• Data Access
  • Your Email  
  • Your Email  
Keep me signed in.
Forgot your password?
Close
  • Forgot Your Password?
  • Enter the email you signed up with and we'll email it to you.
  • Your Email  
Close
Back
MDO
Mining Data Solutions
  • Home
  • Database
  • Subscribe
  • Sign In
  • Sign In
DRC
Ruashi Mine

This page is not tailored to
devices with screen width under 750 px.
 Location:
0 km E from Lubumbashi, DRC

  Address:
Ruashi Mine Site, Luano
Lubumbashi
DRC
Phone  ...  Subscription required
WebsiteWeb
Additional Resources for Suppliers & Investors
Drill results over 30 g/t Au
Stay on top of recent discoveries.
Search drill results by commodity and grade.
Largest mines in the Americas
Mining and mill throughput capaciites.
Full profiles of select mines and projects.
Deepest underground mines
Shaft depth and mill throughput data.
Full profiles of select mines and projects.
Heavy mobile equipment
HME type, model, size and quantity.
Full profiles of select mines and projects.
Permitting and construction projects
Projects at the permitting or construction stage. Full profiles of select projects.
Mines with remote camps
Camp size, mine location and contacts.
Full profiles of select mines and projects.
Mines & projects in DRC
A list of country's mines and projects.
Full profiles of select mines and projects.
  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
  • Processing
  • Production
  • Reserves
  • Financials
  • Fleet
  • Personnel
  • Filings & News

Thank you for browsing through mine profiles compiled by the Mining Data Online team.

Would you like to subcribe or schedule a Demo?
  • Name:
     
  • Company:
     
  • Position:
     
  • Phone:
  • Email:
  • Message:

Overview

StageProduction
Mine TypeOpen Pit
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Cobalt
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Processing
  • Sulfuric acid (reagent)
  • Filter press plant
  • Counter current decantation (CCD)
  • Acid tank leaching
  • Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
Mine Life8 years (as of Jan 1, 2020)


Owners

Source: p. 16, 252, 266, 267
CompanyInterestOwnership
Gécamines S.A 25 % Indirect
Jinchuan Group International Resources Co. Ltd. 75 % Indirect
Ruashi Mining SAS (operator) 100 % Direct
Jinchuan Group International Resources (“Jinchuan International”) is a majority-owned subsidiary of Jinchuan Group and flagship platform for overseas resources development.

Via its subsidiary – Metorex, Jinchuan International owns 75% interest in Ruashi Mining SAS which owns the Ruashi Mine. The remaining 25% interest in Ruashi Mining SAS is held by Gécamines S.A.(La Générale des Carrières et des Mines)

Deposit Type

  • Sediment-hosted


Summary:

The Ruashi ore body is a stratiform, sediment-hosted copper deposit (“SSC”) located in the Central African Copper belt. The Copper belt forms one of the world’s greatest metallogenic provinces containing over a third of the world’s cobalt reserves and a tenth of the world’s copper reserves. The Central African Copper belt is second only to the Chilean Porphyry belt in terms of copper endowment but lags significantly in terms of production.

The Ruashi copper-cobalt ore bodies are situated within a 24 km long by 2 km wide, northwest to southeast trending fold structure. The Lukuni-Ruashi Etoile trend consists of a recumbent, synclinal fold, Ruashi on the southern limb and Etoille on the northern limb. The flanks are made up of Roan rocks and the core by the Mines Group, all occurring to the southwest of a prominent regional northwest to southeast trending thrust fault. A local thrust fault dipping to the south, locates within the RAT formation immediately south of the Ruashi ore bodies. A listric fault-breccia pattern separates the ore bodies from one another.

Three ore bodies have been identified at the Ruashi Mine, namely Ruashi I, Ruashi II and Ruashi III.

Ruashi I, the largest of the three, is located in the northwest of the mining area. The lateral extent of Ruashi I measures approximately 900 m in a northwest to southeast direction and 350 m across strike. In cross-section, the oxide zone extends to approximately 130 m below surface, whilst sulphide mineralisation has been intersected to depths of more than 300 m below surface. The Ruashi I ore body terminates against a brecciated shear zone on the north-western and south-eastern edges of the pit.

Ruashi II is a smaller fragment, extending along strike for approximately 200 m and 250 m across strike. It terminates against listric shear zones to the north-west and south-east. Currently, a flat lying thrust fault terminates the ore body in depth. Exploration is planned to confirm the lack of, or existence of a mineralised ore body below the thrust fault. A large gap of approximately 200 m of brecciated Lower Kundelungu strata separates Ruashi II from Ruashi I.

