Alluvial and eluvial gold deposits were actively mined in Imonga from 1931 until 1958 by ‘Compagnie Belge d’Entreprises Minières’ (COBELMIN) on behalf of ‘Société des Mines d’Or de la Belgika’ (BELGIKAOR) and ‘Société des Mines de la Belgika’ (BELGIKAMINES). Two main types of host rocks were identified that were generally affected by intense metamorphism and alteration. (1) The first main type is fine-grained meta-sedimentary rocks, which are further subdivided into schists and meta-pelites. The schists are characterised by the development of foliation and intense alteration to phyllosilicate minerals, leading to the classification as fine-grained muscovite-schists and chlorite-schists. The meta-pelites lack the development of a foliation. The average composition of the meta-sedimentary rocks is estimated at 30 % (fine-grained) muscovite, 30 % carbonate minerals, 20 % chlorite, 15 % quartz, 3 % iron oxides/hydroxides and 2 % sulfides. (2) The second host rock type is meta-igneous rocks, classified as mafic dolerite rocks. These rocks are characterised by a coarser grain size, dark to greenish minerals consisting of plagioclase, quartz, Fe-Ti oxides and traces of mafic minerals (i.e. pyroxene, amphibole) with a porphyritic texture. The average composition of these meta-igneous rocks is estimated at 5 % feldspars (e.g. plagioclase), 20 % quartz, 30 % chlorite, 10 % (fine-grained) muscovite, 30 % carbonates, 4 % Fe-Ti oxides/hydroxides and 1 % sulfides.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Commodity List

This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.

ⓘ Gold

Mineral List

14 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded

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

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Albite

Formula: Na(AlSi₃O₈)

References:

Cools, Inge; Dewaele, Stijn; Peiffert, Chantal; Muchez, Philippe (2025) Detailed characterisation of the fluids responsible for orogenic gold mineralisation at Imonga-Saramabila (Maniema) in the Karagwe-Ankole Belt, DR Congo. Ore Geology Reviews, 178. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106461

ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase

Formula: (Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]

References:

ⓘ 'Albite-Anorthite Series var. High Plagioclase'

References:

DE GROOTE, Julie, COOLS, Inge, WOUTERS, Sander, MUCHEZ, Philippe, DEWAELE, Stijn (2023) Current state of knowledge of the gold mineralization at Imonga-Saramabila, Maniema (DR Congo): a petrographic and mineralogical study of the mineralized vein system. Geologica Belgica, 26 (3) 143-156 doi:10.20341/gb.2023.010

ⓘ 'Amphibole Supergroup'

Formula: AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂

References:

ⓘ Andalusite

Formula: Al₂(SiO₄)O

References:

ⓘ Andalusite var. Chiastolite

Formula: Al₂(SiO₄)O

References:

ⓘ Arsenopyrite

Formula: FeAsS

References:

ⓘ Bornite

Formula: Cu₅FeS₄

References:

ⓘ Calcite

Formula: CaCO₃

References:

ⓘ Calcite var. Iron-bearing Calcite

Formula: (Ca,Fe)CO₃

References:

ⓘ Chalcocite

Formula: Cu₂S

References:

ⓘ Chalcopyrite

Formula: CuFeS₂

References:

ⓘ 'Chlorite Group'

References:

ⓘ Covellite

Formula: CuS

References:

ⓘ Dolomite

Formula: CaMg(CO₃)₂

References:

ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite

Formula: Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO₃)₂

References:

ⓘ Epidote

Formula: (CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)

References:

ⓘ 'Feldspar Group'

References:

ⓘ 'K Feldspar'

References:

ⓘ Muscovite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite

Formula: KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂

References:

ⓘ Native Gold

Formula: Au

References:

ⓘ 'Phyllosilicate'

References:

ⓘ 'Plagioclase'

Formula: (Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈

References:

ⓘ Pyrite

Formula: FeS₂

References:

ⓘ 'Pyroxene Group'

Formula: ADSi₂O₆

References:

ⓘ Quartz

Formula: SiO₂

References:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘ	Native Gold	1.AA.05	Au
Group 2 - Sulphides and Sulfosalts
ⓘ	Chalcocite	2.BA.05	Cu₂S
ⓘ	Bornite	2.BA.15	Cu₅FeS₄
ⓘ	Covellite	2.CA.05a	CuS
ⓘ	Chalcopyrite	2.CB.10a	CuFeS₂
ⓘ	Pyrite	2.EB.05a	FeS₂
ⓘ	Arsenopyrite	2.EB.20	FeAsS
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘ	Quartz	4.DA.05	SiO₂
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘ	Calcite	5.AB.05	CaCO₃
ⓘ	var. Iron-bearing Calcite	5.AB.05	(Ca,Fe)CO₃
ⓘ	Dolomite	5.AB.10	CaMg(CO₃)₂
ⓘ	var. Iron-bearing Dolomite	5.AB.10	Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO₃)₂
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘ	Andalusite	9.AF.10	Al₂(SiO₄)O
ⓘ	var. Chiastolite	9.AF.10	Al₂(SiO₄)O
ⓘ	Epidote	9.BG.05a	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
ⓘ	Muscovite	9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	var. Sericite	9.EC.15	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
ⓘ	Albite	9.FA.35	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
ⓘ	var. Oligoclase	9.FA.35	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
Unclassified
ⓘ	'Amphibole Supergroup'	-	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
ⓘ	'Chlorite Group'	-
ⓘ	'Feldspar Group'	-
ⓘ	'Plagioclase'	-	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
ⓘ	'Albite-Anorthite Series var. High Plagioclase'	-	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
ⓘ	'K Feldspar'	-
ⓘ	'Pyroxene Group'	-	ADSi₂O₆
ⓘ	'Phyllosilicate'	-

