NKANA COPPER-COBALT DEPOSIT


The Nkana mine in Zambia is located at long. 29º09'E, lat. 12º49'12"S in the Lower Roan Group Ore Formation on the SW margin of the Kafue Anticline. The Lower Roan Footwall Formation is dominated by clastics and includes interbedded argillites and locally abundant anhydrite. The Orebody Member of black carbonaceous shale-to-mudstone with lesser dolomite veins and sulphides is 5-20 m thick and capped by the Hangingwall Argillite, itself a succession of alternating quartzites, argillite and dolomitic argillite. Ore consists primarily of chalcopyrite and bornite with only minor chalcocite. Extensive zones contain associated pyrite and little bornite. Orebodies are folded into a steep asymmetrical syncline. A complex series of en echelon drag folds and decollement faults results from accommodation between lithologies of varying competency. Proven+probable reserve in 1999 were estimated to be 117 mt @ 2.3% Cu, 0.11% Co.

Location:Nkana, Zambia
Annotation: Mindola North open-pit, looking south, showing hanging-wall stratigraphy dipping west from Kafue Anticline.
Source:Alan Goode, AMIRA P554 sponsors field trip
Date:July 2003
File size:56.32 Kb
Location:Nkana, Zambia
Annotation: Lower Roan stratigraphic section of Kitwe Formation above ore shale, Mindola North open-pit, looking west (Rokana Evaporite with Nkana Quartzite at top forms steep pit wall, with Chambishi Dolomite and "Shale with Grit" forming the light coloured eroded units at the top of the section).
Source:Alan Goode, AMIRA P554 sponsors field trip
Date:July 2003
File size:42.69 Kb
Location:Nkana, Zambia
Annotation: "Ore Shale" (Copperbelt Orebody Member of the Kitwe Formation), Mindola North - weathered dolomitic siltstone about 5m thick and grading about 12% Cu.
Source:Alan Goode, AMIRA P554 sponsors field trip
Date:July 2003
File size:91.61 Kb
Location:Nkana, Zambia
Annotation: "Ore Shale" composed of secondary copper minerals and manganese oxides, Mindola North (disseminated chalcopyrite-bornite at depth).
Source:Alan Goode, AMIRA P554 sponsors field trip
Date:July 2003
File size:93.72 Kb
Location:Nkana, Zambia
Annotation: Close-up of secondary copper and manganese minerals in "Ore Shale", Mindola North.
Source:Alan Goode, AMIRA P554 sponsors field trip
Date:July 2003
File size:106.22 Kb
Location:Nkana, Zambia
Annotation: Secondary copper coating on joint plane cutting brown weathered dolomitic shale immediately above "Ore Shale", Mindola North.
Source:Alan Goode, AMIRA P554 sponsors field trip
Date:July 2003
File size:93.53 Kb
Location:Nkana, Zambia
Annotation: Rokana Evaporite Member of Kitwe Formation in hanging wall above "Ore Shale" (looking SE in Mindola North pit).
Source:Alan Goode, AMIRA P554 sponsors field trip
Date:July 2003
File size:73.78 Kb
Location:Nkana, Zambia
Annotation: Close-up of "cauliflower chert" horizon (silicified anhydrite nodules) in Rokana Evaporite Member, Mindola North.
Source:Alan Goode, AMIRA P554 sponsors field trip
Date:July 2003
File size:90.27 Kb
Location:Nkana, Zambia
Annotation:Chambishi Dolomite Member of Kitwe Formation, Mindola North pit
Source:Alan Goode, AMIRA P554 sponsors field trip
Date:July 2003
File size:54.50 Kb

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