Shinkolobwe

Shinkolobwe is a uranium mine located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in the Katanga region near the town of Kolwezi. The deposit is part of the Haut-Katanga geological belt and is known for a high-grade pitchblende ore. Reports describe ore from Shinkolobwe as having an unusually high uranium content, with U3O8 levels sometimes cited around 60 to 65 percent in historic samples.

Development of the mine occurred under colonial administration by the Union Minière du Haut-Katanga. During World War II, ore from Shinkolobwe was shipped to the United States for the Manhattan Project, contributing to the supply of uranium feedstock for early nuclear weapons research. The mine thus played a notable role in the wartime and postwar nuclear effort due to the exceptional ore grade.

Mining activity increased in the 1940s and early 1950s, but production declined after the war. Following Congo’s independence in 1960, exploitation waned, and by the early 1960s the mine had largely ceased operations. Since then, Shinkolobwe has remained inactive, though its legacy persists as a symbol of the link between regional mineral resources and the global nuclear program.

The site is frequently referenced in discussions of radiological legacy and mining safety. Historic operations left contamination concerns, and cleanup and regulatory attention have appeared in assessments of legacy sites in the region. Shinkolobwe remains a historical example of high-grade uranium ore and its international implications.