Chivor’s Oriente mine flowing green

Chivor Emerald (CHIV.U-C) has achieved commercial production at its Oriente mine, which lies in the Chivor district of Colombia.

The emeralds are being mined from a vein system recently discovered at what is known as the Dixon level. As of early March, 4,700 carats of emeralds, in all quality categories, had been produced.

Chivor will initially market its emeralds in uncut form through traditional local outlets. Most will be cut in the capital city of Bogota before being marketed to the world’s jewelry industry.

The Dixon level is being developed in an effort to provide access to the emerald-bearing structure (or manto) known as Unit 5, which lies 15 metres below previous workings. Development has been slow, however, owing to difficult ground conditions and equipment problems.

Horizonal lateral tunnels are being driven in the footwall of the Unit 5 manto in both directions from the Dixon adit. Crosscuts (the first of which led to the discovery of the vein system now being mined) are being driven through the manto. Additional working areas will be opened up on the Dixon level as development permits.

Meanwhile, diamond drilling continues to locate new veins in the vicinity of the old workings.

Regional exploration has been carried out over the 38-sq.-km land package, with detailed drilling to follow.

Chivor Emerald was established in 1996 following its acquisition of an 80% interest in the Oriente mine, together with options to acquire a 90% interest in a larger land package covering much of the region’s prospective ground.