Botswana Diamonds has received a new licence from the Botswana government for exploration activity to be conducted by Atlas Minerals, its local subsidiary company. The exploration will be part of the ongoing 50/50 exploration joint venture between Botswana Diamonds and Alrosa.

The licence, PL 085/2015, is 316 sq km directly north west of PL 207, already held by the joint venture. The company has found heavy concentrations of Kimberlitic Indicator Minerals (KIMs), particularly pyropes, in the north west of the block. Pyropes are red garnet gemstones.

The copmany said that htough “there is no record of kimberlites on either licence”, it is possible “that the kimberlites associated with the pyropes may be on the ground just awarded”. 

John Teeling, Chairman commented, "We feel that there is a very good chance that unknown kimberlites exist in the area covered by our existing block PL 207 and the new block PL 085.  Ongoing extensive and detailed work on the ground, field analyses and laboratory analyses will estimate how far and from where certain Kimberlitic Indicator Minerals (KIMs), specifically garnets, have travelled.  The joint venture is now zeroing in on targets."