Kansanshi mineralisation is hosted by deformed metasediments of the Nguba (formerly Lower Kundulungu) Group within the Katanga Supergroup of the Zambian Copperbelt. The individual mineralised rock units of the stratigraphic sequence comprise dolomites, dolomitic marbles, and various schists and phyllites. Mineralisation is structurally modified across the Kansanshi deposits. The deposits are currently mined from Main and North West Pits.

Kansanshi copper mineralisation is believed to have originated as hydrothermally remobilised copper that has been lithologically and structurally controlled.

Copper mineralisation at Kansanshi occurs as three deposits (Main, North West and South East). The deposits are located within domal structures along the crest of a regional antiform. Deposit mineralisation is closely associated with these domes.

Three styles of primary sulphide mineralisation are associated with these deposits:
• disseminated stratabound mineralisation;
• sub-vertically dipping, quartz-carbonate-sulphide veins crosscutting the stratigraphy;
• localised breccia mineralisation.

Weathering influences mineralisation as follows:
• near surface weathering in the saprolitic zone;
• around vertical veins, with oxide copper mineralisation predominantly evident as malachite, tenorite and chrysocolla;
• mixed primary and secondary sulphide copper mineral assemblages in transitional zones between weath ........

Open pit mining at Kansanshi is based on conventional drill and blast, load and haul mining techniques. Mining has proceeded from initial excavations in two pits (Main and North West) through a sequence of cutbacks, which in the longer term will result in these pits merging. A newly defined, nearby resource at South East Dome will contribute to the longer-term production profile, and may merge with the Main pits. Mining rates at Kansanshi were reduced in 2018 due to the postponement of stripping at the South East Dome pit.

The cutbacks generally comprise wide benches of 200 metres to 300 metres width, providing several mining horizons to satisfy the feed requirements for multiple processing routes. The bench heights within the pits are designed on either 5 metres to 10 metres depending on geotechnical constraints. In general, ore is hauled to a Run of Mine (“ROM”) pad located immediately south of the North West pit where it is either tipped directly into the crushers or stockpiled for future rehandling if required. Waste is hauled to various dumps around the northern and southern extremities of the Main pit, around the western, northern and eastern extremities of the North West pit, and to the northern, eastern and southern extremities of the future South East Dome pit.

Dewatering of the Main pit is currently carried out by means of a 4.1m diameter vertical raise bored shaft to the east of Main pit which has been effective in lowering the groundwater sur ........

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