The Central African Copperbelt (CAC), spanning parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia, remains a primary focus for exploration driven by global demand for copper and cobalt, says geological consultant Dr Nicolaas Steenkamp.

He says the region’s stratiform copper-cobalt deposits, which are hosted within Neoproterozoic metasedimentary sequences and represent some of the world's largest and highest-grade occurrences, are currently attracting exploration attention, owing to the commodities’ importance to the global energy transition and development of battery technologies.

Steenkamp also cites emerging interest in regions with potential for rare earth elements (REEs) and other battery metals, with the metals often associated with carbonatite complexes and alkaline intrusions.

"The East African Orogen, with its complex collage of Neoproterozoic terranes, holds potential for a variety of commodities, including gold, base metals and critical minerals, yet remains largely underexplored outside of specific belts," he says.

Similarly, parts of the Tanzanian Craton and its margins, while known for gold, may host undiscovered potential for other deposit types, he adds.

Steenkamp says the market often focuses on established trends, overlooking areas where geological understanding is still evolving or where perceived political and logistical hurdles overshadow genuine prospectivity, but argues that “a deeper, more nuanced geological assessment, coupled with improved investment climates, could unlock significant value in these overlooked terrains”.

He says genuine development potential hinges on a confluence of factors beyond the mineralisation. It requires scale and grade sufficient to withstand market fluctuations, metallurgical amenability to ensure economic extraction and a favourable operating environment, including stable regulatory frameworks, access to power, water and transport infrastructure, a skilled workforce and a supportive community.

“Without these, even a world-class geological endowment can languish, as we often see with projects stuck in perpetual study phases owing to funding gaps or perceived risks.”

Discovery Potential

Steenkamp states that new-generation exploration technologies have significantly refined geological targeting, moving beyond an in-field-only approach.

“Advances in remote sensing, high-resolution geophysics and sophisticated geochemical sampling techniques allow for more efficient and precise identification of prospective areas, especially under cover.”

Additionally, data integration and three-dimensional (3D) modelling software enable geologists to build more accurate subsurface interpretations, reducing drilling costs and improving success rates, he notes. These technologies help derisk early-stage exploration by providing a clearer picture of the geological structure and potential mineralisation before capital is deployed.

Geological settings are foundational, dictating both the type and tenor of mineralisation as well as impacting on every subsequent stage. Other factors that could impact include remote and rugged terrains, which necessitate extensive infrastructure planning, resulting in substantial capital expenditure, he notes.

A “dangerous pitfall” to avoid, Steenkamp highlights, is that of  avoiding overreliance on isolated high-grade assay results or narrow drilling intersections without understanding the broader geological framework.

He emphasises that geological interpretation should be integrated with environmental and geotechnical planning from the outset.

“Understanding rock mass characteristics, hydrogeology and potential for acid mine drainage – all rooted in geology – directly informs pit slope design, waste rock management, tailings storage facility siting and water management strategies.”

An example he provides is the Arabian-Nubian Shield which is highly prospective owing to its arc-related volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits, orogenic gold and porphyry-style mineralisation. However, he also points to significant exploration challenges, including extensive sand cover in many areas, which obscures bedrock geology.

Further, other factors such as weathering profiles, cover sequences and supergene processes present considerable challenges to exploration and geological interpretation.

“Without a robust geological model that integrates structural geology, alteration patterns, lithological controls and mineralisation styles, one risks misinterpreting the true scale and continuity of a deposit.”

This can lead to over-optimistic resource estimations and ultimately, project failure. “The context provides the 'why' and 'how' of mineralisation, guiding intelligent follow-up and preventing costly mistakes.”

Steenkamp stresses that supergene enrichment processes can create high-grade zones near the surface, often leading to an overestimation of the primary hypogene resource.

Accurate interpretation demands a thorough understanding of these surficial processes to differentiate true primary targets from secondary enrichments or false anomalies, which, in turn, requires careful integration of geochemistry, geophysics, and drilling data.

“This comprehensive analysis is particularly critical in regions like the CAC, where supergene processes play a significant role in ore genesis,” he concludes.