Diamond mining begins at Glencairn’s Raw Bean Deposit

Initial mining and production plant tune-up are under way at Glencairn Explorations’ (ASE) Raw Bean diamond mine in Bahia, Brazil. Glencairn is testing small batches of low-grade ore at its portable production plant, and final adjustments to allow optimum recovery should be completed by mid-May.

From the 25 cubic metres of gravel processed so far, Glencairn has recovered 43 stones weighing a total of 14.84 carats. Production of 1,000 cubic metres per month will begin in May, scaling up to full production of 6,000 cubic metres in September.

The Raw Bean mine has probable reserves of 239,118 cubic metres with a further possible reserve of 373,266 cubic metres. Sampling on the property has indicated a grade of 1.24 carats per cubic metre. Diamond are valued at $125 per carat, while production costs are estimated to be $8.60 per cubic metre.