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Bisie Tin Project, Bisie, Walikale Territory, North Kivu, DR Congoi
Regional Level Types
Bisie Tin Project- not defined -
BisieDeposit
Walikale TerritoryTerritory
North KivuProvince
DR CongoCountry

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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
1° 2' 20'' South , 27° 44' 36'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-1.03903,27.74357
GeoHash:
G#: kxgdp6f5p
GRN:
S01E20
Köppen climate type:
Aw : Tropical savanna, wet
Mindat Locality ID:
252067
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:252067:7
GUID (UUID V4):
0
Other/historical names associated with this locality:
Zaïre
Name(s) in local language(s):
Gécamines, Bisié


Large artisanal workings were located on the Bisie ridge.

The Bisie Tin Project is operated by Aphamin Resources Corp., and extends in a southerly direction along Mpama ridge for approximately 14 km.
"The mineralisation at Mpama North site consists a number of narrow veins, blocks or dispersions of cassiterite hosted in a chlorite schist. The tin mineralisation is also strongly associated with copper, introduced in late-stage fractures." (https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/bisie-tin-project/)

A newly discovered polymetallic type of tin deposit within the Kibara metal province. About 10 years ago, it was found and developed by artisans and quickly became the country’s largest producer of cassiterite. Along a ridge formed by sediments in contact with a tin-bearing granite occupying a depression, characteristic for the arena morphology common in SW Uganda, mineralisation occurs along 1x5 km strike. An ore shoot measuring 15x8 m of nearly solid cassiterite was opened up by artisanal miners 80 m below surface.

Bisie tin mine, located in the Mesoproterozoic Kivu Belt (Democratic Republic of the Congo), is the world’s highest-grade tin mine (average grade 4.5 % Sn). Tin mineralisation consists of botryoidal cassiterite veins within an envelope of chlorite alteration, and is situated in a steeply east-dipping shear zone running parallel to the contact to a multi-phase granite massif. The tin mineralisation at Bisie is somewhat unique in that it consists of veins largely with a mineralogical composition of wood-tin-only. Tin mineralisation in the Mpama North and South deposits is hosted in almost monomineralic botryoidal cassiterite veins of cm to > 1 m thickness. The veins are strongly brecciated and boudinaged resulting in low lateral continuity. The veins are contained in an up to ∼ 25 m thick envelope of chlorite (±actinolite) alteration developed over the shear zone. The transition from the chlorite-altered envelope to the mica schist is gradual over several meters with muscovite and feldspars being increasingly replaced by chlorite.

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Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded from this region.


Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

17 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

Note: data is currently VERY limited. Please bear with us while we work towards adding this information!

Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Actinolite
Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘ 'Amphibole Supergroup'
Formula: AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
ⓘ Andalusite
Formula: Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘ 'Apatite'
Formula: Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ Arsenopyrite
Formula: FeAsS
ⓘ 'Biotite'
Formula: K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ Bornite
Formula: Cu5FeS4
ⓘ 'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup'
Formula: AnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ 'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. Hornblende'
Formula: AnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ Cassiterite
Formula: SnO2
ⓘ Cassiterite var. Wood Tin
Formula: SnO2
ⓘ Chalcopyrite
Formula: CuFeS2
ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'
ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'
ⓘ Galena
Formula: PbS
ⓘ 'Garnet Group'
Formula: X3Z2(SiO4)3
ⓘ 'K Feldspar'
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ 'Monazite Group'
Formula: REE(PO4)
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ 'Plagioclase'
Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ Pyrite
Formula: FeS2
ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group'
Formula: ADSi2O6
ⓘ Pyrrhotite
Formula: Fe1-xS
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Rutile
Formula: TiO2
ⓘ Sphalerite
Formula: ZnS
ⓘ Staurolite
Formula: Fe2+2Al9Si4O23(OH)
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ 'Tourmaline'
Formula: AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ Zircon
Formula: Zr(SiO4)

