Paragon completes bulk sampling at Motete Dyke, recovers 130 carats

Paragon Diamonds said it has completed its bulk sampling and drilling programme at Motete Dyke, in Lesotho.
It said in a statement that 214.2 dry tonnes of kimberlite were processed yielding 130.28 carats of diamonds and 1,933 individual stones for a grade of 50 carats per hundred tonnes (cpht).
“This recovered grade from the bulk sample plant is as expected when compared to the micro-diamond model, as the current bulk sampling plant was not correctly configured to recover 100 percent of the present diamonds,” it said.
Overall, Paragon said, 595 dry tonnes of pure kimberlite were treated for the recovery of 329.49 carats.
The miner said that the diamonds were scheduled for independent valuation.
Paragon managing director Stephen Grimmer said following the conclusion of evaluation activities at Motete, the company was now “eagerly” awaiting the delivery of the maiden resource statement by the MSA Group and the scoping study in by Paradigm Project Management both of which were currently being prepared.
He said the company was now well positioned to begin planning and development of a mine at Motete, following the recent agreement to project finance with its local partners.

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