The potential of Zambian copper-cobalt metallophytes for phytoremediation of minerals wastes

The Copper-Cobalt Belt of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia is one of the most important metallogenic regions in the world. In addition, it hosts the world’s richest metallophyte flora. There are more than 600 metallophytes in the Copper-Cobalt Belt, including many species unique to the area. The phenomenon of abnormal copper-cobalt accumulation in certain plants has been observed since the 1950s in the Copper-Cobalt Belt, with more than thirty hyperaccumulator plants identified. Hyperaccumulator plants might be useful for important phytotechnologies. There is also a wide range of Excluder-type metallophytes in the Copper-Cobalt Belt, especially grasses and sedges, that might be suitable for phytostabilization of minerals wastes.