Belgian KATANGA : AGRICULTURE ; MINING 115 Congo A large number of cattle are imported monthly from Rhodesia for slaughtering, and their hides are largely exported .

(d) Mining.-In 1916 the value of the export of minerals from Katanga amounted to more than half that of the total exports of the Colony. Katanga is a copper country. Its southern copper belt is said to extend for a distance of 200 miles, with a breadth of from 35 to 60 miles. The region derives its industrial importance from this great copper belt, now being exploited by the Union Minière du Haut Katanga, a Belgian company . There are several other mining companies, but they are of little importance as compared with the Union Minière . Most of them have ceased to operate since the outbreak of war, for example the Simkat Company, mining tin at Muika, and the Comité de Kundelungu, working diamonds at Msipashi. On the other hand, war needs and the high price of copper have served to redouble the energies of the Union Minière, and to increase its output. It is fortunate that the very necessary fluxes, ironstone and lime, are to be obtained in close proximity to the copper mines.

*The majority of the ores are of low grade, containing about 7 per cent. of copper, but there are large deposits containing from 10 to 20 per cent . , and some even 30 per cent. or more. It is hoped that for the treat ment of low-grade ores a method will be perfected in the near future. The electrolytic leaching process by which electrolytic copper is produced seems to offer promising results. The smelting plant of the Union Minière is at Lubumbashi, and when the additional blast- furnaces recently installed are in working order, it is estimated that the annual output will be about 40,000 tons of metal and matte, in which case Katanga would be one of the most productive copper-fields in I 2