DIAMOND PAGE — Messina boosts grade of Star mine — New fissure found at Messina mine project

Messina Diamond (MSC.U-T) has found an extension to a high-grade portion of its Star mine, situated 50 km south of Welkom, South Africa.

Sampling of 674 tonnes of material taken from the vicinity of the East Star fissure yielded 278.9 carats of diamonds, representing a recovered grade of 41.4 carats per 100 tonnes. Preliminary in-house valuations of the sample indicate that diamond quality is as good as, or better than, that of the stones being recovered commercially at the Star mine now. Current production, which is focused on the Wynandsfontein fissure, is averaging US$111 per carat.

Messina President Jeremy Clarke says the company has begun shifting production away from Wynandsfontein in favor of the richer reserves of the East Star and Burns fissures. This change in mine plan will boost recovered grades by 38%. And because East Star and Burns are closer to the main shaft than Wynandsfontein, underground hauling costs will decrease.

Meanwhile, new fissures with better quality diamonds and higher grades have been intersected at the Messina mine in South Africa’s Northern province.

Recent sampling yielded a 37.38-carat stone that Messina subsequently sold for US$116,824 (or US$3,125 per carat).