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Baluba

Producer in Copperbelt, Zambia with commodities Copper, Cobalt
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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. Geologic structures
  10. Ore body information
  11. Controls for ore emplacement
  12. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  13. Mining district
  14. Ownership information
  15. Production statistics
  16. Reserves and resources
  17. Workings at the site
  18. Links to other databases
  19. Bibliographic references
  20. General comments
  21. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10280210
MRDS ID W006894
MAS/MILS ID 7940050011
Record type Site
Current site name Baluba
Alternate or previous names Baluba Copper-Cobalt Mine
Included sites Luanshya

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: 28.33832, -13.04923 (WGS84)
Location accuracy 100(meters)
Relative position Location of pit from GoogleEarth and unknown Google Map with description by "vanbrussel". NEAR LUANSHYA, ABOUT 8 MILES (13 KM) NORTHWEST.

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Copperbelt(province)

Zambia(country)

Africa(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Zambia Copperbelt

Comments on the location information

  • Location of pit from GoogleEarth and unknown Google Map by "vanbrussel". Point of reference is unknown. "vanbrussel" cites it as "Access to the underground workings at Baluba is by a ramp, shown on the right, and by shafts, which can be seen in the middle distance. The ramp allows large diesel loaders to drive underground from the surface."

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Cobalt Critical Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Ore
Carrollite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Linnaeite Ore
Pyrite Ore

Mineral occurrence model information

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

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) 28.33832, -13.04923
ListMap

Economic information

Geologic structures

Type of structure Local
Structure name Mine is on the south limb of a syncline, known as the "Nkana South Limb"
Type of structure Regional
Structure name See Bancroft Cu-Co Deposit CRIB report for major structures in Zambia.

Ore body information

  • Strike N90E
    Dip 45S
    Thickness 27M
    Length 15000M
    Width 5000M
    Depth to top 400M
    Field Value
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 MASSIVE
    Type of Orebody #2 SEDIMENTARY
    Primary mode of Origin METAMORPHISM
    Secondary mode of Origin SEDIMENTATION
    Primary Ore Control FOLDING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. UNKNOWN
    Strike And Dip N90E:45S
    Minimum Depth to Top 200
    Date of Last Modification 830613

Controls for ore emplacement

  • See Bancroft Cu-Co Deposit Crib Report

Comments on the geologic information

  • Co ORE MINERAL IS CARROLITE
  • Unable to determine what the comment under Regional Geologic structure means: "See Bancroft Cu-Co Deposit Crib report for major structures in Zambia". The oldest version of MRDS was known as CRIB. Most records from that database, unless determined to be duplicates or containing no useful data, should still be in the MRDS database. Perhaps there is a discussion under the Bancroft Cu-Co deposit.

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Underground
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1929
Year of first production 1973

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 Owner
    Owner Public
    Interest 5.5
    Year 1990
  • Type Unknown
    Owner LCM, Plc (Luanshya Copper Mines)
  • Type Joint Venture Operator
    Owner NFCA Mining (a unit of China Nonferrous Metals Co. Ltd)
    Home office China
    Year 2009

Comments on the ownership information

  • RST IS A SUBSIDARY OF AMAX ZAMBIAN COPPER INVESTMENT IS A SUBSIDARY OF ANGLO-AMERICAN.

Production statistics

  • Year 1973
    Material Ore Co Cu
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Secondary Co Cobalt Cobalt 0wt-pct
    Primary Cu Copper Copper 3wt-pct
  • Year 1974
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 1420000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 1420000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1975
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 1280000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 1280000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1976
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 1430000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 1430000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1977
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 1634000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 1634000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1978
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 1683000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 1683000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1979
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 1341000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 1341000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1980
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 1691000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 1691000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1981
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 1775000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 1775000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1982
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 2239000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 2239000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1983
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 2356000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 2356000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1984
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 2398000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 2398000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1985
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 2450000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 2450000 Metric Tonnes
  • Year 1986
    Material Ore
    Ore mined 2500000mt
    Description Ore Mined Annually 2500000 Metric Tonnes

Comments on the production information

  • ACTUAL Co PRECIPITATE GRADE IS 13.6.

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Name Baluba portion of Luanshya Project
    Estimate year 2010
    Total endowment 52062270mt ore
    Remarks Baluba is a portion of the Luanshya Project. Along with Muiashi and Luanshya it forms a "giant" deposit.
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Cobalt 0.156 wt-pct Cobalt Secondary 2010
    Copper 2.44 wt-pct Copper Primary 2010
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Indicated 44336000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Cobalt Co 0.17 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1988
    Copper Cu 2.49 wt-pct Copper Major 1988
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Demonstrated 40760000mt ore
    Total resources 40760000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Cobalt Co 0.15 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1992
    Copper Cu 2.43 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Demonstrated 13000000mt ore
    Total resources 13000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Cobalt Co 0.11 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1992
    Copper Cu 2.2 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Total resources 14000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 2.4 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Total resources 67760000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Cobalt Co 0.11 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1992
    Copper Cu 2.38 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Demonstrated 53760000mt ore
    Total resources 53760000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Cobalt Co 0.14 wt-pct Cobalt Minor 1992
    Copper Cu 2.37 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1974
    Total resources 65000000000mt ore
    Remarks Number seems grossly inflated.
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Cobalt Co 0.16 wt-pct Cobalt Secondary 1974
    Copper Cu 2.66 wt-pct Copper Primary 1974

