Vote for your favorite mineral in #MinCup26! - Sphalerite vs. Anorthite
Both zinc ore Sphalerite and calcium plagioclase feldspar Anorthite have perfect cleavage that will split cleanly if you hit them with a hammer, but only one can claim a larger split of your votes!
Log InRegister
Quick Links : The Mindat ManualThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryMindat Newsletter [Free Download]
Home PageAbout MindatThe Mindat ManualHistory of MindatCopyright StatusWho We AreContact UsAdvertise on Mindat
Donate to MindatCorporate SponsorshipSponsor a PageSponsored PagesMindat AdvertisersAdvertise on Mindat
Learning CenterWhat is a mineral?The most common minerals on earthInformation for EducatorsMindat ArticlesThe ElementsThe Rock H. Currier Digital LibraryGeologic TimeExplore Fossils
Minerals by PropertiesMinerals by ChemistryMineral Visual ExplorerAdvanced Locality SearchRandom MineralRandom LocalitySearch by minIDLocalities Near MeSearch ArticlesSearch GlossaryMore Search Options
Search For:
Mineral Name:
Locality Name:
Keyword(s):
 
The Mindat ManualAdd a New PhotoRate PhotosLocality Edit ReportCoordinate Completion ReportAdd Glossary Item
Mining CompaniesStatisticsUsersMineral MuseumsClubs & OrganizationsMineral Shows & EventsThe Mindat DirectoryDevice SettingsThe Mineral QuizTime Machine
Photo SearchPhoto GalleriesSearch by ColorPhoto Colour ExplorerNew Photos TodayNew Photos YesterdayMembers' Photo GalleriesPast Photo of the Day GalleryPhotography

Kolwezi Mine, Kolwezi, Mutshatsha, Lualaba, DR Congoi
Regional Level Types
Kolwezi MineOpen-Cast Mine
KolweziCity
MutshatshaTerritory
LualabaProvince
DR CongoCountry

This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
PhotosMapsSearch
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
10° 43' 39'' South , 25° 27' 21'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Kolwezi418,000 (2016)1.8km
Mindat Locality ID:
4329
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:4329:1
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Kolwezi Pit; Katanga Copper Crescent; Zaïre


Ancient copper mine worked from an open cut since 1903.
Most carving grade malachite come from this locality.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.