List of minerals for each chemical element

H	Hydrogen
H	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
H	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
H	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
H	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
C	Carbon
C	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
C	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
C	ⓘ Calcite var. Iron-bearing Calcite	(Ca,Fe)CO₃
C	ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite	Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO₃)₂
O	Oxygen
O	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
O	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
O	ⓘ Andalusite	Al₂(SiO₄)O
O	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
O	ⓘ Andalusite var. Chiastolite	Al₂(SiO₄)O
O	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
O	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
O	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
O	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
O	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
O	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
O	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
O	ⓘ Calcite var. Iron-bearing Calcite	(Ca,Fe)CO₃
O	ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite	Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO₃)₂
F	Fluorine
F	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
Na	Sodium
Na	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Na	ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
Na	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Mg	Magnesium
Mg	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
Mg	ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite	Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO₃)₂
Al	Aluminium
Al	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Al	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
Al	ⓘ Andalusite	Al₂(SiO₄)O
Al	ⓘ Andalusite var. Chiastolite	Al₂(SiO₄)O
Al	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Al	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
Al	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Al	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Si	Silicon
Si	ⓘ Albite	Na(AlSi₃O₈)
Si	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
Si	ⓘ Andalusite	Al₂(SiO₄)O
Si	ⓘ Andalusite var. Chiastolite	Al₂(SiO₄)O
Si	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Si	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
Si	ⓘ Quartz	SiO₂
Si	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Si	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Si	ⓘ Pyroxene Group	ADSi₂O₆
S	Sulfur
S	ⓘ Arsenopyrite	FeAsS
S	ⓘ Bornite	Cu₅FeS₄
S	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
S	ⓘ Chalcocite	Cu₂S
S	ⓘ Covellite	CuS
S	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
Cl	Chlorine
Cl	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
K	Potassium
K	ⓘ Muscovite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
K	ⓘ Muscovite var. Sericite	KAl₂(AlSi₃O₁₀)(OH)₂
Ca	Calcium
Ca	ⓘ Calcite	CaCO₃
Ca	ⓘ Dolomite	CaMg(CO₃)₂
Ca	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Ca	ⓘ Albite var. Oligoclase	(Na,Ca)[Al(Si,Al)Si₂O₈]
Ca	ⓘ Plagioclase	(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi₂]O₈
Ca	ⓘ Calcite var. Iron-bearing Calcite	(Ca,Fe)CO₃
Ca	ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite	Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO₃)₂
Ti	Titanium
Ti	ⓘ Amphibole Supergroup	AB₂C₅((Si,Al,Ti)₈O₂₂)(OH,F,Cl,O)₂
Fe	Iron
Fe	ⓘ Arsenopyrite	FeAsS
Fe	ⓘ Bornite	Cu₅FeS₄
Fe	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
Fe	ⓘ Epidote	(CaCa)(AlAlFe³⁺)O[Si₂O₇][SiO₄](OH)
Fe	ⓘ Pyrite	FeS₂
Fe	ⓘ Calcite var. Iron-bearing Calcite	(Ca,Fe)CO₃
Fe	ⓘ Dolomite var. Iron-bearing Dolomite	Ca(Mg,Fe)(CO₃)₂
Cu	Copper
Cu	ⓘ Bornite	Cu₅FeS₄
Cu	ⓘ Chalcopyrite	CuFeS₂
Cu	ⓘ Chalcocite	Cu₂S
Cu	ⓘ Covellite	CuS
As	Arsenic
As	ⓘ Arsenopyrite	FeAsS
Au	Gold
Au	ⓘ Native Gold	Au

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

AfricaContinent

East African Rift System (EARS)Zone (Tectonic)

African PlateTectonic Plate

Congo Craton
- Kibaran BeltShield

Central AfricaRegion

DR Congo

⭔KivuRegion

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References

[1]Cools, Inge; Dewaele, Stijn; Peiffert, Chantal; Muchez, Philippe (2025) Detailed characterisation of the fluids responsible for orogenic gold mineralisation at Imonga-Saramabila (Maniema) in the Karagwe-Ankole Belt, DR Congo. Ore Geology Reviews, 178. doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2025.106461

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Imonga-Saramabila Mine, Maniema, DR CongoiRegional Level TypesImonga-Saramabila MineMine ManiemaProvince DR CongoCountry function showexplain() { $("#locexplain").toggle(); if (typeof movemap === "function") movemap(); }

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Commodity List

Mineral List

Rock Types Recorded

Select Rock List Type

Detailed Mineral List:

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

List of minerals for each chemical element

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References

Imonga-Saramabila Mine, Maniema, DR Congo i
Regional Level Types
Imonga-Saramabila Mine Mine
Maniema Province
DR Congo Country