Saturday, September 26, 2026
Science

Lead isotopes trace Malawi's mysterious copper ingot hoard to Congo's Kipushi mine

In 1967, a Malawian farmer stumbled upon a hidden hoard of eight copper ingots buried beneath a tree. Now, more than half a century later, scientists have traced the metal to its source: a copper mine nearly 800 km (500 miles) away.

Lead isotopes trace Malawi's mysterious copper ingot hoard to Congo's Kipushi mine
Image: Phys.org
In 1967, a Malawian farmer stumbled upon a hidden hoard of eight copper ingots buried beneath a tree. Now, more than half a century later, scientists have traced the metal to its source: a copper mine nearly 800 km (500 miles) away.

Originally published at Phys.org

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