Controls on high grade cobalt mineralization in the Central African Copperbelt

 

PhD Candidate: Malena Cazorla Martínez

Supervisor: Dr Lingli Zhou, Prof Murray Hitzman

Funded by: Science Foundation Ireland

Abstract:

Cobalt is used in the manufacture of rechargeable batteries for EV. It is considered a critical metal for the development of our society towards a carbon-free future. Improving our knowledge on the formation of cobalt deposits is necessary to enhance its exploration and secure its sustainable supply. This project aims to unravel the controls on cobalt mineralization in one of the largest copper-cobalt districts worldwide: the Tenke-Fungurume copper-cobalt district in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The main objectives are to understand the mineralizing processes, the source of ore-forming materials, mineralizing fluid flow pathways, and deposit evolution of high grade cobalt deposits by focusing on the petrography and geochemistry of Cu-Co sulfides. Eventually, a genetic model will be proposed, aiming to aid on the exploration and discovery of these deposits.