The copper-cobalt minerals hosted in rocks of the Neoproterozoic Katangan Basin in the Central African copper belt metallogenic province of the DRC are a classic example of (low energy) sediment-hosted stratiform copper (SSC) ore system deposits. These deposits are economically significant, as they account for approximately 23% of the world’s copper production and known Mineral Reserves being second only to porphyry copper deposits in terms of copper production and the most important global cobalt resource.

The mineralized zones are at the western end of the Katangan copper belt.

These deposits are hosted mainly by metasedimentary rocks of the late Proterozoic Katangan system, a 7km thick succession of sediments with minor volcanics, volcanoclastics and intrusive rocks.

Primary mineralisation, in the form of sulphides, within the Lower Roan is associated with the Dolomies Stratified (DSTRAT) and Roches Siliceuses Feuilletées Foliated (Laminated) and Silicified Rocks (RFS) for the Ore-body Inferior (OBI) and the Schistes De Base or Basal Schists and Shales Dolomitiques Superieurs (SDB) or Upper Dolomitic Shales for the Ore-body Superior (OBS) and is thought to be syn-sedimentary in origin. Typical primary copper sulphide minerals are bornite, chalcopyrite, chalcocite and occasional native copper while cobalt is in the form of carrolite. The mineralization occurs as disseminations or in association with hydrothermal carbonate alteration and silicification.

These deposits are hosted mainly by metasedimentary rocks of the Late Proterozoic Katangan System, a 7km thick succession of sediments with minor volcanics, volcanoclastics and intrusives. Geochronological data indicate an age of deposition of the Katangan sediments of ~880 Ma and deformation during the Katangan Orogeny at <650 Ma. This deformation led to the formation of the northwest-southeast trending Lufilian Arc, which extends from Namibia on the west coast of Africa through to Zambia, lying to the south of the DRC. Within the DRC, the zone extends for more than 300 km from Kolwezi in the northwest to Lubumbashi in the southeast.

Stratigraphically, the rich copper and cobalt deposits found in Zambia and the DRC occur localised in the Roan Supergroup (Roan). The Roan occurs at the base of the Katanga succession, overlying the basement rock of Kibaran age (Mid-Proterozic). The Roan is separated from the overlying rocks of the Kundelungu and the Nguba Groups by a conglomerate, the Grand Conglomerat. The Nguba is composed of sandstones and shales with a basal conglomerate while the Kundelungu consists essentially of sediments and is separated from the Nguba by a conglomerate, the Petit Conglomerat.

Within the Lufilian Arc are large scale east west to northwest-southeast trending folds with wavelengths extending for kilometres. The folds are faulted along the crests of the anticlines through which rocks of the Roan Group have been diapirically injected into the fault zones, squeezed up fault planes and over thrust to lie above rocks of the younger Kundelungu. The overthrusted Roan lithologies occur as segments or fragments on surface which are intact units preserving the original geological succession within each of the fragments. A fragment could be of hundreds of metres aligned across the fault plane.

KOV OP comprises the five orebodies namely, Kamoto-East, Oliveira and Virgule (hence the name KOV), Variante and FNSR.

KOV OP is an existing, large-scale operation. Mining related modifying factors applied to the KOV OP mine plan include a cut-off grade of 0.65% TCu and mining dilution of 8%. KOV OP is scheduled up to the year 2030 in Mineral Reserve LOM plan at a strip ratio of ten and three quarters on a tonne on tonne basis. Ore production is primarily oxide and mixed material with only 8% sulphide ore. The Probable Mineral Reserve estimate of 55.9 Mt at 4.23%TCu is based on the Mineral Reserve LOM plan up to 2030.

KTC currently comprises the following operations. Ore crushing and milling
- Oxide ore crushing and milling section treating mixed ore; and
- Sulphide ore crushing and milling section treating sulphide ore Flotation
- Oxide ore flotation treating mixed ore; and
- Sulphide ore flotation treating sulphide ore Concentrate handling The Luilu Plant currently comprises the following operations:
- Concentrate Receiving;
- Roasting;
- Leaching;
- Copper circuit;
- Cobalt circuit;
- Solvent extraction;

Mixed ore from the KOV OP is transported by truck and stockpiled near the oxide crushing area. It is blended before being crushed by jaw crushers and conveyed to stockpiles in the milling section.

Milled mixed ore is processed in the flotation circuit to produce a final sulphide concentrate, a final oxide concentrate, and a tailings stream. This is achieved by first treating the milled mixed ore in a roughing stage and a cl ........