Chibuluma South suspended

Falling copper prices and climbing processing costs have conspired to force London-listed Metorex to temporarily place the Chibuluma South copper mine in Zambia on care and maintenance.

The company says the high-grade deposit will be returned to production when copper prices improve. The shutdown does not affect Chibuluma West, 12 km to the north.

The Chibuluma South deposit was discovered in 1969. It is currently being developed in two stages. Initially, open-pit mining will target oxide ore, then sulphide ore will be accessed via underground mining. It is first new mine in Zambia in 30 years.

Metorex says its is studying tapping into Chibuluma South’s high grade sulphide ore zone through the open pit earlier than planned.

At full steam, open-pit production is pegged at 40 000 tonnes per month, mainly of oxide ore. Overall recovery in the oxide phase will be 74%. Transition to mining of the sulphide orebody is planned for the end of 2002. The move will more double the mine’s current metal production. The Chibuluma South orebody has a projected life of some 14 years from start of production.

The operation will have its own concentrator, concentrates will shipped to Nkana or Mufulira for smelting and refining. Commissioning at the Chibuluma South plant has taken longer than expected although progress is being made in resolving problem areas.

At last report, Chibuluma South’s drill-proven reserve stood at 7.3 million tonnes grading 3.7% copper.

Metorex owns 85% of Chibuluma Mines Plc, the remaining 15% is owned by the Zambian state. Crew Development (CRU-T) holds a 52% stake in Metorex.

Copper mineralization in the Chibuluma deposits occurs in thick quartzites of the Orebody Formation of the Lower Roan Group of the Katanga System. The sequence is covered by about 400 metres of metamorphosed dolomitic rocks. The Chibuluma South orebody extends from surface to a depth of 600 metres, with a varying dip averaging about 40 to the west, and is 10 to 30 m thick.