Botswana Diamonds has recovered more than 100 macro-diamonds from the Marsfontein diamond development project in the Limpopo Province of South Africa.
The Aim and BSE listed diamond explorer said that 87 macro diamonds were recovered from the fresh kimberlite giving a modelled grade of 50cpht, while 24 macro diamonds were recovered from one of the residual stockpiles, known as Dump E giving a modelled grade of 16cpht.
Marsfontein Diamond Mine Image credit: Botswana Diamonds
“This bulk sampling campaign, which was carried out with the company’s royalty mining contractor Eurafrican Diamond Corporation, had two objectives,” said Botswana Diamonds managing director James Campbell.
“The first was to test the grade of the fresh kimberlite and the second was to confirm the grades of one of the mine dumps. Both were achieved, and proof of the fresh kimberlite grade paves the way for further exploration work on Marsfontein to target potential blows.”
He said the kimberlite grade was aligned with those achieved at Klipspringer mine and Thorny River, which are both nearby, indicating the considerable extent of the kimberlite dyke system.
“Options will be investigated on exploitation of the dumps once the nationwide lock down in South Africa is lifted and a sense of normality returns to diamond markets, post the global Covid-19 pandemic crisis,” said Campbell.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
He said the kimberlite grade was aligned with those achieved at Klipspringer mine and Thorny River, which are both nearby, indicating the considerable extent of the kimberlite dyke system.
“Options will be investigated on exploitation of the dumps once the nationwide lock down in South Africa is lifted and a sense of normality returns to diamond markets, post the global Covid-19 pandemic crisis,” said Campbell.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
