Kalabo Alluvial Mining - Zambian Copperbelt (sitios de interés)
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10 January 2006
Spirit of the River, a Canadian firm that has done alluvial sapphire mining in Madagascar and other alluvial mining in South Africa, has now turned its attention to looking for diamonds in the riverbeds of Barotseland in Zambia’s Western Province, reports the Lusaka Post.
Zambia’s Western Province borders on Angola, and Spirit of the River President Dave Schaffer pointed out in an interview with the newspaper that rivers tend to flow from Angola into Zambia, presumably bringing diamonds with them that could be buried deep under the river sediments, where they can best be reached with dredging technology like his firm’s. Feasibility studies have already been carried out on the Barotse River floodplain, using hovercraft.
Schaffer said full-scale mining will start in January, with about 60 local people already employed. His company has invested $3.5 million (U.S.) in the venture, including $1.5 million for “aqua-mining” equipment from South Africa. The focus of attention is areas like Kalabo and Shangombo, near the Angolan border.
Spirit of the River has been in business for 18 years, including eight years mining sapphire in Madagascar. Schaffer said his firm’s technology is environmentally friendly
Zambia’s Western Province borders on Angola, and Spirit of the River President Dave Schaffer pointed out in an interview with the newspaper that rivers tend to flow from Angola into Zambia, presumably bringing diamonds with them that could be buried deep under the river sediments, where they can best be reached with dredging technology like his firm’s. Feasibility studies have already been carried out on the Barotse River floodplain, using hovercraft.
Schaffer said full-scale mining will start in January, with about 60 local people already employed. His company has invested $3.5 million (U.S.) in the venture, including $1.5 million for “aqua-mining” equipment from South Africa. The focus of attention is areas like Kalabo and Shangombo, near the Angolan border.
Spirit of the River has been in business for 18 years, including eight years mining sapphire in Madagascar. Schaffer said his firm’s technology is environmentally friendly