Ruashi III occurs at the south-easterly end and has a strike length of approximately 650 m and a cross strike width of 200 m. Unlike Ruashi I and II, the copper orebody is buried by 30 m to 80 m of cover rocks. A HG cobalt zone or “cap” with low grade copper starts at a depth of approximately 12 m below surface in the west. Ruashi III is structurally controlled within a complex fold structure. The oxide zone extends to a depth of 300 m in the east. Drilling during the latter part of 2010 exposed malachite mineralization some 200 m beyond the previous eastern limits of the ore-body, down to depths of 300 m. Artisanal mining on Ruashi III has not been as extensive as at Ruashi I and II, and was restricted to the upper near surface cobalt zone 10 to 20 m below surface.

Oxide copper minerals at Ruashi include malachite, chrysocolla, native copper, cuprite, cornetite and azurite. Other oxide minerals include magnetite and specularite. The dominant cobalt mineral in the oxide zone is heterogenite. Trace quantities of oxidised uranium minerals have been observed but are very uncommon.

Chalcopyrite and diginite dominate the copper minerals in the sulphide zone (up to 96%). Bornite is found in minor quantities. Cobalt sulphides in the form of linnaeite and carrollite are irregularly distributed in intimate mixtures with the copper sulphides, with sporadic abnormal concentrations. Extremely high quantities of cobalt may occur in veins dominated by cobalto-calcite. Disseminated pyrite is found in all the formations and occurs as small amorphous masses in the grey RAT (Roches Argileuses Talceuse).

Abundant pyrite mineralization occurs in the graphitic shales of the SDS zone. Chalcocite together with malachite occurs below the water table in the transition zone as replacement rims on primary bornite and chalcopyrite sulphides. Cobalt sulphides generally decrease with depth beyond the transition zone.


Mining Methods

  • Truck & Shovel / Loader


Summary:

Ruashi Mine is an open cast mining operation and the deposit is mined by conventional open-pit mining methods using truck and excavator combinations.

Ruashi I is largely mined out up to a depth of approximately 52 m below surface (1 240 amsl). The design extends another 28 m down to the 1 205 level. However, a southern pushback is planned to access additional ore at depth. The pit is accessed by a ramp from the north, with the north-western and south-eastern parts being serviced by ramps branching off from the existing northern ramp.

Ruashi II is the smallest of the three ore bodies. The design extends up a depth of 90 m below surface (1 195 amsl). The pit has a diameter of roughly 400 m on surface. A single ramp provides access to all the levels in both Pit II and Pit III. The current pit floor is 41 m below surface.

Ruashi II is the smallest of the three ore bodies. The design extends up a depth of 90 m below surface (1 195 amsl). The pit has a diameter of roughly 400 m on surface. A single ramp provides access to all the levels in both Pit II and Pit III. The current pit floor is 41 m below surface.

Ruashi III is the largest ore body with the highest overburden stripping requirement. The pit floor of phase I stripping is now at 25 m below surface and the BOMZ horizon containing HG cobalt ore is exposed in the northern portion of the pit. The pit has a designed depth of 190 m with the lowest bench on the 1 095 m elevation and is accessed by a dual ramp system. However, the poor geotechnical qualities of the weathered RAT unit on the southern pit walls preclude the presence of permanent ramps. The ramp configuration is largely a function of the separate mining stages on the southern and northern side of the pit.

The mining equipment is owned and maintained by MCK, the mining contractor. The majority of material can be loaded without drilling and blasting. Loading is carried out by diesel powered hydraulic excavators. Waste and ore is hauled by 40 t ADTs.


Crushing and Grinding
Flow Sheet: Source
Crusher / Mill TypeModelSizePowerQuantity
Jaw crusher 1
SAG mill 1.2 MW 1
Ball mill 250 kW 5

Summary:

Reduction Plant (Crushing and Milling)
The primary crusher consists of a ramp for tipping of RoM ores, vibrating grizzly, a feed-bin, a jaw crusher and feeders for discharging material. Material from the primary crusher is discharged onto a stockpile. It is removed from the stockpile via 4 apron feeders and 2 conveyors located in a tunnel which then feeds the mill feed belt conveyor. The standby crushing plant which primarily serves as a back-up function, discharges directly to the mill feed belt conveyor.

The mill feed belt conveyor delivers the crushed ore to the Semi Autogeneous Grind (“SAG”) mill. Water is added to the mill. The milled ore then gravitates to the mill discharge sump. From the sump the mix is pumped to a bank of four cyclones (of which one is currently a stand by unit). The cyclone overflow from the mill circuit reports to the Pre-Leach-Thickener.

The power rating of the SAG mill is 1.2 MW and the 5 secondary ball mills each has a rating of 250 kW. Only three of these mills are in operation at any time with two mills as spare. The milling circuit capacity is 220 tph. The average grind is reported to be 65% -75 µm.


