Mufulira Mine

Mufulira, Mufulira District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia

Mufulira Mine is a large cobalt and copper mine near the town of Mufulira, which built up around the mine site.

The site is now known as Mopani Copper Mines.

The mine currently employs around 5000 people, and produces 35000 tonnes of copper per year.

 

Mufulira Mine was discovered in 1923, but work only really began in 1928. The mine closed in 1931 due to the global depression, but reopened in 1933.

In 1970, a serious collapse of a tailings dam killed 89 workers.

Mindat lists 20 minerals from the site – in my opinion the most interesting specimens from this locale are often cuprite and native copper; both very nice.

 

Further reading

 

 

If you are interested in other classic Zambian locales we may have stock from the following locales.

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For the rest of our Zambian stock, see below.

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Minerals from Zambia