Botswana Diamonds subsidiary Sunland Minerals’ prospecting licences PL232 and PL235 of 2015 have been renewed for a two-year period starting October 1.

Recent aeromagnetic surveys followed by targeted ground magnetic surveys and soil sampling have identified drill targets on the two PLs.

PL232 and PL235 are 60 m² and 164 m² in size, respectively, are situated to the west of the Ghaghoo diamond mine, in the central Kalahari, and are considered highly prospective. 

The nearest kimberlite to these licences is Go194, which is part of the Gope or Ghaghoo kimberlite pipe cluster and close to the south-eastern point of PL235 which is 20 km from the Ghaghoo diamond mine where Botswana Diamonds holds an interest and is the operator.

There is considerable infrastructure at Ghaghoo which will facilitate servicing a drilling campaign. The economics of any discovery on the ground will be improved by the closeness of an existing mine, Botswana Diamonds notes.

The environmental management plan for future drilling has been completed and approved.

These licences form part of Botswana Diamonds’ joint venture (JV) with Diamexstrat and Burgundy Diamond Mining. Any work programme will be funded as part of the earn-in arrangement by the joint venture partners.

This renewal is a key development in the company’s primary focus on the Kalahari of Botswana, it notes.

“Botswana Diamonds believes there is the potential for significant new diamond discoveries in the Kalahari.  We have quietly built exploration acreage, while partnering with Diamexstrat and Burgundy Diamond Mining to finance exploration.

“Until recently, many thought that logistics and water challenges on this acreage could not be overcome.

“However, operational progress at nearby Ghaghoo and KX36 has transformed the situation – much of the set-up costs have already been incurred and incremental discoveries may therefore be potentially developed at lower cost and risk,” Botswana Diamonds MD James Campbell says.