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Kagem Emerald Mine, Kafubu emerald mining district, Lufwanyama District, Copperbelt Province, Zambiai
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Kagem Emerald Mine | Mine |
| Kafubu emerald mining district | Mining District |
| Lufwanyama District | District |
| Copperbelt Province | Province |
| Zambia | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
13° 5' 21'' South , 28° 8' 19'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Company founded in 1984 to regain control of mines in the Kafubu district.
Apparently "Africa's largest emerald mine" (Elements 5 (2009) p. 157). 15-20% of the emerald world production comes out of this mine (Behling, 2009).
The mine covers an area of 1 square km.
Emerald crystals of very high quality are extracted from quartz lenses.
In 2022, the Kagem Mine produced a total of 37.2 million carats of emeralds and beryl, including 259,500 carats of premium emeralds.
The emeralds ranged from green to blueish green, and some displayed an attractive saturated bluish-green color. The refractive indices varied from 1.578–1.591 for ne and 1.589–1.597 for no with birefringence between 0.004 and 0.008. These values are higher than most of the significant emerald deposits. Specific gravity values ranged from 2.67 to 2.86. The emeralds from the Kagem Mine were typically inert to long- and short-wave UV radiation. The emeralds showed no reaction under the Chelsea filter. Dichroism was medium to strong yellowish green (o-ray) and bluish green (e-ray).
The Kagem emerald concession covers an area of approximately 46 square kilometers within a 200-square-kilometer productive zone and comprises the current operating Chama open pit mine and the bulk sampling pits at Libwente and Fibolelem.
The emerald mineralization in the Kagem Mine results from the interaction between metabasites and pegmatites and their accompanying hydrothermal fluids. Emeralds are found in the phlogopite reaction zone (typically 0.5–3 m wide) between the talc-magnetite schist and the pegmatites and in the quartz-tourmaline veins, which produces gem-quantity emeralds, but only a tiny percentage. In the reaction zone, talc-magnetite schist provided the important chromophore of chromium, while the pegmatites provided the beryllium. Emerald was formed under the proper pressure, temperature conditions (400–600 MPa and 590–630 °C) and chemical environment around 500 Ma. The area subsequently underwent intense shearing and folding during the Lufilian orogeny, which may account for the fracturing and opacity of many emerald crystals.
Select Mineral List Type
Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical ElementsCommodity 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-localities13 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 DiagramDetailed Mineral List:
| ⓘ Actinolite Formula: ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Beryl Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18) Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region. |
| ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald Formula: Be3Al2(Si6O18) Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region. |
| ⓘ 'Chlorite Group' |
| ⓘ Clinochlore Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| ⓘ Clinochlore var. Talc-chlorite Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| ⓘ Dolomite Formula: CaMg(CO3)2 |
| ⓘ 'Feldspar Group' |
| ⓘ Graphite Formula: C |
| ⓘ Magnetite Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ Muscovite Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Phlogopite Formula: KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ Quartz Formula: SiO2 |
| ⓘ Schorl Formula: NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ Spessartine Formula: Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ Talc Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ 'Tourmaline' Formula: AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| ⓘ Tremolite Formula: ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
Gallery:
List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification
| Group 1 - Elements | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| ⓘ | Graphite | 1.CB.05a | C |
| Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides | |||
| ⓘ | Magnetite | 4.BB.05 | Fe2+Fe3+2O4 |
| ⓘ | Quartz | 4.DA.05 | SiO2 |
| Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates | |||
| ⓘ | Dolomite | 5.AB.10 | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Group 9 - Silicates | |||
| ⓘ | Spessartine | 9.AD.25 | Mn2+3Al2(SiO4)3 |
| ⓘ | Beryl | 9.CJ.05 | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| ⓘ | var. Emerald | 9.CJ.05 | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| ⓘ | Schorl | 9.CK.05 | NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| ⓘ | Actinolite | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Tremolite | 9.DE.10 | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Talc | 9.EC.05 | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Muscovite | 9.EC.15 | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Phlogopite | 9.EC.20 | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| ⓘ | Clinochlore | 9.EC.55 | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| ⓘ | var. Talc-chlorite | 9.EC.55 | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Unclassified | |||
| ⓘ | 'Chlorite Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Feldspar Group' | - | |
| ⓘ | 'Tourmaline' | - | AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
List of minerals for each chemical element
| H | Hydrogen | |
|---|---|---|
| H | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| H | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| H | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| H | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Talc-chlorite | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Be | Beryllium | |
| Be | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Be | ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| B | Boron | |
| B | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| B | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| C | Carbon | |
| C | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| C | ⓘ Graphite | C |
| O | Oxygen | |
| O | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| O | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| O | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| O | ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| O | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| O | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| O | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| O | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| O | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Tourmaline | AD3G6 (T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z |
| O | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| O | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Talc-chlorite | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Na | Sodium | |
| Na | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Mg | Magnesium | |
| Mg | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Mg | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Mg | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Talc-chlorite | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Al | Aluminium | |
| Al | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Al | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Al | ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Al | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Al | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Al | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Al | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Talc-chlorite | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Si | Silicon | |
| Si | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Beryl | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Si | ⓘ Clinochlore | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| Si | ⓘ Beryl var. Emerald | Be3Al2(Si6O18) |
| Si | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Quartz | SiO2 |
| Si | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| Si | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Si | ⓘ Talc | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Si | ⓘ Clinochlore var. Talc-chlorite | Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8 |
| K | Potassium | |
| K | ⓘ Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| K | ⓘ Phlogopite | KMg3(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| Ca | Calcium | |
| Ca | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Dolomite | CaMg(CO3)2 |
| Ca | ⓘ Tremolite | ◻Ca2Mg5(Si8O22)(OH)2 |
| Mn | Manganese | |
| Mn | ⓘ Spessartine | Mn32+Al2(SiO4)3 |
| Fe | Iron | |
| Fe | ⓘ Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Fe | ⓘ Magnetite | Fe2+Fe23+O4 |
| Fe | ⓘ Schorl | NaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
Localities in this Region
- Copperbelt Province
- Lufwanyama District
- Kafubu emerald mining district
- Kagem Emerald Mine
- Kafubu emerald mining district
- Lufwanyama District
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
AfricaContinent
African PlateTectonic Plate
- Lufilian ArcVolcanic Arc
Zambia
- Copperbelt Province
- Lufwanyama District
- Kafubu emerald mining districtMining District
- Lufwanyama District
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
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References
Kagem Emerald Mine, Kafubu emerald mining district, Lufwanyama District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia