Kipushi

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The Kipushi copper, lead and zinc mine is located about 30 km west of Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ore occurs in open spaces and collapse breccias along a fault zone. The primary zinc-rich ore body contains the minerals sphalerite, galena, pyrite, and arsenopyrite, accompanied by renierite, and some germanite and gallite. These minerals were overprinted by a formation of mostly copper-rich minerals, including cobalt-bearing chalcopyrite, and germanium- and silver-bearing bornite, plus molybdenite. The ore body is estimated to have contained 70 million tonnes or ore, with an average of 4.8% Cu, 8.8% Zn and 0.5% Pb. From 1925 to 1986 the mine at Kipushi produced 3.8 million tonnes of copper, 5.9 million tonnes of zinc, 0.4 million tonnes of lead, 45,000 tonnes of cadmium, and 120 tonnes of germanium, plus other elements.