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Mufulira Mine, Mufulira, Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province, Zambiai
Regional Level Types
Mufulira MineMine
MufuliraTown
Mufulira DistrictDistrict
Copperbelt ProvinceProvince
ZambiaCountry

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04160530017272017158485.jpg
Mufulira geology

Mufulira Mine, Mufulira, Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia
07393670017272017203733.jpg
View of the Mufulira copper mining area, ca. 1960.

Mufulira Mine, Mufulira, Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia
06472970017272017221242.jpg
View of the Mufulira copper mining area, in 1971.

Mufulira Mine, Mufulira, Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia
04160530017272017158485.jpg
Mufulira geology

Mufulira Mine, Mufulira, Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia
07393670017272017203733.jpg
View of the Mufulira copper mining area, ca. 1960.

Mufulira Mine, Mufulira, Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia
06472970017272017221242.jpg
View of the Mufulira copper mining area, in 1971.

Mufulira Mine, Mufulira, Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia
04160530017272017158485.jpg
Mufulira geology

Mufulira Mine, Mufulira, Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia
02463410017272017351575.jpg
View of the Mufulira copper mining area, ca. 1960.

Mufulira Mine, Mufulira, Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
12° 31' 22'' South , 28° 14' 9'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-12.52278,28.23611
GRN:
S09E20
Type:
Mine
Köppen climate type:
Cwa : Monsoon-influenced humid subtropical climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Mufulira120,500 (2012)3.0km
Chambishi11,073 (2011)23.2km
Kitwe400,914 (2012)31.2km
Chingola148,564 (2016)38.2km
Kalulushi66,575 (2012)38.6km
Mindat Locality ID:
4345
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:4345:1
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Reduced facies type copper-cobalt deposit, hosted in carbonaceous greywacke.

The mine site, covering an area of 194 km2, lies on the north-eastern side of a geologic structural feature locally known as the Kafue Anticline. The three ore bodies are composed of distinct sulphide ore mineralization: in the A ore body, chalcocite is dominant; the B ore body mainly has bornite; and the C ore body is predominantly chalcopyrite.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite
Formula: Na(AlSi3O8)
ⓘ Anhydrite
Formula: CaSO4
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ Azurite
Formula: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
References:
Binda, PierL. (1975) Detrital bornite grains in the late precambrian B graywacke of Mufulira, Zambia. Mineralium Deposita, 10 (2). 101-107 doi:10.1007/bf00206525
Annels, A. E. (1979). The genetic relevance of recent studies at Mufulira Mine, Zambia. Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique. Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique 102:431-449
Cox, Dennis P., Lindsey, David A., Singer, Donald A., Diggles, Michael F. (2003) Sediment-Hosted Copper Deposits of the World: Deposit Models and Database. Open-File Report 2003-107. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/ofr2003107
Mwelwa, Lazarous; Kawamya, Vincent M.; Chisakulo, Edward; Bowa, Mwango; Banda, Chiti K. (2026) Ore body-specific bulk density versus specific gravity in copper resource estimation at Mopani Copper Mines PLC, Mufulira, Zambia. Academia Engineering, 3 (1). doi:10.20935/acadeng8225
ⓘ Carrollite
Formula: CuCo2S4
ⓘ Chalcocite
Formula: Cu2S
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
ⓘ Cobaltite
Formula: CoAsS
ⓘ Cuprite
Formula: Cu2O
ⓘ Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘ Gypsum
Formula: CaSO4 · 2H2O
ⓘ 'Limonite'
ⓘ Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
ⓘ Native Copper
Formula: Cu
ⓘ Plancheite
Formula: Cu8(Si8O22)(OH)4 · H2O
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rhodonite
Formula: CaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ 'Tennantite Subgroup'
Formula: Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Copper1.AA.05Cu
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘChalcocite2.BA.05Cu2S
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘCarrollite2.DA.05CuCo2S4
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘCobaltite2.EB.25CoAsS
ⓘ'Tennantite Subgroup'2.GB.05Cu6(Cu4C2+2)As4S12S
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘCuprite4.AA.10Cu2O
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘDolomite5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
ⓘAzurite5.BA.05Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
ⓘMalachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Group 7 - Sulphates, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
ⓘAnhydrite7.AD.30CaSO4
ⓘGypsum7.CD.40CaSO4 · 2H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘZircon9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘRhodonite9.DK.05CaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
ⓘPlancheite9.DP.55Cu8(Si8O22)(OH)4 · H2O
ⓘChrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
ⓘAlbite9.FA.35Na(AlSi3O8)
Unclassified
ⓘ'Limonite'-
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Hⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Hⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Hⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Hⓘ PlancheiteCu8(Si8O22)(OH)4 · H2O
Hⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
CCarbon
Cⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Cⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
OOxygen
Oⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Oⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Oⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Oⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Oⓘ CupriteCu2O
Oⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Oⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Oⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Oⓘ PlancheiteCu8(Si8O22)(OH)4 · H2O
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RhodoniteCaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
FFluorine
Fⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
NaSodium
Naⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Alⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AlbiteNa(AlSi3O8)
Siⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Siⓘ PlancheiteCu8(Si8O22)(OH)4 · H2O
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ RhodoniteCaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
SSulfur
Sⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ CarrolliteCuCo2S4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Sⓘ CobaltiteCoAsS
Sⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S
ClChlorine
Clⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
CaCalcium
Caⓘ AnhydriteCaSO4
Caⓘ DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Caⓘ GypsumCaSO4 · 2H2O
Caⓘ RhodoniteCaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
MnManganese
Mnⓘ RhodoniteCaMn3Mn[Si5O15]
FeIron
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
CoCobalt
Coⓘ CarrolliteCuCo2S4
Coⓘ CobaltiteCoAsS
CuCopper
Cuⓘ AzuriteCu3(CO3)2(OH)2
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ CarrolliteCuCo2S4
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Cuⓘ ChalcociteCu2S
Cuⓘ ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cuⓘ CupriteCu2O
Cuⓘ Native CopperCu
Cuⓘ MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Cuⓘ PlancheiteCu8(Si8O22)(OH)4 · H2O
Cuⓘ Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S
AsArsenic
Asⓘ CobaltiteCoAsS
Asⓘ Tennantite SubgroupCu6(Cu4C22+)As4S12S
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)

