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 25% 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 copper-cobalt deposits contained in a sedimentary series of rocks are known as the Mines Group in the Katanga sequence and the Roan Group in Zambia. The sediments are shallow-water shales, dolomitic shales, reefal dolomites and possible evaporitic lagoonal mudstones, formed on a platform marginal to a subsiding basin. The rocks are exposed in a series of tightly folded and thrusted anticlines and synclines, which generally trend east-west or southeast and are often overturned to the north. In spite of this deformation overprint, the mineralized zones, although sometimes lenticular along strike and down dip, as well as showing local diapiric forms, display remarkable large-scale continuity within the Mines Group.

With the exception of Tilwezembe OP, all of the mineralized properties of KCC are localized within the Kolwezi Nappe, a northeast striking synclinal basin with major and minor axes of approximately 20 km and 10 km respectively. Tilwezembe ........

The active operations at KCC can be classified into surface and underground mining operations. Surface operations include KOV OP, KITD Tailings and Mashamba East OP; the T17 OP has been depleted. The underground operations include KTO UG and T17 UG, which have been developed to various stages.

The three mining methods practised at KTO are:
- Room and Pillar with Hydraulic Backfill (RAP) at dips of less than 12º;
- Transversal Longhole Retreat with Backfill (TLHR) between 13º and 55º; and
- Longitudinal Longhole Retreat with Backfill (LLHR) at dips of greater than 55º.

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 20% and 5% overall losses. Ore production is primarily oxide and mixed material with only 8% sulphide ore.

Mashamba East OP is an existing, large-scale operation. Mining related modifying factors applied to the Mashamba East OP plan include a cut-off grade of 0.65% TCu, mining dilution of 7.9% and 5% overall losses.

The KITD Tailings area consists of a tailings dam which formed as a result of the discharge of fine tailings from KTC between 2008 and 2013. The KITD Tailings was constructed by a conventional upstream discharge method and is a U-shaped tailings dam, constrained to the west, east and south flank by civil engineered (SRK Consulting, 2008) containment walls, and the northern ........

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