Processing

  • Sulfuric acid (reagent)
  • Filter press plant
  • Counter current decantation (CCD)
  • Acid tank leaching
  • Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning

Flow Sheet: Subscription required

Summary:

Ruashi Mining commenced stockpile mining operations in June 2005 for processing through the Ruashi Phase I oxide flotation concentrator plant. Phase I involved the construction of a concentrator plant to treat the oxide stockpiles that were left untreated by Union Minière and Gécamines with the concentrate being transported to the SX-EW facility owned by Sable Zinc in Zambia where copper cathode and cobalt carbonate were produced. Phase II of the project commenced in March 2007 and involved the development of the Ruashi Mine opencast orebody and the construction of an expanded crushing and milling section, the new acid leaching section and SX-EW plant for the production of copper cathode and cobalt hydroxide on site from ore mined from the Ruashi Mine orebody. Open-pit mining operations at the Ruashi Mine commenced in October 2007. Stockpile reserves were depleted and the Phase I concentrator plant was placed on care and maintenance in March 2009. All copper and cobalt have been produc ........

Recoveries & Grades:

CommodityParameter2020201920182017
Copper Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required80.784.7
Copper Head Grade, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required2.642.91
Cobalt Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Cobalt Head Grade, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required

Production:

CommodityProductUnits2020201920182017201620152014
Copper Cathode t  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required24,10831,54632,12935,05637,170
Cobalt Hydroxide t  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Operational Metrics:

Metrics20202019
Tonnes processed  ......  Subscription required1,418,188 t
Annual milling capacity  ......  Subscription required
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Reserves at December 31, 2020:
Underground Resources are given outside of ultimate pit shell – potentially exploitable from underground.

CategoryOreTypeTonnage CommodityGradeContained Metal
Proven Oxide & Mixed 0.1 Mt Copper 6.1 % 6 kt
Proven Oxide & Mixed 0.1 Mt Cobalt 0.4 %
Probable Stockpiles 5.5 Mt Copper 1.2 % 65 kt
Probable Oxide & Mixed 6.1 Mt Copper 2.8 % 171 kt
Probable Stockpiles 5.5 Mt Cobalt 0.2 % 14 kt
Probable Oxide & Mixed 6.1 Mt Cobalt 0.2 % 12 kt
Proven & Probable Oxide & Mixed 6.2 Mt Copper 2.9 % 178 kt
Proven & Probable Oxide & Mixed 6.2 Mt Cobalt 0.2 % 13 kt
Measured Oxide & Mixed 0.1 Mt Copper 6.1 % 6 kt
Measured Oxide & Mixed 0.1 Mt Cobalt 0.4 %
Indicated Stockpiles 5.5 Mt Copper 1.2 % 65 kt
Indicated In-Situ (UG) 9.5 Mt Copper 2.15 % 204 kt
Indicated Sulphide 1.5 Mt Copper 2.8 % 43 kt
Indicated Oxide & Mixed 10.2 Mt Copper 2.1 % 214 kt
Indicated Stockpiles 5.5 Mt Cobalt 0.2 % 14 kt
Indicated In-Situ (UG) 9.5 Mt Cobalt 0.3 % 28 kt
Indicated Sulphide 1.5 Mt Cobalt 0.3 % 4 kt
Indicated Oxide & Mixed 10.2 Mt Cobalt 0.2 % 17 kt
Inferred In-Situ (UG) 4.7 Mt Copper 1.6 % 75 kt
Inferred Sulphide 0.4 Mt Copper 2.7 % 11 kt
Inferred Oxide & Mixed 0.9 Mt Copper 2.2 % 19 kt
Inferred In-Situ (UG) 4.7 Mt Cobalt 0.38 % 18 kt
Inferred Sulphide 0.4 Mt Cobalt 0.3 % 1 kt
Inferred Oxide & Mixed 0.9 Mt Cobalt 0.2 % 2 kt

Financials:

Units202020192018201720162015
Capital expenditures M USD  ......  Subscription required 1.1   2.2  
Revenue M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required371.8   378.9   210.3   262.1  
Subscription required - Subscription is required


Heavy Mobile Equipment as of August 30, 2013:
HME TypeSizeQuantityLeased or
Contractor
Dozer (crawler) ....................... Subscription required Leased
Excavator ....................... Subscription required Leased
Grader ....................... Subscription required Leased
Truck (dump) 40 t ....................... Subscription required Leased
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 22, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 22, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 22, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 22, 2021
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Staff:

EmployeesYear
Subscription required 2020
Subscription required 2019
Subscription required 2018

Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
................................... Subscription required 2019
Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2017
Annual Report 2016
Annual Report 2015
Annual Report 2014
Annual Report 2013
Other 2013
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Aerial view:

Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Terms of Use Privacy Policy © 2017-2022 MDO Data Online Inc.