Petra Diamonds said exploration work at kimberlite KX36, which is situated in its Kukama East project area, in central Botswana has shown strong micro diamond results.
It said in a statement emailed to Rough & Polished that 250 diamonds, collectively weighing 0.756 carats, had been recovered from 403.88kg of kimberlite.
The largest diamond was a white, transparent dodecahedron, weighing 0.393 carats, it said.
"These initial drilling and microdiamond analysis results indicate that kimberlite KX36 has significant potential, in terms of its possible size, diamond grade and potential coarse diamond size frequency distribution,” said Petra chief executive Johan Dippenaar.
“The next step is a large diameter bulk sampling drilling programme, commencing in April 2012, in order to obtain further information with regards to grade and an indication of diamond value."
Company technical director Jim Davidson also said that the strong micro diamond results and the favourable coarser diamond size indications for kimberlite KX36 were most encouraging out of the five new kimberlites they had found in Botswana so far.
KX36 was approximately 60km from the nearest known kimberlite, meaning there was the potential for KX36 to be part of a new kimberlite field, he said.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished, from Zimbabwe
Exclusive
Sarine’s David Block: Diamond Industry at Standstill Until Chinese Demand Returns
David Block is CEO of Israel’s Sarine Technologies and has served in the position since 2012. In this exclusive interview for Rough and Polished, Block gives his opinion on the leading issues affecting today’s diamond trade.
11 september 2024
Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge: Demand for considerable-sized diamonds stronger than ever
The African Diamond Council (ADC) chairperson Dr M'zée Fula Ngenge told Rough & Polished’s Mathew Nyaungwa in an exclusive interview that although overall global diamond prices have been somewhat soft, the demand for considerable-sized diamonds...
02 september 2024
Amplats sees prospects as a standalone company
Anglo has revealed its plans to demerge Anglo American Platinum (Amplats), which has operations in South Africa and Zimbabwe, to optimise shareholder value. Rough&Polished contacted Amplats to comment on this and other issues but was referred...
19 august 2024
WFDB President Yoram Dvash Remains Confident Despite Global Diamond Challenges
Yoram Dvash is President of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses (WFDB) having been elected in 2020. He found time in his busy schedule to speak to Rough&Polished about the state of the diamond industry around the world and some of the major...
12 august 2024
Lyudmila Vysotskaya: Amber is a mystical stone, a living substance
Lyudmila Vysotskaya is a Kaliningrad-based amber artist and designer, expert, chairwoman of the Amber Academy and member of the Creative Union of Artists in Decorative and Applied Arts. This summer, visitors could admire the art works by Lyudmila Vysotskaya...
30 july 2024
