Approaches for Designing Extraction Methods for Randomly Occurring Pocket Formation of Gemstones: A Case of Musakashi Emerald Area, Solwezi, Zambia

Designing suitable extraction methods for mining randomly occurring pocket formation of gemstones has never been easy at the Musakashi emerald mine due to the limited geological information. In order to improve the productivity as well as the recovery, in this work,   we undertake a detailed geological survey (airborne, surface mapping, geochemical sampling, and trenching activities), and review, analyze, and establish the appropriate extraction methods, and conduct the economic viability of the mining emeralds in the Musakashi   area. A total of ۵۱ holes are drilled in order to define the mineralization and estimate the mineral resource for the rubble ore and the in-situ ore zones using the Surpac Geovia software. The diamond drilling unravels the existence of an alteration zone enveloping the shales in an area of ۱۵۰m by ۱۰۰m. The emerald   is localized within these reaction zones, and is estimated to extend to a depth of about ۲۰–۳۰m below the surface. The total mineral resource stands at ۳۴۵, ۲۹۰ grams for the rubble ore and ۱۲۳,۸۷۰ grams for the discordant veins. From the geological information obtained, a trial pit design is established with a target of increasing recovery of emeralds from the current ۱۰ kg to ۱۰۰ kg per year.

Keywords:

extraction methods , mechanised mining , recovery of emeralds , pocket formation of gemstones