Name: Nkana mine.
Location: Located 1 km south-west of Kitwe, in the centre of the Zambian Copperbelt.
Brief history: The mine has been in operation since 1932. On March 31, 2000, Mopani Copper Mines plc, a joint venture company comprising First Quantum Minerals Ltd (44%) and Glencore International AG (46%) acquired the Nkana Mine.
Brief description: The mine has been in operation since 1932 and has produced about six-million tons of copper.
Products: Copper.
Mining method: Underground.
Reserves (underground): 69-million tons grading 2,26% copper, 0,14% cobalt; 1,6-million tons copper; 98 000 tons cobalt.
Resources (including reserves): 195-million tons grading 2,18% copper, 0,15% cobalt or; 4,3-million tons copper, 300 000 tons cobalt.
Geology: Copper and cobalt mineralisation occur within the ore shale. Copper mineralisation in the deposits changes from mostly chalcopyrite in the South Orebody, to chalcopyrite-bornite in the Central area and to bornite-chalcopyrite at Mindola. Cobalt occurs as carrollite and cobaltiferous pyrite in approximately equal proportions.
Major infrastructure and equipment: The mine produces copper and cobalt from three sources: Mindola Shaft, Central Shaft and South Orebody Shaft. Vertical crater retreat is the predominant mining method while sublevel open-stoping and sublevel caving methods are also used. Other metallurgical facilities, under a management contract by an affiliate of the Anglo American Group, include the Nkana smelter, acid plant and copper refinery.
Future prospects: Not stated.
Controlling company: Glencore International 73,1%; First Quantum 16,9%; ZCCM 10%
Contact: Philip KR Pascall, chairman, CEO & director.
Unique features: None apparent.
Contact details:
Tel: +1 604 688-6577
Fax: +1 604 688-3818
Location: Located 1 km south-west of Kitwe, in the centre of the Zambian Copperbelt.
Brief history: The mine has been in operation since 1932. On March 31, 2000, Mopani Copper Mines plc, a joint venture company comprising First Quantum Minerals Ltd (44%) and Glencore International AG (46%) acquired the Nkana Mine.
Brief description: The mine has been in operation since 1932 and has produced about six-million tons of copper.
Products: Copper.
Mining method: Underground.
Reserves (underground): 69-million tons grading 2,26% copper, 0,14% cobalt; 1,6-million tons copper; 98 000 tons cobalt.
Resources (including reserves): 195-million tons grading 2,18% copper, 0,15% cobalt or; 4,3-million tons copper, 300 000 tons cobalt.
Geology: Copper and cobalt mineralisation occur within the ore shale. Copper mineralisation in the deposits changes from mostly chalcopyrite in the South Orebody, to chalcopyrite-bornite in the Central area and to bornite-chalcopyrite at Mindola. Cobalt occurs as carrollite and cobaltiferous pyrite in approximately equal proportions.
Major infrastructure and equipment: The mine produces copper and cobalt from three sources: Mindola Shaft, Central Shaft and South Orebody Shaft. Vertical crater retreat is the predominant mining method while sublevel open-stoping and sublevel caving methods are also used. Other metallurgical facilities, under a management contract by an affiliate of the Anglo American Group, include the Nkana smelter, acid plant and copper refinery.
Future prospects: Not stated.
Controlling company: Glencore International 73,1%; First Quantum 16,9%; ZCCM 10%
Contact: Philip KR Pascall, chairman, CEO & director.
Unique features: None apparent.
Contact details:
Tel: +1 604 688-6577
Fax: +1 604 688-3818