Dewaele, S.,  Muchez, P.,  Heijlen, W.,  Boutwood, A.,  Lemmon, T. & Tyler, R. 2006. ‘Reconstruction of the hydrothermal history of the Cu-Ag vein-type mineralisation at Dikulushi, Kundelungu foreland, DRC’. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 89: 376-379. Elsevier.  (PR).

Article in a scientific Journal / Article in a Journal

The Kundelungu foreland, north of the Lufilian arc in the Democratic Republic of Congo, contains a number of various veintype and stratiform copper mineralisations. The geodynamic context and metallogenesis of these mineral occurrences remain enigmatic. Currently, the vein-type Cu-Ag ore deposit at Dikulushi is the most significant deposit in the region. Mineralisation at Dikulushi comprises two major styles: 1) a polysulphide assemblage (Zn-Pb-Fe-Cu-As) within brecciated rocks along an anticlinal closure; and 2) a vein-hosted Cu-Ag assemblage. Petrographic and fluid inclusion studies indicate that the early Zn-Pb-Fe-Cu-As assemblage formed from a high-salinity Ca-Na-Cl fluid of modest temperature (135 -172 °C). The later, economically more significant vein-related Cu-Ag mineralisation formed from intermediate salinity, lower temperature (46 -82 °C) Na-Cl fluids. Weathering of the sulphide minerals resulted in a supergene enrichment with the formation of secondary Cu-minerals.