Botswana Diamonds PLC, which recently finished processing two bulk samples taken from the Marsfontein diamond development project in the Limpopo Province of South Africa, announced that over 100 macro diamonds were recovered as a result.

“The samples comprised 58-tons of fresh high-interest kimberlite and 62-tons of kimberlitic material from one of the residual stockpiles, known as 'Dump E',” the Company said. From this, Botswana Diamonds has recovered 87 macro diamonds from the fresh kimberlite giving a modelled grade of 50cpht; and 24 macro diamonds from Dump E, giving a modelled grade of 16cpht. (Headline grades are quoted at a +1.5 mm screen bottom size cut off.)

James Campbell, Managing Director commented, "This bulk sampling campaign, which was carried out with the company's royalty mining contractor Eurafrican Diamond Corporation, had two objectives. 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. The kimberlite grade is 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."

Both samples were treated at Eurafrican Diamond Corporation's processing facility, the Company said, while the grade modelling was undertaken by Interlaced Consulting.

“Modelled results determined are in line with previous estimates and diamond recoveries from the nearby Klipspringer diamond mine,” Botswana Diamonds noted. 

The Company announced that work will re-commence at Marsfontein and Thorny River as soon as the restrictions imposed as a result of Covid-19 are lifted, and the workforce is able to travel to the sites.