Mining Intelligence and News
Zambia

Nkana Mine

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Summary

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Cobalt
Mining Method
  • Sub-level caving
  • Vertical Crater Retreat
  • Longitudinal Room-and-Pillar
Backfill type ... Lock
Production Start... Lock
SnapshotNkana is Mopani’s largest copper mining asset.

Nkana mine comprises:
• Underground Mines: Four active underground mines accessed by various shafts including Synclinorium, Mindola Deeps, South ore Body, and Mindola Sub-vertical shafts;
• Open Pits: Various small open pits (none of the open pits are currently operational).
• Concentrators: Two units including the Nkana Concentrator and New Synclinorium Concentrator.

Mopani Copper Mines PLC has since 2014 sunk and equipped two brand new shafts to replace the old infrastructure at Nkana site, which dates back to the 1930s: the Syclinorium and Mindola Deeps Shafts. Mopani has also built a brand new Concentrator at Nkana mine site, the Syclinorium Concentrator.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
ZCCM Investments Holdings Plc. 49 % Indirect
International Resources Holding RSC Ltd. 51 % Indirect
Mopani Copper Mines plc. (operator) 100 % Direct
Mopani Copper Mines Plc is a multi-faceted mining investment with operations in Kitwe (Nkana mine) and Mufulira (Mufulira mine) districts of the Copperbelt Province.

On March 20, 2024, International Resources Holding RSC Ltd, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Delta Mining Limited, acquired a 51% interest in Mopani Copper Mines plc and formation of a strategic partnership with ZCCMIH. ZCCM-IH will retain 49% shares in Mopani Copper Mines plc.

Deposit type

  • Sediment-hosted

Summary:

The predominant mega-structure of the mining area is the northwest-plunging Nkana syncline. This structure is asymmetric, with a curved axial plane inclined steeply to the northwest in the trough of the syncline but upright to westward dipping at higher structural levels. A complex occupies the axial zone of the syncline but this folding dies out on its flanks. As a result of the north-westerly plunge of the Nkana syncline, the present land surface represents a horizontal section through progressively higher structural levels of the syncline from southeast to northwest.

The mines are situated on the north-eastern limb of the Nkana Syncline area. Other cupriferous zones are present in the nose and southwest limb of the syncline. The orebodies are stratiform and are mainly confined to a recognisable ore formation, which occurs near the base of the Katangan sequence within the Lower Roan Group of the Mine Series. In the underground workings, the principal copper ore minerals are chalcopyrite and bornite with subordinate chalcocite. There is a zoning in the geographical distribution of these minerals. Cobalt occurs as carrollite and cobaltiferious pyrite. The principal ore minerals are malachite, pseudomalchite, chrysocolla, native copper, cuprite and libethenite. In the open pit, malachite and chrysocolla are the principal ore minerals in the zone of oxidation closer to the surface. In some places however, vermiculite, malachite pseudomalachite and accessory wad are more important. At deeper levels chalcopyrite, bornite and chalcocite are predominantly present.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Commodity Production

Combined production numbers are reported under Mopani Operation

Operational metrics

Metrics2022
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Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

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Workforce

Aerial view:

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