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • ZCCM, 1991 ANNUAL REPORT, P.42,44. ORE RESERVES: 40,310,000 MT @ 2.52% Cu, .18% Co MINERAL RESOURCE: 27,000,000 MT @ 2.3 % Cu, .05% Co TOTAL DEMO RES.: 67,310,000 MT @ 2.43% CU, .13% Co
  • M1C1=M9C4. TOTAL RESERVES AS OF 12/31/86; USED IN 1987 EVALUATION.
  • Total Endowment 52,062,270 tons ore @ 2.44% = 1,270,319 tons Cu metal:

    calculated from:
    Production to 4/1985 20,900,000 tons @ 2.41% Cu and 0.15% Co = 501,600 tons Cu metal
    Production 1993 1,226,891 tons @ 2.38% Cu and 0.126% Co = 29,000 tons Cu metal
    Production 1994 2,068,908 tons @ 2.38% Cu and 0.05% Co = 49,240 tons Cu metal
    Production 1996 1,076,471 tons @ 2.38% Cu and 0.12% Co = 25,620 tons Cu metal
    Reserves as of 1999 26,790,000 @ 2.48% Cu and 0.17% Co = 664,000 tons Cu metal



Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 25000M
    Overall depth 250M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ESTIMATE
    Mining Method SUBLEVEL 10-43
    Percent Waste Rock 38
    Percent Recovery 95
    Number of Shafts 2
    Length of Inclines (m) 1000
    Slope of Inclines 8
    Number of Inclines 1
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 8830
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1986
  • Type of workings Underground
    Length 28000M
    Overall depth 415M
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method SUBLEVEL 10-43
    Percent Waste Rock 38
    Percent Recovery 95
    Number of Shafts 2
    Length of Inclines (m) 2500
    Slope of Inclines 8
    Number of Inclines 1
    1st Condition of Workings OPEN
    Capacity 11430
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1986

Comments on other economic factors

  • THE COBALT HYDROXIDE CONCENTRATE IS SHIPPED TO CHAMBISHI FOR RECOVERY. SMELTER IS AT LUANSHYA;REFINING IS AT NDOLA,28 KM NORTH OF LUANSHYA MILL(NO TRANSPORT RECORD AS SMELT/REF. COSTS TREATED AS CUSTOM CHARGE

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    MABSON, L. R., THE DEVELOPMENT OF BALUBA. MINING MAGAZINE, NOVEMBER 1976, P412-423.

  • Deposit

    MENDELSOHN, F. (ED) THE GEOLOGY OF THE NORTHERN RHODESIAN COPPERBELT. MCDONALD AND CO., LONDON, 1961, P343-351.

  • Deposit

    VINK, B. W., SULPHIDE MINERAL ZONING IN THE BALUBA ORE BODY, ZAMBIA. GEOLOGIE EN MIJNBOUW V51, 1972, P 309-313.

  • Deposit

    STAFF WORLD MINING, DEVELOPE BALUBA UNDERGROUND MINE. WORLD MINING, JULY 1976, P52-55.

  • Deposit

    STAFF WORLD MINING, RCM $110,000,000 EXPANSION PROGRAM. WORLD MINING,NOVEMBER 1972, P52-53.

  • Production

    TER BRUGGEN, J. W., INTRODUCTION INTO MINING AND METALLURGY ON THE ZAMBIAN COPPERBELT. GEOLOGIE EN MIJNBOUW, V51, 1972, P361-370.

  • Deposit

    RCM ANNUAL REPORT 1976.

  • Reserve-Resource

    RCM ANNUAL REPORT, 1977.

  • Reserve-Resource

    ZAMBIA CONSOLIDATED COPPER MINES LTD., 1988 ANNUAL REPORT, P. 42.

  • Reserve-Resource

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

  • Reserve-Resource

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

  • Deposit

    ANDREWS, R.W., 1962, COBALT: OVERSEAS GEOLOGICAL SURVEYS, MINERAL RESOURCES DIVISION, LONDON, HER MAJESTY'S STATIONERY OFFICE, P. 71-. [copied from refs. in old MRDS W006894]

  • Deposit

    SKINNER, WALTER R., 1973, MINING INTERNATIONAL YEARBOOK, LONDON, THE FINANCIAL TIMES LIMITED, P. 501. [copied from refs. in old MRDS W006894]

  • Deposit

    BILBREY, JOSEPH H., 1962, COBALT, A MATERIALS SURVEY: U.S. BUR. OF MINES, P. 25 AND 26. [copied from refs. in old MRDS W006894]

  • Deposit

    METALS WEEK-METALS SOURCEBOOK, 12/10/73, ITEM #A5239. [copied from refs. in old MRDS W006894]

  • 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

    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

    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

    Lungu, C.V., 1998, Zambian mining in transition: Mining Magazine, Sept. 1998, p. 116-117, 119-121, 123, 129. (info provided is from p. 117)

  • Deposit

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

  • Development

    portergeo.com.au website. Roan Antelope, Muliashi, Baluba
    [http://www.portergeo.com.au/database/mineinfo.asp?mineid=mn351 last accessed 7/1/10]

  • Deposit

    Kirkham, Rodney, and Broughton, David, 2005, Appendix, Supplement to the sediment-hosted stratiform copper ore system, Economic Geology 100th anniversary volume, 1905-2005, Society of Economic Geologists, Littleton, CO, United States, pp. 609-642.

  • 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-00113_en.html

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit 1927 DIREXPL REVEALED EXTENSIVE ORE-BODIE [copied from refs. in old MRDS W006894]
General ABWilson combined info from old MRDS W006894 (newMRDS 10069390) and deleted that record.
Deposit Baluba is probably part of the larger Luanshya Deposit.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 10-MAR-97 Porter, Kenneth E. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Reporter 01-JUN-75 Shaffer, Glenn L. U.S. Geological Survey
Editor 04-JUN-10 Wilson, Anna B. U.S. Geological Survey

Beyond USGS

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

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