Mineral List


15 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

Calcite
Formula: CaCO3
Calcite var. Cobalt-bearing Calcite
Formula: (Ca,Co)CO3
Carrollite
Formula: CuCo2S4
Chrysocolla
Formula: Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cuprite
Formula: Cu2O
Cuprosklodowskite
Formula: Cu(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O
Curite
Formula: Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2
Dolomite
Formula: CaMg(CO3)2
Dolomite var. Cobalt-bearing Dolomite
Formula: (Ca,Mg,Co)CO3
Heterogenite
Formula: Co3+O(OH)
Description: Typical botryoidal heterogenite, specimens found by Albert Van hee and his son Paul in the 1950's.
References:
De Bondt, Paul (n.d.) Personal communication.Identification: Visual Identification
Kolwezite
Formula: CuCo(CO3)(OH)2
Malachite
Formula: Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Habit: Botryoidal, masses, stalactitic.
Native Copper
Formula: Cu
Spherocobaltite
Formula: CoCO3
Tenorite
Formula: CuO
Torbernite
Formula: Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O
Uranophane
Formula: Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
Native Copper1.AA.05Cu
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
Carrollite2.DA.05CuCo2S4
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
Cuprite4.AA.10Cu2O
Tenorite4.AB.10CuO
Heterogenite4.FE.20Co3+O(OH)
Curite4.GB.55Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
Calcite5.AB.05CaCO3
var. Cobalt-bearing Calcite5.AB.05(Ca,Co)CO3
Spherocobaltite5.AB.05CoCO3
Dolomite
var. Cobalt-bearing Dolomite
5.AB.10(Ca,Mg,Co)CO3
5.AB.10CaMg(CO3)2
Kolwezite5.BA.10CuCo(CO3)(OH)2
Malachite5.BA.10Cu2(CO3)(OH)2
Group 8 - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
Torbernite8.EB.05Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O
Group 9 - Silicates
Cuprosklodowskite9.AK.10Cu(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O
Uranophane9.AK.15Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O
Chrysocolla9.ED.20Cu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
H ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
H CuprosklodowskiteCu(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O
H CuritePb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2
H HeterogeniteCo3+O(OH)
H KolweziteCuCo(CO3)(OH)2
H MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
H TorberniteCu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O
H UranophaneCa(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O
CCarbon
C CalciteCaCO3
C Calcite var. Cobalt-bearing Calcite(Ca,Co)CO3
C Dolomite var. Cobalt-bearing Dolomite(Ca,Mg,Co)CO3
C DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
C KolweziteCuCo(CO3)(OH)2
C MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
C SpherocobaltiteCoCO3
OOxygen
O CalciteCaCO3
O ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
O Calcite var. Cobalt-bearing Calcite(Ca,Co)CO3
O Dolomite var. Cobalt-bearing Dolomite(Ca,Mg,Co)CO3
O CupriteCu2O
O CuprosklodowskiteCu(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O
O CuritePb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2
O DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
O HeterogeniteCo3+O(OH)
O KolweziteCuCo(CO3)(OH)2
O MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
O SpherocobaltiteCoCO3
O TenoriteCuO
O TorberniteCu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O
O UranophaneCa(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O
MgMagnesium
Mg Dolomite var. Cobalt-bearing Dolomite(Ca,Mg,Co)CO3
Mg DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
AlAluminium
Al ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
SiSilicon
Si ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Si CuprosklodowskiteCu(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O
Si UranophaneCa(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O
PPhosphorus
P TorberniteCu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O
SSulfur
S CarrolliteCuCo2S4
CaCalcium
Ca CalciteCaCO3
Ca Calcite var. Cobalt-bearing Calcite(Ca,Co)CO3
Ca Dolomite var. Cobalt-bearing Dolomite(Ca,Mg,Co)CO3
Ca DolomiteCaMg(CO3)2
Ca UranophaneCa(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O
CoCobalt
Co CarrolliteCuCo2S4
Co Calcite var. Cobalt-bearing Calcite(Ca,Co)CO3
Co Dolomite var. Cobalt-bearing Dolomite(Ca,Mg,Co)CO3
Co HeterogeniteCo3+O(OH)
Co KolweziteCuCo(CO3)(OH)2
Co SpherocobaltiteCoCO3
CuCopper
Cu CarrolliteCuCo2S4
Cu ChrysocollaCu2-xAlx(H2-xSi2O5)(OH)4 · nH2O, x < 1
Cu CupriteCu2O
Cu CuprosklodowskiteCu(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O
Cu Native CopperCu
Cu KolweziteCuCo(CO3)(OH)2
Cu MalachiteCu2(CO3)(OH)2
Cu TenoriteCuO
Cu TorberniteCu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O
PbLead
Pb CuritePb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2
UUranium
U CuprosklodowskiteCu(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O
U CuritePb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2
U TorberniteCu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O
U UranophaneCa(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate
DR Congo

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

 
and/or  
Mindat.org® is an outreach project of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Mindat® and mindat.org® are registered trademarks of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Copyright © mindat.org and the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy 1993-2026, except where stated. Most political location boundaries are © OpenStreetMap contributors. Mindat.org relies on the contributions of thousands of members and supporters. Founded in 2000 by Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau.
Content on this site may not be used to train, fine-tune, or otherwise develop artificial intelligence or machine learning models without prior written permission - see our Terms & Conditions.
To cite: Ralph, J., Von Bargen, D., Martynov, P., Zhang, J., Que, X., Prabhu, A., Morrison, S. M., Li, W., Chen, W., & Ma, X. (2025). Mindat.org: The open access mineralogy database to accelerate data-intensive geoscience research. American Mineralogist, 110(6), 833–844. doi:10.2138/am-2024-9486.
Privacy Policy - Terms & Conditions - Contact Us / DMCA issues - Report a bug/vulnerability Current server date and time: September 3, 2026 15:57:20 Page updated: November 11, 2025 12:25:58
Go to top of page