Other Databases

Wikipedia:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mufulira

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate
Central AfricaRegion

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

Mendelsohn, F. (Ed.) (1961). The Geology of the Northern Rhodesian Copper-Belt. Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 16 Maddox Street, London.
Mendelsohn, F. (1961a). Ore deposits. In: Mendelsohn, F. Ed. The Geology of the Northern Rhodesia Copperbelt. Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 16 Maddox Street, London, 117-129.
Bateman, Alan Mara (1930) The ores of the northern Rhodesia copper belt. Economic Geology, 25 (4) 365-418 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.25.4.365
Gray, Anton (1932) The Mufulira copper deposit, Northern Rhodesia. Economic Geology, 27 (4) 315-343 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.27.4.315
Fleischer, V.D. (1937) Relation between folding, mineralization and sub-Katanga topography at Mufulira mine, Zambia. Transactions of the Geological Society of South Africa: 70: 1-14. https://journals.co.za/doi/epdf/10.10520/AJA10120750_2671
Brandt, R.T., Burton, C.C., Maree, S.C. and Woakes, M.E. (1961) Mufulira. In: MENDELSOHN, F. Ed. The Geology of the Northern Rhodesia Copperbelt. Macdonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 16 Maddox Street, London, 411-464.
Paltridge, I.M. (1967) An algal biostrome fringe and associated mineralization at Mufulira, Zambia. Mineralium Deposita, 2 (3). 251 doi:10.1007/bf00201923
Paltridge, I. M. (1968) An algal biostrome fringe and associated mineralization at Mufulira, Zambia. Economic Geology, 63 (3) 207-216 doi:10.2113/gsecongeo.63.3.207
Binda, PierL. (1975) Detrital bornite grains in the late precambrian B graywacke of Mufulira, Zambia. Mineralium Deposita, 10 (2). 101-107 doi:10.1007/bf00206525
Annels, A.E. (1979) The genetic relevance of recent studies at Mufulira Mine, Zambia. Annales de la Société géologique de Belgique: 102: 431-449. https://popups.uliege.be/0037-9395/index.php?id=3970&file=1
Cox, Dennis P., Lindsey, David A., Singer, Donald A., Diggles, Michael F. (2003) Sediment-Hosted Copper Deposits of the World: Deposit Models and Database. Open-File Report 2003-107. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/ofr2003107
Wendorff, Marek (2005) Sedimentary genesis and lithostratigraphy of Neoproterozoic megabreccia from Mufulira, Copperbelt of Zambia. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 42 (1) 61-81 doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2005.08.010
en.wikipedia.org (n.d.) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mopani_Copper_Mines#Mufulira_Mine
[1]Mwelwa, Lazarous; Kawamya, Vincent M.; Chisakulo, Edward; Bowa, Mwango; Banda, Chiti K. (2026) Ore body-specific bulk density versus specific gravity in copper resource estimation at Mopani Copper Mines PLC, Mufulira, Zambia. Academia Engineering, 3 (1). doi:10.20935/acadeng8225
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