Palmietgat diamond project moves forward

With a mining permit in hand, Trivalence Mining (TMI-V) expects production to begin by April at the Palmietgat diamond project in South Africa.

The 20.8-sq.-km property, situated 70 km north of Pretoria, hosts four kimberlite pipes and two kimberlite dykes. Previous work by De Beers Consolidated Mines (DBRSY-Q) identified a resource of 3.5 million tonnes averaging 0.44 carat per 100 tonnes to a depth of 110 metres.

During the first three months of mining, Trivalence intends to assess the overall economics and viability of the four pipes.

In 1999, the company acquired a half-interest in Palmietgat for combined acquisition and mine-development costs of US$1.7 million. It has an option to buy the remaining 50%.

Elsewhere in Africa, drilling on the Aredor diamond concession in Guinea has outlined the K-23 kimberlite body over 0.052 sq. km. Trivalence holds an 85% interest in the 1.012-sq.-km property.

Fifty-three holes have now tested the K-23 kimberlite. The last seven tested the lateral extent, and two of those cut kimberlite. The diamond-bearing nature of K-23 has been confirmed over a lateral distance of 266 metres, with depths to 77 metres.

The K-23 pipe remains open to the west and at depth and lies 1.1 km upstream from the BAI-4 alluvial block, one of six being mined. The BAI-4 hosts 312,569 tonnes grading 0.11 carat per tonne.

The company has begun stripping the 1.5-metre cover of overburden to expose the kimberlite in preparation for a 10,000-tonne bulk-sample. Two of the four proposed trenches have been stripped and excavation is ongoing.