SouthernEra Resources (SUF-T) has successfully commissioned the diamond recovery plant at its Klipspringer project in South Africa’s Northern province.
The plant recovered a total of 768 carats during the first four days of commercial production. The average stone size was 0.38 carat, with the five largest stones recovered weighing 11.36, 10.97, 9.51, 8.36 and 7.65 carats.
Another 32 stones averaged 4.16 carats per stone, and SouthernEra reports that only a small percentage of the 768 carats recovered was of industrial quality.
Mining at Klipspringer is focused on the wholly-owned Sugarbird blow, which hosts a reserve, amenable to open-pit mining, of 77,000 tonnes grading 1.57 carats per tonne. The reserves are sufficient for four months of production, after which it is hoped that mining can begin on the richer M1 kimberlite pipe. That pipe, which is owned 65% by SouthernEra and 35% by South African-based Randgold, hosts reserves, amenable to open-pit mining, of 512,400 tonnes grading 3.08 carats per tonne. Development of the pipe, however, is being delayed by a mineral-rights dispute that goes before a South African court this month.
Meanwhile, exploration is continuing elsewhere at Klipspringer. On the wholly-owned Meinhardskraal farm, 13 microdiamonds were recovered from two kimberlite fissures intersected in drilling. SouthernEra says seven of the stones are colorless, five are brown and one is grey.
SouthernEra has now drilled kimberlite fissures at Meinhardskraal over a length of 1.7 km. A 20-to-50-tonne bulk sample will be excavated shortly.
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