MINERALIZATION TYPES IN THE MOZAMBIQUE BELT OF EASTERN ZAMBIA

Several mineral occurrences, that include massive, disseminated and vein types of mineralization, are found in Paleoproterozoic rocks of the Mozambique Belt of Eastern Zambia. Mineralization associated with mafic igneous activity is represented by ilmenite in gabbros, whereas muscovite, aquamarine and tourmaline are mined from numerous pegmatites, which intrude into basement schists and gneisses. Massive Zn-Cu sulphides are interbanded with amphibolites and paragneisses of the Mvuvye Group. The disseminated type of mineralization includes copper associated with gold in schists and metavolcanics and with graphite in gneisses and granulites. Quartz veins in schists and quartzites are mineralized with gold, bismuth and copper. The gold is associated mainly with disseminated pyrite, bismutite and bismuthinite as well as with native copper, chalcopyrite or malachite. In addition, concentrations of alluvial gold derived from quartz veins have been worked from sands and gravels in the region.