Zim new diamond mine seen end of year

A joint venture between a Russian company OZGEO and the Development Trust of Zimbabwe, is set to go into full commercial diamond mining, in Chimanimani by the end of this year.
The Herald newspaper reports that the plan followed positive results encountered after exploration activities, in Eastern Zimbabwe, some 140km away from Marange.
DTZ’s chief geologist Mikhail Malykh was quoted as saying that they had produced over 7 000 carats since the start of trial mining in 2010.
He said efforts to complete the exploration exercise were now at an advanced stage.
“We are using X-ray diamond sorting plants from Russia, made by ALROSA and we have commenced diamond drilling to probe the depth of the conglomerate unit and determine the reserves of the deposits,” Malykh said.
He said “professional advice” from the country’s Ministry of Mines and co-operation from the local authorities had helped the joint venture to expedite its operations, which were in line with the Kimberley Process’ requirements.
The mining company’s deputy managing director Fadzanai Mupaya also said that the ongoing diamond drilling would unravel the mineral reserves of the deposits to determine the optimum mining and production capacity required.
“So far, the two interceptions of conglomerate in holes number one and two along traverse four have shown quite an encouraging two-metre and 2,8 metre thickness, respectively,” he said.
Mupaya said available geological information showed that their deposit had different controls from the Marange alluvial diamond deposit.

Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished