JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim-listed diamond producer Kopane Diamond Developments on Monday reported an increased resource grade of 34,3 ct/100 t at its Main Pipe, at the Liqhobong operations, in Lesotho.

The company said in a statement that the increase in the resource grade represented a 4,1% increase over the 33 c/100 t grade, recorded in September this year.

The indicated resource grade contained in the upper 180 m of the pipe has now increased from 31ct/100 t, to 32,8ct/100 t, while the overall number of carats estimated to be contained in the Main Pipe increased to 31,14-million carats, compared with the 29,7-million carats, previously estimated.

The estimated in-situ value of the Main Pipe has increased to $2,7-billion, based on an independent run-of-mine valuation of $86/ct in September 2008 of rough diamonds recovered from bulk sampling.

Kopane said in a statement that further work would be undertaken to review the grade at Liqhobong, because the company was of the opinion that the overall grade estimate of 33ct/100 t was the lowest estimate in a range of grade results ultimately possible in the Main Pipe.

“This anticipated increase in the grade estimate for the Main Pipe adds further value to the Luiqhobong project and its mining potential,” said Kopane chairperson, Frank Scolaro.

“We are continuing our discussions to execute the most profitable route to deliver value for our world class asset.”

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