Lueshe mine

Lueshe mine
A sample of Lueshite from the mine. Lueshite has an orthorhombic perovskite type structure with chemical formula NaNbO3.
Location
Lueshe mine
LocationRutshuru Territory
ProvinceNorth Kivu
CountryDemocratic Republic of the Congo
Coordinates0°59′10″S 29°08′28″E / 0.986°S 29.141°E / -0.986; 29.141
Production
ProductsNiobium
History
Opened1982

The Lueshe mine, or Lweshe mine, is a niobium mine located in Rutshuru Territory in North Kivu province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The site is one of the most economically significant pyrochlore deposits in the world. The rare niobium mineral lueshite was discovered at the mine, and is named after it. The mine is frequently caught up in violence surrounding the Kivu conflict.