meters)
Relative position ABOUT 25 KM SOUTH-WEST FROM LUBUMBASHI

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Katanga(province)

Congo (Kinshasa)(country)

Geographic areas

Country State
Congo (Kinshasa) Katanga

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Zinc Critical Primary
Silver Secondary
Cadmium Secondary
Germanium Critical Secondary
Cobalt Critical Tertiary
Gallium Critical Tertiary
Molybdenum Tertiary
Rhenium Tertiary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Carrollite Ore
Molybdenite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Arsenopyrite Unknown
Calamine Unknown
Cerussite Unknown
Chalcopyrite Unknown
Cobaltite Unknown
Covellite Unknown
Cuprite Unknown
Galena Unknown
Goethite Unknown
Hematite Unknown
Linnaeite Unknown
Malachite Unknown
Smithsonite Unknown
Sphalerite Unknown
Tennantite Unknown
Turgite Unknown
Vanadinite Unknown

Analytical data

Result 5% CU, 11% ZN, 200 PPM AG, 1000 PPM RE

Comments on the analytical data

  • From deleted record 10008523

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 233
USGS model code 32c
Deposit model name Kipushi Cu-Pb-Zn (BC name is Carbonate-hosted Cu)
Mark3 model number none

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) 27.23464, -11.76416
ListMap

Economic information

Ore body information

  • Thickness 35M
    Length 800M
    Width 50M
    Depth to top 1200M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 REPLACEMENT
    Shape of Orebody #1 OTHER
    Type of Orebody #2 SHEAR ZONE
    Primary mode of Origin CONT METASOMATIC
    Primary Ore Control FAULTING
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 PYRITIZATION
    Date of Last Modification 830627

Comments on the geologic information

  • MINERALIZATION AT KIPUSHI IS IRREGULAR; ORE BODY IS PREDOMINANTLY COPPER ORE IN THE UPPER LEVELS AND ZINC ORE IN THE LOWER LEVELS.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Both
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1899
Mining method Combined Methods
Year of first production 1925
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Shaba

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Unknown

Ownership information

  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner La Generale Des Carrieres Et Mines Du Zaire (State Owned) (Gecamines)
    Interest 100
    Home office Zaire
    Year 1989
  • Type Unknown
    Owner American Mineral Fields Inc.
    Year 1996
    First year 1996

Production statistics

  • Year 1980
    Description Copper And Zinc Output; Conc. Out 26% Cu And 56% Zn, 205 G/Mt Of Silver; Ore Input Was 3.7% Cu, 12% Zn 1450000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 26wt-pct
    Major Zinc Zinc 56wt-pct
    Trace Silver Silver 205g/mt
  • Year 1995
    Description Zinc In Concentrate 5000 Mt
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Conc. Zinc Zinc 5000mt

Comments on the production information

  • A THIRD PRODUCT - COPPER/GERMANIUM CONCENTRATE IS PRODUCED

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • PAH, COPPER STUDY, 6/89, P4.18.35. (12/31/86)

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method COMBINED METHODS
    Percent Recovery 100
    Hardness of Rock UNKNOWN
    Rock Characteristics MULTIPLE SYSTEMS OF WEAKNESS PLANES
    Rock Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    Mine Support Chars. UNKNOWN
    Number of Shafts 5
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 4500
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 345
    Year of Information 1989

Comments on other economic factors

  • THE MINE IS DIVIDED INTO MAIN PRODUCTION UNITS; 50% OF PRODUCTION COMES FROM THE NORTH UNIT, 40% FROM THE SOUTH AND 10% FROM SUBLEVEL STOPES.

Reference information

Bibliographic references

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit AMERICAN MINERAL FIELDS INC.-PROCEEDING W/ GECAMINES IN 7/96 TO STUDY REHABILITATION OF KIPUSHI ZN/CU COMPLEX. TALKING ABOUT TAILINGS AND EXPANDED MINE FEED TO KOLWEZI INTERMITTENTLY (ESSENTIALLY ON DEMAND). STRIKE AND DIP: N00E:50W.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 13-SEP-96 Difrancesco, Carl A. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-JAN-78 Saam, Henning g. U.S. Geological Survey deleted record W029742=10107363
Updater 01-DEC-87 Orris, Greta J. U.S. Geological Survey deleted record W029742=10107363
Editor 28-APR-10 Wilson, Anna B. U.S. Geological Survey merged and deleted duplicate recordsW029742=10107363 and D000751 = 10008523.
Updater 01-OCT-74 King, Robert U. U.S. Geological Survey deleted D000751 = 10008523

Beyond USGS

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

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