CASE STUDY
Haut-Katanga Copper Project
Scope of Work
Overview
- By integrating historical data with a new 3D geological model, the report evaluates the project’s mineral potential could be outlined the strategic roadmap for future development could be crafted.
Commodity
Copper-Cobalt (Cu-Co)
Country
DRC and Zambia, Africa
Project Type
Due Diligence
Minrom Consulting was contracted by a client with prospecting exploration claims on copper and cobalt deposits in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) to perform a geological due diligence on the deposits.
The African Copper Belt, also known as the Lufilian Arc, stretches from the south-eastern part of the DRC into northern Zambia. The copper mineralisation is hosted within the Neoproterozoic Katangan succession deposited within an evaporative basin between the Congo and Kalahari Basin.
Regional Geology
The Cu-Co ore mineralisation occurs within the Katanga Copper Belt is hosted within the Mines Subgroup of the Katanga Supergroup. The local geological features associated with the project area is a series of northwest – southeast trending fold and thrust systems of the Kundelungu, Nguba and Roan Group sediments.
The structural deformation along with the mineralogical composition of the Roan Group resulted in the formation of Roan Breccia. This Roan breccia occurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo as: (1) regional detachments of anticlines, synclines, overthrusted anticline flanks; (2) local detachments within klippen; (3) discordant diapiric intrusions; and (4) oblique, strike-slip fault zones. The Roan breccia matrix can generally be described as grey to lilac in colour with occasional sulphide or hematite mineralisation.
As part of the Due Diligence report Minrom provided an account of the exploration data and mineralisation potential estimations. Additional data relevant to the project was also included to provide an unbiased overview of the project area. Minrom also created a geological model with drillhole data obtained from the client.
The exploration activities have identified a total of twelve (12) mega-breccia blocks consisting of lithological units of the Mines Group which is known to contain copper and cobalt mineralisation. Based on the results and interpretations, Minrom concludes that the Copper-Cobalt Project contains an economic potential in both the short and long term.
Figure 1
Geological map and cross section illustrating the major sedimentary groups and structural features.
Regional Geology
Figure 1
Simplified geological map of the Transvaal Basin (modified from Eriksson et al., 1995).
The Cu-Co ore mineralisation occurs within the Katanga Copper Belt is hosted within the Mines Subgroup of the Katanga Supergroup. The local geological features associated with the project area is a series of northwest – southeast trending fold and thrust systems of the Kundelungu, Nguba and Roan Group sediments.
The structural deformation along with the mineralogical composition of the Roan Group resulted in the formation of Roan Breccia. This Roan breccia occurs in the Democratic Republic of Congo as: (1) regional detachments of anticlines, synclines, overthrusted anticline flanks; (2) local detachments within klippen; (3) discordant diapiric intrusions; and (4) oblique, strike-slip fault zones. The Roan breccia matrix can generally be described as grey to lilac in colour with occasional sulphide or hematite mineralisation.
As part of the Due Diligence report Minrom provided an account of the exploration data and mineralisation potential estimations. Additional data relevant to the project was also included to provide an unbiased overview of the project area. Minrom also created a geological model with drillhole data obtained from the client.
The exploration activities have identified a total of twelve (12) mega-breccia blocks consisting of lithological units of the Mines Group which is known to contain copper and cobalt mineralisation. Based on the results and interpretations, Minrom concludes that the Copper-Cobalt Project contains an economic potential in both the short and long term.
Photographic Data
Figure 2
Logging excavated pits
Minrom recommended that the following be performed:
- Short Term
- Verify the project are drilling and assay data.
- Block model estimation and resource declaration.
- Develop a mine design and schedule.
- Long Term
- Exploration drilling on the remaining mega-breccia blocks.
Photographic Data
Minrom recommended that the following be performed:
- Short Term
- Verify the project are drilling and assay data.
- Block model estimation and resource declaration.
- Develop a mine design and schedule.
- Long Term
- Exploration drilling on the remaining mega-breccia blocks.