The Kinsenda deposit is more typical of the Zambian Copperbelt deposits and is geologically similar to the Mufulira, Chambishi and Chibuluma South mines in Zambia. The Kinsenda deposit marks the transition between the two sub-types of the Copperbelt, with deposits to the north of the Luina dome showing a strong dolomitic character with associated HG oxides close to surface.

The Kinsenda ore body is hosted in a thick sequence of coarse to fine-grained sandstones, siltstones and shales of the Lower Roan Group in the footwall of the Ore Shale Member, and is generically referred to as a “footwall orebody”.

Sub parallel horst (highs) and graben (depressions) features in the pre-deposition basement are suggested by rapid variations in the thickness of the basal units of the Lower Roan both along strike and down dip. There is a strong correlation between the position of the Kinsenda deposit and the basement granite paleotopography, very similar to that of the Chibuluma South deposit. The host rocks occur as valley fill sediments in the down-faulted graben structures adjacent to growth faults that were active during sedimentation. The basement growth faults are oriented in a roughly ENE alignment and have a well-defined magnetic signature that can be traced into the basement rocks of the Luina Dome to the north of the Kinsenda deposit.

Kinsenda is a copper-only sulphide orebody consisting of predominantly chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite mineral ........

The mine is a brown-fields project, having been previously operated between 1977 and 2002. At the time it was in a pillar recovery phase in accessible areas, following flooding in 1997.

The Kinsenda orebody dips at 25-30° and varies in width from 2 to 20 m, with the average width being 6 m. Three zones are present, termed UOZ, MOZ and LOZ, which pinch and swell and merge in places. The mine is divided into two distinct areas, the Western Mine and the Eastern Mine, with the eastern portion being regarded as a greenfields project.

Access
Three declines from surface were used previously to access the orebody. The DRA Report states that two of these, the UOZ and LOZ (A), could be rehabilitated to use as access ways. A fourth sub-incline, the LOZ (B), reaches the two deepest levels but is currently flooded and yet to be dewatered. A vertical shaft from surface, equipped with only one cage, serves 209L and 285L.

Sinking of a decline is from surface to 209L of the existing underground infrastructure has recomended. The intention is to use this for ore transport and it will be inclined at 8%, which SRK considers to be sound practice.

Mining Method
Conventional room and pillar was practised previously using labour intensive methods. DRA undertook a mining method selection study, which compared long hole open stoping (previously studied) with longitudinal and transverse drift-and-fill and re-evaluated them based on current more ........

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