KAWA MULTIMEDIA PUBLICATIONS
Copper mining in Zambia
Production of copper in Zambia started in 1909 when the Southern railway reached Kabwe. At first development was hampered by inaccessibility, technical ignorance and world war. Large scale mining in the 1920s
In Zambia, copper is found in the folded sedimentary rocks deposited millions of years ago. Mining takes place at various centres throughout the belt-urban area, Nkana, Bwana Mkubwa, Nchanga, Luashya and Mufulira.
The Zambia copper belt covers an area of 110 km by 50 km long and accounts for 10% of the world’s production. The belt contains 25% of the world’ proven copper reserves.
Mining is done using both opencast and shaft mining. With opencast mining, the surface rocks are removed using heavy diesel excavators. As the mine gets big, terraced benches are made to facilitate construction of road and railways that go into the mine. With Shaft mining, both horizontal and vertical shafts are used.
The industry is controlled by Zambia Consolidated Copper mines, a giant mining group. The belt is a complex of mining towns, which have near each of the major mines. Its is connected by road, railway and air. It has processing industries and sugar refinery.
Apart from copper, zinc, manganese and lead are mined (in Nkabwe). While cobalt (Chibalu in Nkana) Gold and silver are removed during copper processing.
MAP OF ZAMBIA SHOWING MAIN TOWNS
Zambia's copper belt
In Zambia, copper is found in the folded sedimentary rocks deposited millions of years ago. Mining takes place at various centres throughout the belt-urban area, Nkana, Bwana Mkubwa, Nchanga, Luashya and Mufulira.
The Zambia copper belt covers an area of 110 km by 50 km long and accounts for 10% of the world’s production. The belt contains 25% of the world’ proven copper reserves.
Mining is done using both opencast and shaft mining. With opencast mining, the surface rocks are removed using heavy diesel excavators. As the mine gets big, terraced benches are made to facilitate construction of road and railways that go into the mine. With Shaft mining, both horizontal and vertical shafts are used.
The industry is controlled by Zambia Consolidated Copper mines, a giant mining group. The belt is a complex of mining towns, which have near each of the major mines. Its is connected by road, railway and air. It has processing industries and sugar refinery.
Apart from copper, zinc, manganese and lead are mined (in Nkabwe). While cobalt (Chibalu in Nkana) Gold and silver are removed during copper processing.
MAP OF ZAMBIA SHOWING MAIN TOWNS
Zambia's copper belt
Activity
Answer the following questions:
(a) (i) Name the towns A,B,C. (ii) The copper mines D,E. (iii) The country F
Possible Answer
(a) (i) Towns A - Ndola; B - Kitwe; C - Mufulira
(ii) Copper mines D - Bancroft; E - Bwana Mkubwa.
(iii) Country F - Zaire.
(a) (i) Name the towns A,B,C. (ii) The copper mines D,E. (iii) The country F
Possible Answer
(a) (i) Towns A - Ndola; B - Kitwe; C - Mufulira
(ii) Copper mines D - Bancroft; E - Bwana Mkubwa.
(iii) Country F - Zaire.