JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The board of the TSX- and JSE-listed Rockwell Diamonds has approved the implementation of high-throughput bulk x-ray technology at the Saxendrift operation in the Northern Cape.

The $1.5-million cost, which will be funded from the C$6.5-million proceeds of recent asset sales, includes the installation of an additional 400t/h plant at Saxendrift.

The technology, which will also eventually be deployed at Rockwell’s upcoming Wouterspan and Niewejaarskraal projects, identifies rare type-two diamonds that traditional pan plants generally fail to recognise.

“We’re confident that production will improve significantly,” says Rockwell CEO James Campbell.

Eighty per cent of the revenue at Rockwell’s Saxendrift operation is from stones larger than 10 mm, which are ideally suited to the bulk machines.

The new technology is not, however, applicable at Rockwell’s Tirisano diamonds, in the North West, where sizes are smaller.

Rockwell is targeting a 20% South African shareholding, up from the current 8%.
 

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