Trivalence boosts output

Vancouver — The first quarter of 2001 was a good one for Trivalence Mining (TMI-V): diamond production at its two African operations increased 72% over the comparable period last year.

Driving the increase were higher feed rates at the company’s 60%-owned Palmietgat project, in South Africa, which cranked out 12,792.17 carats. The mine sold 2,615 carats during the period, in return for US$117,458, which works out to US$44.91 per carat.

Trivalence acquired its stake in Palmietgat, situated 70 km north of Pretoria, in 1999 for combined acquisition and mine development costs of US$1.7 million. The property 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.

Meanwhile, Trivalence’s 85%-owned Aredor concession, in Guinea, cranked out 5,180.93 carats during the quarter. Aredor sold 7,162 carats in return for US$2 million, or US$281.33 per carat.

Production at Aredor was hampered by a river diversion, though the company is now back to mining high-grade material. Just last week, a 27-carat gem-quality stone was pulled from the alluvial operation.