Diamond - Copperbelt Katanga Mining

Botswana Diamonds looks at potential for open cast mining

September 21, 2021September 21, 2021 admin

Botswana Diamonds has successfully completed its nine hole drilling programme on the Thorny River property in South Africa.The objective was to see if two kimberlite blows (the River and River Extension blows were one contiguous orebody, thus increasing the overall resource and improving the commercial prospects of the project. Nine percussion holes totalling 483 metres, were drilled. One hole intersected 19.1 metres of kimberlite zone, which is encouragingly the biggest thickness found in all three drilling programmes to date. Another hole intersected a thickness of 13.5m of kimberlite zone. These… Read More Here

Mining in DRC Diamond New Mining Projects

DRC: MIBA signs memorandum of understanding with Russian firm Alrosa for diamond exploration and production

September 10, 2021September 10, 2021 admin

The Bakwanga Mining Company (MIBA) signs a memorandum of understanding with Russian diamond giant Alrosa with the aim of increasing commercial, technological, scientific and technical cooperation between the two parties. Concretely, the agreement will allow Alrosa in particular to participate in the exploration and production of diamonds in the DRC, in compliance with responsible sourcing standards in this area. This cooperation could result in the formation of a joint venture between the two companies and an investment by Alrosa in the Central African country, a prospect which is already delighting the… Read More Here

Diamond International

Lucara board approves $514m Karowe mine expansion

September 10, 2021September 10, 2021 admin

Canada’s Lucara Diamond (TSX: LUC) has announced its board has formally accepted a planned underground expansion of the Karowe mine in Botswana, which is expected to extend the operation’s life for 20 years — until 2040. The Vancouver-based miner said the approval follows the financial closure and satisfaction of all conditions precedent to a $220-million debt package, announced in July. Lucara said the first $170 million would be available in mid-September, adding that total costs will be largely covered via a combination of loans, cash resources and equity financing. MOVING KAROWE UNDERGROUND WILL ALLOW LUCARA TO EXPLOIT THE HIGHEST VALUE PART OF THE OREBODY AND EXTEND THE MINE’S LIFE FOR 20 YEARS — UNTIL 2040 Moving Karowe underground, a plan announced… Read More Here

Diamond International Mining in DRC

Angola to over take DRC for a 4th place in global diamond production

September 8, 2021September 8, 2021 admin

Global production of rough diamonds is expected to recover 1.4% to 112.99 million carats (Mct) in 2021, after registering an estimated decline of 19.4% to 111.4Mct in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to GlobalData. The leading data and analytics company notes that significant production recoveries are expected in Botswana (+ 37%), Canada (+ 16.6%) and Angola (+ 26.3%). Vinneth Bajaj, Associate Project Manager at GlobalData, commented: “Global production will only increase slightly due to the closure of the Argyle mine in Australia in November 2020, alongside moderate growth… Read More Here

Diamond New Mining Projects

Botswana Diamonds starts drilling at South African project

September 1, 2021September 1, 2021 admin

Aim- and BSE-listed diamond explorer Botswana Diamonds has started drilling at its Thorny River project, in South Africa. Eight reverse circulation drill holes are planned to drill in-between the recently discovered River and River Extension blows. The drilling programme is expected to take no more than two weeks. The River blow was discovered by the company in November 2020 and covered a modelled surface area of 80 m by 40 m. The River Extension blow, which is less than 100 m east of the River blow, was discovered by the company in… Read More Here

Diamond Equipment & Technology International

UMS to bring in the heavyweights for shaft sinking at Karowe Mine

August 27, 2021August 27, 2021 admin

With a team comprising some of the most experienced professionals in shaft sinking, United Mining Services (UMS) is gearing up for the pre-sinking of two shafts for the Karowe Underground Mine Expansion Project (UGP) in Botswana. Following the completion of the feasibility study for the Karowe UGP, UMS was appointed by Lucara Botswana Pty Ltd and JDS Energy & Mining Inc. in October 2019 to engineer and design the shaft sinking of the production shaft (8,5 m in diameter), and the ventilation shaft (6 m diameter), both reaching a depth… Read More Here

Diamond

Diamond sales at De Beers’ Botswana unit rebound as global market recovers

August 6, 2021August 6, 2021 admin

De Beers’ Botswana unit saw sales of rough diamonds rebound by 41% in the first half of 2021, driven by the reopening of key markets the United States and China, data from the Bank of Botswana showed on Thursday. Debswana Diamond Company, a joint venture between the Botswana government and Anglo American’s De Beers, sells 75% of its output to De Beers with the balance taken up by state-owned Okavango Diamond Debswana’s sales fell by 30% in 2020 as the coronavirus pandemic hit demand while global travel restrictions impacted trading.… Read More Here

Covid-19 Diamond

Angola produced 3.1 million carats of diamonds in the first 4 months of 2021

July 30, 2021July 30, 2021 admin

Angola produced a total of 3.1 million carats of diamonds (620 kg) from January to April this year, international media reported on Thursday, citing a government official. This figure is reasonable, given the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, said Alexandre Garrett, director of the Planning and Statistics Office of the Ministry of Mineral Resources, at a local forum on the banking sector and the ‘mining. Angola will continue to support operators to increase diamond production and reach the target of 9.1 million carats (1,820 kg) by 2022, added Garrett. For… Read More Here

Diamond

De Beers’ second-quarter rough diamond production up 134%

July 20, 2021July 21, 2021 admin

Diamond miner De Beers’ rough diamond production increased by 134% year-on-year to 8.2-million carats during the second quarter, which the miner says reflects “planned higher production” to meet stronger demand for rough diamonds. In Botswana, production increased by 214% to 5.7-million carats, while production in Namibia decreased by 6% to 300 000 ct, primarily owing to planned maintenance of the Mafuta vessel, which was completed in the quarter, and another vessel remaining demobilised. Production in South Africa increased by 130% to 1.3-million carats owing to the planned treatment of higher-grade ore… Read More Here

Diamond International

Diamonds and platinum sparkle in Anglo American’s Q2 production

July 20, 2021July 20, 2021 admin

Anglo American’s production rose by 20% in the second quarter, helped by higher output of platinum and diamonds, the miner said on Tuesday, despite operations running at 95% of full capacity because of COVID-19 disruptions. Rough diamond production rose by 134% compared to the same period last year as consumer demand recovered, while platinum group metals production at South African unit Anglo American Platinum increased by 59% to 1.06 million ounces. Copper output rose by 2% to 170,000 tonnes on higher production at Anglo’s largest mine in Chile, Los Bronces.… Read More Here