Mopani Copper Mines mineralisation occur within the ore shale. Copper mineralisation in the deposits changes from mostly chalcopyrite in the South Orebody, to chalcopyrite-bornite in the Central area and to bornite-chalcopyrite at Mindola. Cobalt occurs as carrollite and cobaltiferous pyrite in approximately equal proportions. The mine produces copper and cobalt from three sources: Mindola Shaft, Central Shaft and South Orebody Shaft. Vertical crater retreat is the predominant mining method while sublevel open-stopping and sublevel caving methods are also used. In April 2011 Mopani announced its intentions to sink a new $295 million shaft at Mufulira, this should extend the life of the mine
Ore Mountains one overarching unit, the Saxon Highlands and Uplands. In addition, its internal divisions were changed. Former major unit 420 was grouped with the western part of major units 421 and 423 to form a new major unit, the Western Ore Mountains ("Westerzgebirge"), the eastern part of major units 421 and 423 became the Central Ore Mountains ("Mittelerzgebirge") and major units 422 and 424 became the Eastern Ore Mountains ("Osterzgebirge"). The current division therefore looks as follows: The geographic unit of the Southern Slopes of the Ore Mountains remains unchanged under the title of Southern Ore Mountains ("Süderzgebirge"). The climate of