 In 1996, American Mineral Fields acquired Zairean mineral deposits using the state-owned mining company Gecamines.Main AMF shareholder Jean-Raymonde Boulle signed the contract in mid April of 1996 in Zaire, calling the change “the triumphant liberation of the people of Zaire.In particular, a copper-zinc mine at Kapushi in Shaba province was acquired, with reserves known to "stand at 22.6 million tons of copper and zinc, grading 2.1 per cent copper and 13.8 per cent zinc."