Mwana Africa says diamond output at its Klipspringer mine, in South Africa more than doubled over the quarter to March.
The company said in a statement that the retreatment of the Marsfontein slimes dam at the mine had produced 12,383cts during the quarter, an increase of over 100 percent on the previous quarter to December 2013.
“This flowed from the retreatment of 16,000 t of fine residue tailings, at an average grade of 77.4 ct [for every] 100 t, from the old Marsfontein mine,” said company chief executive Kalaa Mpinga.
He said improvement in throughput was expected with the onset of the dry season.
Mpinga also noted that the evaluation of options to re-open the underground operation would continue.
Meanwhile, Mwana said an average price of $21 per carat was achieved during the quarter.
The company also holds minority stakes in several diamond projects in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Botswana.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
