Latitude: 11°10'S
Longitude: 26°40'E
Uranium mine with copper, cobalt and nickel ores, 1915-1960.
About 656 m.y. ago the first important amounts of uranium, cobalt, nickel, iron and copper were deposited. 602 m.y. ago a second era of uranium, cobalt and copper formation took place in which curiously nickel is absent. From then on until the present days the primary minerals are changed into secondary minerals.
The mine was officially closed in 2004, but artisanal mining continues.
Most of the uranium necessary for the production of the "Little Boy" atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima came from the Shinkolobwe mine.
References
- Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 875, 914, 928, 929, 983, 989.
- Mineralogical Record: 20: 287-288.
- Leydet, J.C. (2006). "Shinkolobwe (République Démocratique du Congo)." Le Cahier des Micromonteurs(93): 86-88.
- Deliens, M., Piret, P. et Comblain, G. (1981), Les Minéraux secondaires d'Uranium du Zaïre.
External Links
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Little_Boy
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ShinkolobweMineral List
132 entries listed. 123 valid minerals. 34 type localities (valid minerals). 1 type locality (other).
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