Botswana Diamonds PLC has been granted a prospecting permit to explore five kimberlites in the Marsfontein region of South Africa. This area is renowned for having hosted the iconic Marsfontein diamond mine, famous for achieving a return on investment in less than a week.
Exploration of five kimberlites at the Marsfontein mine
The new permit covers an area of 900.67 hectares and includes the M2, M3, M7, M8 and M9 kimberlites. Of these, M3 is the company’s primary target, due to its easy access, high production potential and zero exploration. Historical samples from M3 indicate diamond content with outstanding qualities and size distributions that could offer significant profitability.
Botswana Diamonds Chairman John Teeling has highlighted that obtaining this permit is great news for the company, especially given the potential represented by the M3 body. This deposit has been described as easy to mine due to its location on high ground and its exposure to previous mining activities which will reduce drilling and blasting costs.
Previous studies of M3 have shown promising results, with concentrations ranging from 13.9 to 137 carats per 100 tonnes ( cpht ). In addition, diamonds from this deposit are characterized by good color and quality , making them attractive to the market when diamond demand increases again after the current downturn in the industry.
Botswana Diamonds’ recovery and expansion plans
Botswana Diamonds is confident that the diamond market will recover as the influence of lab-grown diamonds in the jewellery sector declines. The company is positioned to commence M3 mining quickly as existing infrastructure will allow easy access to the kimberlitic body without the need for additional investments.
Furthermore, the success of M3 will increase the value of the adjacent Thorny River properties, also owned by Botswana Diamonds, consolidating the company’s position in the Limpopo province. Together, this project could revitalize the region and take advantage of the mineral resources offered by Marsfontein, known for its successful track record in the extraction of quality diamonds.
Botswana Diamond’s exploration project is in line with its commitment to mining in a responsible and sustainable manner. CEO James Campbell stressed that the company’s practices are designed to minimise environmental impact while maximising the recovery of high-quality diamonds.
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Source: Botswana Diamonds | PDF
Photo: Shutterstock
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