Chakwenga Gold Mine (ZRL) - Zambian Copperbelt (sitios de interés)

 

Rhodesian Minerals Concession Company (RMCC) surveyed the Chakwenga area during a regional geological mapping campaign in 1934. Soil geochemical surveying and trenching lead to the discovery of numerous gold occurrences, including Chakwenga where trench results included up to 30m averaging 19g/t Au.Underground exploration via two shafts and an adit commenced in 1935. Results from sampling ofstrike drives returned intervals including 30m averaging 8.2g/t Au at 24m depth and 40m averaging 6.6g/t Au at 45m depth. At 115m depth the zone split into two smaller shoots grading 8g/t Au and 4g/t Au.

On the basis of “reserves” of 20,000t estimated at between 5.6g/t and 7.0g/t Au, mining was commenced in 1939. Intermittent mining between 1940 and 1942 reportedly produced 2,077oz Au and 78oz Ag. RMCC sold on its interest in the mine in 1943.No significant exploration at Chakwenga is documented until 1980, when a prospector estimated the tailings at 14,500t averaging 3.3g/t Au.Zamanglo is reported to have conducted copper exploration within the Chakwenga area during the early 1960’s, included trenching and diamond drilling, however no documentation of this work has been recovered.

 

From historical data, the region within a 10 km radius of Chakwenga is known to contain in excess of 20 other gold and/or copper prospects.