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘBornite2.BA.15Cu5FeS4
ⓘSphalerite2.CB.05aZnS
ⓘChalcopyrite2.CB.10aCuFeS2
ⓘPyrrhotite2.CC.10Fe1-xS
ⓘGalena2.CD.10PbS
ⓘPyrite2.EB.05aFeS2
ⓘArsenopyrite2.EB.20FeAsS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
ⓘCassiterite4.DB.05SnO2
ⓘRutile4.DB.05TiO2
ⓘCassiterite
var. Wood Tin		4.DB.05SnO2
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘZircon9.AD.30Zr(SiO4)
ⓘAndalusite9.AF.10Al2(SiO4)O
ⓘStaurolite9.AF.30Fe2+2Al9Si4O23(OH)
ⓘActinolite9.DE.10◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘvar. Sericite9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Unclassified
ⓘ'Amphibole Supergroup'-AB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
ⓘ'Biotite'-K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
ⓘ'Chlorite Group'-
ⓘ'Feldspar Group'-
ⓘ'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup
var. Hornblende'		-AnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
ⓘ'Monazite Group'-REE(PO4)
ⓘ'Tourmaline'-AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ'Plagioclase'-(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
ⓘ'K Feldspar'-
ⓘ'Pyroxene Group'-ADSi2O6
ⓘ'Garnet Group'-X3Z2(SiO4)3
ⓘ'Apatite'-Ca5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
ⓘ'Calcium Amphibole Subgroup'-AnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Hⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Hⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Hⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ StauroliteFe22+Al9Si4O23(OH)
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Hⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
BBoron
Bⓘ TourmalineAD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
OOxygen
Oⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Oⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Oⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Oⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Oⓘ CassiteriteSnO2
Oⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ RutileTiO2
Oⓘ StauroliteFe22+Al9Si4O23(OH)
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ TourmalineAD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Oⓘ Cassiterite var. Wood TinSnO2
Oⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Oⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Oⓘ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
Oⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
Oⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Oⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
FFluorine
Fⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Fⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Fⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Fⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Fⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
NaSodium
Naⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Mgⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Alⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Alⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Alⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ StauroliteFe22+Al9Si4O23(OH)
Alⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Alⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Siⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Siⓘ AndalusiteAl2(SiO4)O
Siⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Siⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ StauroliteFe22+Al9Si4O23(OH)
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
Siⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Siⓘ Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
Siⓘ Garnet GroupX3Z2(SiO4)3
Siⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
PPhosphorus
Pⓘ Monazite GroupREE(PO4)
Pⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
SSulfur
Sⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Sⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Sⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Sⓘ GalenaPbS
Sⓘ PyriteFeS2
Sⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Sⓘ SphaleriteZnS
ClChlorine
Clⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Clⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Clⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Clⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
KPotassium
Kⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Kⓘ Muscovite var. SericiteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Caⓘ Calcium Amphibole Subgroup var. HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Caⓘ Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Caⓘ ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
Caⓘ Calcium Amphibole SubgroupAnCa2(Z2+5-mZm3+)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2
Tiⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Tiⓘ RutileTiO2
FeIron
Feⓘ Actinolite◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2
Feⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
Feⓘ BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2
Feⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Feⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ PyriteFeS2
Feⓘ PyrrhotiteFe1-xS
Feⓘ StauroliteFe22+Al9Si4O23(OH)
CuCopper
Cuⓘ BorniteCu5FeS4
Cuⓘ ChalcopyriteCuFeS2
ZnZinc
Znⓘ SphaleriteZnS
AsArsenic
Asⓘ ArsenopyriteFeAsS
ZrZirconium
Zrⓘ ZirconZr(SiO4)
SnTin
Snⓘ CassiteriteSnO2
Snⓘ Cassiterite var. Wood TinSnO2
PbLead
Pbⓘ GalenaPbS

Localities in this Region

DR Congo

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate
Central AfricaRegion
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

[1]Pohl, W. L., Biryabarema, M., Lehmann, B. (2013) Early Neoproterozoic rare metal (Sn, Ta, W) and gold metallogeny of the Central Africa Region: a review. Applied Earth Science, 122 (2) 66-82 doi:10.1179/1743275813y.0000000033
[2]Wulff, Katharina, Bolhar, Robert (2025) Geochemistry of alteration and host rock lithologies to the Bisie tin deposit, North Kivu Province, DR Congo. Ore Geology Reviews, 178. 106469 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106469
[3]Wulff, Katharina, Bolhar, Robert (2025) Geology of the Bisie wood tin (cassiterite) deposit and its host rocks, North Kivu Province, DR Congo. Ore Geology Reviews, 181. 106583 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106583
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