Photo by: Duane Daws
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Two boreholes drilled as part of a recent exploration campaign at Aim-listed Botswana Diamonds’ Orapa diamond project, in Botswana, have intersected intensively altered, cracked and brecciated rocks composing veins likely to be of kimberlitic origin.
Another two holes drilled by Sunland Minerals, the 50:50 joint venture company owned by Botswana Diamonds and Alrosa, did not reveal the presence of kimberlites.
“The discovery of kimberlite-type material in holes 3 and 4 is very encouraging. This is the first time that Alrosa exploration technology has been applied in Botswana and these results support its use. We will now refine the model,” noted chairperson John Teeling, who added that the exploration programme was ongoing.
Mining Weekly Online reported last month that a seven-person geological team from Alrosa had arrived in Botswana, where they would work with Botswana Diamonds on an exploration programme on licences in the diamond province of Orapa.