Botswana Diamonds discovers eight kimberlites at Free State project

24th October 2017 By: Anine Kilian - Contributing Editor Online

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds has discovered eight group one kimberlites at its Free State project.
 
Active exploration has begun on the project, which comprises four prospecting rights covering 50 000 ha of ground within a kimberlite cluster, which has the iconic diamond mines of Jagersfontein and Koffiefontein at its eastern end and Kimberley and Finsch at its western extreme.
 
Using identified anomalies as a base, research indicated that a number of other diamond mines existed in this area for some time prior to 1880, but that a significant economic recession at that time resulted in their permanent curtailment.  

"The best place to find a mine is where there is or was a mine. The Free State area was the centre of world diamond mining over 100 years ago but has been neglected. New technology and new ideas offer opportunities,” chairperson John Teeling said in a statement on Tuesday.

Anecdotal evidence indicates that very little, if any, modern exploration technology has been applied to the area and this is supported by the landowners, whose families have occupied the properties for a number of generations. 
 
More detailed ground work has involved further field observations and the collection of samples from the relevant sites which have been subject to whole rock geochemistry tests by the Council for Geosciences. 
 
A detailed ground geophysical survey is currently taking place to assess the size of the kimberlites and the results of this will be announced in November.