Efficiency of Soil Geochemistry as a Powerful Tool in Targeting of Hidden Deposits During Mineral Exploration: A Case Study of the Sediment-Hosted Kibamba Copper-Cobalt Deposit of the Lufilian Arc, Democratic Republic of Congo

The Lufilian Arc of Neoproterozoic formed during the Pan-African orogeny in the Democratic Republic of Congo and to its south-east in the Republic of Zambia, and the Westward extension of similar rock sequences into southern Africa. Due to the global demand for metal ores such as copper, cobalt, nickel, lithium, etc. which continues to increase for the foreseeable future, the needs of new technology (e.g., batteries for electronic devices and electric vehicles, etc.) and the desire and efforts to improve living standards worldwide are some of the key drivers which dictate the aggressive ongoing exploration and mining activities in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Lufilian Arc is a zone known to hosting world-class high-grade Cu-Co-U and Pb-Zn mineralization. The use of soil geochemistry as one of the targeting tools in mineral exploration, especially in the search of copper/cobalt shallow and blind sub-outcropping deposits, has proven to be very successful and efficient at early stage of exploration. The purpose of this study aims at reviewing and demonstrating the effectiveness of soil geochemical exploration technique in the discoveries of different Cu-Co deposits, like Kibamba Cu-Co deposit of the Congolese Copperbelt. It has been observed that shallow-seated orebodies express anomalies in soils through dispersion processes over time. Mapping of chemical element signatures, identification of pathfinders, scavengers within in-situ soil covers, interpretation of regoliths (allochthonous vs. autochthonous), etc. in targeting of metal anomalies in soils and prioritization can help remarkably in revealing a presence of mineral bodies under cover. To reach our goals, a data summary of soil geochemistry at selected exploration areas within the Copperbelt where soil surveys were conducted at early phases of exploration, particularly at Kibamba area has been processed using MapInfo software combined to Discover for basic statistics and interpretation for a definition of orders of anomalism for priorities. Then, a follow-up by other exploration techniques such as geophysical surveys, structural and lithological mapping then drilling (reverse circulation and coring) to test and confirm anomalies have been complimentary for resources definition and estimates.