The "owners" of the mine employed a strict security force to prevent the miners taking specimens.

[1] In early 2001, it was reported that the mine started to produce carrollite crystals of extraordinary size and quality.

[2] In fact, many specimens of carrollite were falsely attributed to Kamfundwa when it was still a secret location.

[3] Development partners were Harambee Mining Corp, the Swiss company Sogemin and the state-owned Gécamines.

A stockpile of about 300,000 tonnes of ore grading 4% copper and 0.3% cobalt had been built up.