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
Central Ore Mountains valley of the Schwarzwasser and, below its mouth, by the Zwickauer Mulde. The upper regions of the Central Ore Mountains are part of the Ore Mountains/Vogtland Nature Park. Central Ore Mountains The Central or Middle Ore Mountains ( or "Mittelerzgebirge") is a natural region that forms the central-western part of the Ore Mountains in the German federal state of Saxony. It is part of the overarching unit, the Saxon Highlands and Uplands. It forms the eastern part of the former major units, the Lower Western Ore Mountains ("Unteres Westerzgebirge", 423) and Upper Western Ore Mountains ("Oberes Westerzgebirge", 421) and is